Miss California USA

Alyssa Campanella after winning the title of Miss California USA 2011, Rancho Mirage, CA on Nov. 21, 2010, and current Miss USA 2011.

Katie Blair after winning the title of Miss California USA First Runner Up 2011, Rancho Mirage, CA on Nov. 21, 2010, and current Miss California USA.

Miss California USA is a pageant that selects the representative for the state of California in the Miss USA pageant. The current titleholder is Natalie Pack, who was crowned on January 8, 2012 by 2011 titleholder, Katherine Blair.

History

The pageant is produced by K2 Productions. In the beginning, K2 Productions was directed by former Miss Teen USA 1995, Keylee Sue Sanders, and Keith Lewis. K2 Productions is now directed by Lewis and Miss USA 1995, Shanna Moakler. It was previously co-directed by Jill Vasquez Foley, who held the titles Miss New Mexico Teen USA 1988 and Miss New Mexico USA 1994. (Foley was in the Top 10 at Miss Teen USA 1988.) Prior to K2 Productions the Miss California USA Pageant was produced by Carolee Munger. Prior to Ms. Munger, Guyrex Productions held the franchise for a number of years and produced successful televised pageants with over 100 participants. Before Guyrex, the pageant was produced by Dr. Leanord Stallcup, who took over the directorship after Faye Smith successfully led the way through the 70's and 80's.

California has produced a Miss USA every decade (except the 2000s) and is ranked second highest among states in terms of placements.

Only one Miss California USA was a former Miss California Teen USA, Shauna Gambill, who won the national Miss Teen USA crown in 1994. As Miss California USA in 1998, Gambill placed 1st runner up to Shawnae Jebbia of Massachusetts, in what is widely considered by pageant fans to be one of the closest-fought pageants in recent years. Two Miss California USAs have also competed in the Miss America pageant, while two were former winners of the Miss Teenage California Scholarship Pageant.

Crown

The Miss California USA 2010 Crown was designed by INTA Gems and Diamonds designer Peter Young in 2009.^[1] The crown contains hand-crafted silver and gold as well as over 700 gemstones, including diamonds, sapphires, and pearls.^[2] The crown features a heart in the center surrounded by sparkling waves. According to Young, it symbolizes love, unity, and the beauty of California.^[2]

Results summary

• Miss USA: Terry Huntingdon (1959), Maria Remenyi (1966), Summer Bartholomew (1975), Julie Hayek (1983), Shannon Marketic (1992), Alyssa Campanella (2011)
• 1st runners-up: Pamela Stettler (1961), Susan Bradley (1967), Diana Magaña (1988), Shauna Gambill (1998), Brittany Hogan (2005), Tamiko Nash (2006),Carrie Prejean (2009)
• 2nd runners-up: Kim Hobson (1972), Diane Schock (1991), Angelique Breaux (1999)
• 3rd runners-up: Donna Schurr (1955), Marilyn Tindall (1962), Gayle Gorrell (1974), Pamela Gergley (1977), Cynthia Kerby (1981), Meagan Tandy (2007)
• 4th runners-up: Francine Herack (1963), Troas Hayes (1969), Kelly Parsons (1986)
• Top 10: Christina Faust (1989), Nicole Johnson (2010)
• Top 12: Karin Morrell (1971), Carol Herrema (1973), Joni Pennock (1976), Donna Adrain (1978), Linda Fogarty (1979), Jane Olvera (1993), Tarah Peters (2002)
• Top 15: Peggy Jacobson (1957), Donna Brooks (1958), Teri Janssen (1960), Jeanne Venables (1964), Kathryn Hage (1965), Suzanne Fromm (1968), Linda Hall (1970), Raquel Beezley (2008)
• Top 20: Marcella Roulette (1953), Sandra Constance (1954)

Awards

• Miss Congeniality: Jeanne Venables (1964), Cynthia Kerby (1981), Lori Dickerson (1987)
• Miss Photogenic: Maria Remenyi (1966), Cynthia Kerby (1981), Shannon Marketic (1992)
• Best State Costume: Suzanne Fromm (1964)

Winners

Year Name Hometown Age1 Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes 2012 Natalie Pack Palos Verdes 22 Previously competed in America's Next Top Model, Cycle 12 2011 Katie Blair Los Angeles 23 did not compete Previously Miss Montana Teen USA 2006; and Miss Teen USA 2006. Succeeded Alyssa Campanella when she became Miss USA 2011. Alyssa Campanella[3] Los Angeles 21 Winner Previously Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2007; 1st runner-up to Miss Teen USA 2007 Top 16 semifinalist at Miss Universe 2011 2010 Nicole Johnson Westlake Village 24 Top 10, Finished 9th at Miss USA 2010 2009 Carrie Prejean San Diego 21 1st runner-up Protagonist of the Miss USA 2009 controversy; later dethroned by K2 Productions 2008 Raquel Beezley Barstow 21 Top 15, Finished 12th at Miss USA 2008 Raquel Beezley was crowned Miss California USA 2008 after an accounting error in vote counting had previously crowned Christina Silva[4]. Competed at Miss Asia Pacific International 2005 as USA Representative. 2007 Meagan Tandy Fontana 21 3rd runner-up 2006 Tamiko Nash Los Angeles 26 1st runner-up 2005 Brittany Hogan Escondido 20 1st runner-up Was contestant on Fear Factor in 2005 on the Miss USA episode #5.29 2004 Ellen Chapman San Jose 22 Sister of Miss Nevada USA 2011- Sarah Chapman; Previously Miss Teenage California 1999 2003 Candice Sanders La Habre 26 2002 Tarah Peters San Diego 21 Top 12 semifinalist 2001 Jennifer Glover Castro Valley 21 Later Miss California 2002, 1st runner up at Miss Oktoberfest 2000. Previously Miss United States International 1999, competed at Miss International 1999 in Tokyo, Japan. 2000 Rebekah Ann Keller Lakewood 25 Previously Miss California 1997, 4th runner up at Miss America 1998 1999 Angelique Breaux San Diego 21 2nd runner-up Later Miss World USA 2000, Top 10 Semi-Finalist at Miss World 2000 in London, England, UK. 1998 Shauna Gambill Acton 21 1st runner-up Previously Miss Teen USA 1994 and Miss California Teen USA 1994. Later Miss World USA 1998 and Top 10 Finalist at Miss World 1998 in Seychelles, Africa. 1997 Alisa Kimble Lake Elsinore 27 1st runner up at Miss Oktoberfest 1994 as Miss Arizona 1996 Shanna Lyn Searles Tustin 26 3rd runner up at Miss Oktoberfest 1990 1995 Deana Avila Laguna Niguel Won the 1988 Miss Teenage California Scholarship Pageant 1994 Toay Lynn Foster Oxnard 1993 Jane Olvera Fresno 23 Top 12 semifinalist 1992 Shanna Lyn Searles did not compete Succeeded Shannon Marketic when she became Miss USA 1992, later became Miss California USA 1996 Shannon Marketic Malibu 21 Winner[5] Miss Photogenic Top 10 semifinalist at Miss Universe 1992 1991 Diane Schock Fontana 24 2nd runner-up 1990 Cynthia Nelson Gilroy 1989 Christina Maria Faust San Fernando Valley 23 Top 10 semifinalist 1988 Diana Magaña[6][7] Rancho Palos Verdes 22 1st runner-up Top 10 semifinalist at Miss World 1988. She also received extensive training alongside eventual pageant winner Courtney Gibbs of Texas from pageant directors GuyRex;[8]. 1987 Lori Dickerson[9] Lodi Miss Congeniality[10] 1986 Kelly Parsons Los Angeles 22 4th runner-up Mouseketeer, Model and Actress 1985 Zina Ponder Long Beach, California (Miss USA Special Awards, column writer for Lakeland Ledger Newspaper, a daily account of Miss USA activities (Actress and Writer, former Director of Creative Affairs for Morgan Freeman's production company ("Under Suspicion", "The Human Factor"), produced "Morgan Freeman, Holly Hunter, Zina Ponder Pistor & Friends" for Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw's Children's Action Network, University of Southern California (magna cum laude), 1988 1984 Theresa Ring San Diego 1983 Julie Lynne Hayek Westwood 22 Winner[11] 1st runner-up at Miss Universe 1983, has starred in Dallas, Twin Peaks and As the World Turns 1982 Suzanne Dewames Thousand Oaks 3rd runner up in Miss Oktoberfest 1982 1981 Cynthia Kerby Westlake Village 3rd runner-up Miss Photogenic & Miss Congeniality First woman to win Miss Photogenic & Miss Congeniality at Miss USA 1980 Kari Lloyd Thousand Oaks 1979 Linda Fogarty Fullerton Top 12 semifinalist 1978 Donna Adrain Anaheim Top 12 semifinalist 1977 Pamela Gergely San Rafael 3rd runner-up 1976 Joni Pennock[12] Fullerton 20 Top 12 semifinalist 1975 Summer Bartholomew Merced 23 Winner 2nd runner-up at Miss Universe 1975, Miss Oktoberfest 1973, past hostess of Sale of the Century 1974 Gayle Gorrell 3rd runner-up Miss Oktoberfest 1974 1973 Carol Herrema Artesia Top 12 semifinalist 1972 Kim Hobson San Mateo 2nd runner up 1971 Karin Morrell Auburn Top 12 semifinalist 1970 Linda Hall Top 15 semifinalist 1969 Troas Hayes Sacramento 4th runner-up 1968 Suzanne Fromm Top 15 semifinalist Best State Costume 1967 Susan Bradley Tustin 1st runner-up declined Miss USA title 1966 Maria Remenyi El Cerrito 20 Winner Miss Photogenic Top 15 semifinalist at Miss Universe 1966 1965 Kathryn Lee Hage Santa Monica Top 15 semifinalist 1964 Jeanne Venables Sacramento Top 15 semifinalist Miss Congeniality 1963 Francine Herack Encino 4th runner-up 1962 Marilyn Tindall Los Angeles 3rd runner-up 1961 Pamela Stettler San Rafael 1st runner-up 1960 Teri Janssen Top 15 semifinalist 1959 Terry Lynn Huntingdon Mount Shasta 19 Winner 2nd Runner-up at Miss Universe 1959 1958 Donna Kay Brooks Top 15 semifinalist 1957 Peggy Jacobson Top 15 semifinalist 1956 Shirlee Witty 1955 Donna Schurr 3rd runner-up 1954 Sandra Constance Top 20 semifinalist 1953 Marcella Roulette Top 20 semifinalist 1952 Gloria Maxwell 1 Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant

Nicole Johnson, on-stage after being crowned Miss California USA 2010 at the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, CA on Nov. 22, 2009 Tami Farrell, Miss California USA 2009, attending the 2010 Miss California USA pageant at the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, CA on Nov. 22, 2009 Carrie Prejean after being crowned Miss California USA 2009 at the Palm Springs Riviera on Nov. 23, 2008 Raquel Beezley, Miss California USA 2008 Meagan Tandy, Miss California USA 2007 Julie Hayek, Miss California USA and Miss USA 1983

References

External links

California portal

• Official Miss California USA website