The Miss Kentucky Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Kentucky in the Miss Teen USA pageant.
Although Kentucky has not produced a Miss Teen USA titleholder, five delegates have placed as Top 5 or Top 6: Krista Keith in 1983, Kristi Dawn Hicks in 1989, April Vaughn in 1990, Kristen Johnson in 2000 and Tara Conner in 2002. Their most recent placement was Taylor Hubbard who placed in the Top 15 in 2010.
Taylor Moore of Louisville was appointed Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2026 on June 30, 2026, after the open casting call from Thomas Brodeur, the new owner of the national pageant. She will represent Kentucky at Miss Teen USA 2026.
Eligibility The participant must be single, legally recognized female, between the ages of fourteen and eighteen years old. Specifically, the contestant has to be under nineteen years old before January 1 of the pageant year. Also, the applicant must have never been married, pregnant, or had a marriage annulled. A contestant can only be eligible if she is a United States citizen and remains a United States citizen throughout the competition at both a state and national level. She must have lived in the state she desires to compete in permanently, at least six months prior to the pageant date, or be a full-time student in the state with one semester completed by December 31 of the pageant year.
Results summary Placement at Miss Teen USA 1st runner-up: Kristi Dawn Hicks (1989) 2nd runners-up: Krista Keith (1983), Kristen Johnson (2000), Tara Conner (2002) Top 6: April Vaughn (1990) Top 10: Lexie Kemper (1999), Amanda Nunnelley (2003) Top 12: Brittany Johnson (1995) Top 15: Sarah Withers (2005), Jefra Bland (2009), Taylor Hubbard (2010) Kentucky holds a record of 11 placements at Miss Teen USA.
Awards Miss Photogenic: Lexie Kemper (1999), Kristen Johnson (2000)
Winners
Year Name HometownAge1 Local title Placement at Miss Teen USA Special awards at Miss Teen USA Notes 2026 Taylor Moore Louisville TBA Miss Pikeville Teen 2nd runner-up at Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2025 2025 Reese Burt Lexington 19 Miss Keeneland TeenTop 17 at Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2022 1st runner-up at Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2023 3rd runner-up at Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2024 2024 Karlie Holmen Gilbertsville 17 Miss Purchase District Teen 2023 MéShyia Bradshaw Elizabethtown 17 Miss Hardin County Teen Participated in Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2022 2022 Gabriella Hembree Carrollton 19 Miss Two Rivers City Teen Participated at Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2020 Top 16 at Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2021 Top 10 at Miss Kentucky USA 2025 2021 Kennedy Mosley London 17 Miss London Teen 2nd runner-up at Miss Tennessee USA 2024 5th runner-up at Miss Kentucky USA 2025 Top 15 at Miss North Carolina USA 2025 2020 Mattie Barker Louisville 18 Miss Southern Kentucky Teen Participated at Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2018 Later Miss Kentucky USA 2025 1st runner-up at Miss Tennessee USA 2025 2019 Emma Johns Pikeville 17 Miss Pikeville Teen 2018 Jordan Lynn Crozier Somerset 19 Miss Pulaski County Teen Top 16 at Miss Kentucky USA 2020 Participated at Miss Kentucky USA 2024 2017 Olivia Monet Prewitt Danville 18 Miss Danville Teen 2016 Christiaan Prince Grayson 15 Miss Carter County Teen 2015 Caroline Grace Ford Bowling Green 18 Miss South Central Teen 3rd runner-up at Miss Kentucky's Outstanding Teen 2014 3rd runner-up at Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2014 2014 Megan Ann Ducharm Shelbyville 18 Miss Shelby County Teen1st runner-up at Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2013 2013 Rebekah Grace "Gracie" Sapp Lexington 15 Miss Fayette County Teen 2012 Tiffany Marie Cline Georgetown 14 Miss Scott County Teen 2011 Stephanie Tyler Jones Elizabethtown 171st runner-up at Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2010 1st runner-up at Miss Kentucky USA 2014 2010 Taylor J. Hubbard London 15 Top 15 Top 10 at Miss Kentucky USA 2015 2009 Jefra Kaysi Bland Campbellsville 19 Top 15Later contestant on Survivor: Cagayan Participated at Miss Kentucky 2010 2008 Shannen Reil West Van Lear 15 2007 Katrina Marie Giannini Princeton 17 2nd runner-up at Miss Kentucky USA 2012 Top 10 at Miss Kentucky USA 2014 Top 10 at Miss Indiana USA 2015 2006 Tiffany Rachelle Withrow Ashland 17 2005 Sarah Bryan Withers Columbia 18 Top 15 2004 Megan Ann Frank Greensburg 19 2003 Amanda Gene Nunnelley Louisville 17 Top 10 2nd runner-up at Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2002 4th runner-up at Miss Kentucky USA 2006 2002 Tara Elizabeth Conner Russell Springs 16 2nd runner-up Body Glove Swimsuit Award Later Miss Kentucky USA 2006 Miss USA 2006 4th runner up at Miss Universe 2006 2001 Katherine Sloan Faulkner Hazard 17 1st runner-up at Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2000 2000 Kristen Lynn Johnson Slaughters 18 2nd runner-up Miss Photogenic Later Miss Kentucky USA 2005 2nd runner up at Miss USA 2005 1999 Vanessa Alexis "Lexie" Kemper Louisville 17 Top 10 Miss Photogenic 3rd runner-up at Miss Kentucky Teen USA 1998 1st runner-up at Miss Kentucky USA 2001 1998 Elizabeth Ann "Lizzie" Arnold Columbia 18 Later Miss Kentucky USA 2002 1997 Kelli Jones Benton 18 1st runner-up at Miss Kentucky USA 2002 1996 Kelly Marie Sodan Berea 16 1995 Brittany Lea Johnson Virgie 18 Top 12 1994 Crystal Beth Hayden Paducah 17 1993 Holly Renee Riggs Paducah 18 1992 Heather Jeanette Boggess Paducah 17 1991 Christine Jenny Jackman Jeffersontown 18 1990 Jennifer April Vaughn Georgetown 17 Top 6 1989 Kristie Dawn Hicks Bardstown 17 1st runner-up Later Miss Kentucky 1995 1988 Martha Elizabeth "Marti" Hendricks Danville 18 1987 Tracy Starr Marsee Middlesboro 15 Participated in Miss Kentucky USA 1993 1986 Amy Miller Benton 17 1985 Leigh Ann Gregory Lexington 15 1984 Susan Bane "Suzy" Neclerio Georgetown 17 1983 Krista Kalaine Keith Edgewood 15 2nd runner-up 1 Age at the time of the Miss Teen USA pageant
References
External links Official website