Miss Montana

The Miss Montana competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the U.S. state of Montana in the Miss America pageant.[1]

Not to be confused with Miss Montana USA.
Miss Montana
Formation1939
TypeBeauty pageant
Location
  • Billings, MT
Membership
Miss America
Official language
English
Executive Director
Danette Sawin
WebsiteWWW.MISSMONTANA.ORG

Unlike most state pageants in the Miss America system, Montana does not use preliminary local pageants to limit entrants to the state-level competition.[1] They accept at large contestants after an application and interview process.

Faith Johnson of Helena was crowned Miss Montana 2023. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2024.[2]

The state pageant is held in Billings during the Summer. The 2023 competition was held at Lockwood High School on June 17, 2023. This program also hosts the Miss Montana's Teen competition.[2]

Faith Johnson, Miss Montana 2023
Faith Johnson, Miss Montana 2023

Results summary

The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Montana titleholders at the national Miss America pageants/competitions. The year in parentheses indicates the year of the national competition during which a placement and/or award was garnered, not the year attached to the contestant's state title.

Placements
  • Top 10: Joanna Lester (1962), Yvonne Dehner (1995)
  • Top 15: Kay Kittendorf (1940), Patti Luer (1948)
  • Top 16: Alexis Wineman (2013)

Preliminary awards
  • Preliminary Talent: Kay Kittendorf (1940), Patti Luer (1948), Diana Pacini (1976), Yvonne Dehner (1995)

Non-finalist awards
  • Non-finalist Talent: Dianne Feller (1966), Debbie Reber (1974), Lilly Cruise (1981), Jenni Ramseth (1992), Laura Haller (2019)

Other awards

Winners
  •   Declared as winner
  •   Ended as a runner-up
  •   Ended as a finalist or semi-finalist
Year Name Hometown Age Local Title Miss America Talent Placement at Miss America Special scholarships at Miss America Notes
2023 Faith Johnson Helena 23 Miss Queen City Vocal TBA TBA Previously Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen 2016
2022 Alexa Baisch Glendive 22 Tap Dance "Runaway Baby" Previously Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen 2017[3]
2020–21[lower-alpha 1] Jessica Criss[5] Bozeman 23
-
 Vocal
2019 Mo Shea[6] Helena 22 Vocal Dr. & Mrs. David Allman Medical Scholarship[7]

STEM Scholarship Award Finalist[8]		 Previously Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen 2012[9]
2018 Laura Haller[10] 24 Ballet en Pointe, "Spanish Dance" Non-finalist Talent Award

STEM Scholarship Award[11]
2017 Maddie Murray[12] Corvallis 18 Vocal, "God Help the Outcasts" 1st Runner to Miss Montana Teen USA 2016 & 2017
2016 Lauren Scofield[13] Havre 22 Piano, "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven STEM Scholarship Award Finalist[14] Niece of Miss Montana 1986, Kamala Compton
2015 Danielle Wineman[15] Cut Bank 23 Piano, "Pirates of the Caribbean" Sister of Alexis Wineman, Miss Montana 2012

Previously Montana's Junior Miss 2010
2014 Victoria Valentine[16] Missoula 22 Harp/Vocal, "I Won't Give Up" Previously Miss Montana's Outstanding Teen 2008[17]
2013 Sheridan Pope[18] Sidney 21 Tap Dance, "Kiss" 4th runner-up at Miss Montana Teen USA 2010 pageant[19]

Resigned from position as special education teacher in April 2017 for inappropriate Twitter posts about her job and students[20]
2012 Alexis Wineman[21] Cut Bank 18 Monologue, "I Think, Therefore I Am Fat" Top 16 America's Choice Sister of Danielle Wineman, Miss Montana 2015

First contestant with autism to compete at Miss America[22]
2011 Veronika Ohlinger[23] Cooke City 23 Vocal, "Alone" Previously Miss West Virginia's Outstanding Teen 2005[24]

Assumed the title when Chuter resigned[23]
Taryn Chuter[25] Corvallis 23 Contemporary Dance N/A Resigned for personal reasons[23]
2010 Kacie West Kalispell 21 Vocal, "Don't Rain on My Parade" from Funny Girl Later Miss Montana USA 2013
2009 Brittany Wiser[26] Bozeman 21 Vocal, "Sway" Quality of Life Award Finalist Later Miss Montana USA 2011[27]
2008 Jennifer Hepner[28] Great Falls 23 Raqs Sharqi Dance Contestant at National Sweetheart 2006 pageant

Suspended of duties on February 16, 2009, due to DUI charge[29]
2007 Kristen Mantooth Lewistown 22 Lyrical Dance, "Beauty from Pain"
2006 Christie Hageman Billings 23 Classical Vocal, "Il Bacio" by Luigi Arditi
2005 Sophia Steinbeisser Sidney 21 Tap Dance, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"
2004 Evangelina Duke Billings 20 Vocal, "Man of La Mancha" from Man of La Mancha
2003 Amber Shipman Glendive 19 Dance, "Save Tonight" Relieved of her duties on February 27, 2004, due to controversy with pageant directors[30]
2002 Heather Rathbun Darby 24 Taekwondo Demonstration, Music from Mortal Kombat
2001 Kara Svennungsen Shelby 22 Vocal, "On My Own" from Les Misérables
2000 Jana LaBree Ekalaka 24 Miss Southeastern Montana Gospel Vocal, "Because of Who You Are"
1999 Elissa Schwarz Terry 19 Miss Big Sky Flute, "Carmen Fantasy"
1998 Delight Michelle Scheck Helena 21 Miss Missoula/Garden City Semi-classical Vocal, "And This Is My Beloved"
1997 Kristen Garlock Billings 24 Miss Billings Vocal, "Romany Life" from The Fortune Teller
1996 Aubrey Hiller Missoula 22 Miss Treasure State Vocal, "All the Things You Are" Previously Miss Montana Teen USA 1992
1995 Amanda Granrud Great Falls 23 Miss Helena Dramatic Reading
1994 Yvonne Dehner Brockton 24 Miss Western Montana Semi-classical Vocal, "One Kiss" from The New Moon Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award
1993 Erica Havig Billings 19 Miss Billings Ballet en Pointe
1992 JoAnn Jorgensen Helena 24 Miss Central Montana Gymnastics / Dance Previously Miss Montana USA 1991
1991 Jenni Ramseth Billings 18 Miss Yellowstone County Classical Piano, Variations sérieuses by Felix Mendelssohn Non-finalist Talent Award
1990 Karen McNenny Missoula 18 Miss Missoula County Classical Ballet en Pointe, Coppélia
1989 Cathy Brewer Hamilton 20 Miss Western Montana Ballet en Pointe
1988 Becky McRae Miles City 17 Miss Southeastern Montana Vocal, "On My Own" from Les Misérables
1987 Julie Reil 19 Miss Missoula County Vocal, "Being Alive" from Company Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship
1986 Kamala Compton Havre 21 Miss Eastern Montana Gymnastics Dance
1985 Julie Culbertson Billings 19 Miss Yellowstone Valley Jazz Dance
1984 Michele Larson 21 Miss Rocky Mountain College Vocal, "My Tribute" by Andraé Crouch
1983 Laurie Nelson 19 Miss Eastern Montana College Classical Piano, L'isle joyeuse by Claude Debussy
1982 Kimberly Knauf 21 Miss Rocky Mountain Piano Medley, "Jump Shout Boogie" & "Sonata Pathétique"
1981 Sue Harris Helena 19 Miss Helena Gymnastics Dance, Theme from Hawaii Five-O
1980 Lilly Cruise Miles City 20 Miss Eastern Montana Popular Vocal, "I Can See It" Non-finalist Talent Award
1979 Lori Conlon Billings 20 Miss Rocky Mountain College Piano, "Toccata"
1978 Vanessa Ochsner Missoula 18 Miss Missoula County Popular Vocal / Dance, "Yes"
1977 Sue Stanaway Billings 22 Classical Vocal, "The Doll's Song" from The Tales of Hoffmann
1976 Janice Frankino Helena 19 Miss Helena Gymnastics / Jazz Dance, "The Yankee Doodle Boy" Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship
1975 Diana Pacini Great Falls 20 Miss Garden City Classical Piano, "Études Op. 10" by Chopin Preliminary Talent Award
1974 Pamela Royer Billings 20 Miss Eastern Montana College Gymnastic Floor Exercise, "Love Story"
1973 Debbie Reber Helena 22 Miss Helena Vocal Medley & Guitar Non-finalist Talent Award
1972 Debra DeBiase Billings 21 Miss Rocky Mountain College Ballet, "Summer of '42"
1971 Nancy Harper Helena 18 Miss Helena Vocal, "I'm the Greatest Star" from Funny Girl
1970 Jane Opp Billings 20 Miss West Billings Piano, Le Cavalier Fantastique by Benjamin Godard Took over title after original winner, Kathy Huppe, resigned due to pageant officials asking her to stop speaking out against the Vietnam War[31]
1969 Jeanne Meek Bridger 22 Miss Rocky Mountain College Piano, "Toccata" by Paul Ben-Haim
1968 Karen Frank Park City 21 Miss Eastern Montana College Western Vocal & Guitar, "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart"
1967 Linda Rhein Helena 20 Miss University of Montana Original Piano Composition, "What the West Contributed to America"
1966 Nancy McLeod Kalispell 19 Miss Kalispell Popular Vocal / Drama
1965 Dianne Feller Helena 21 Miss West Billings Classical Vocal, "Un bel dì vedremo" from Madama Butterfly Non-finalist Talent Award
1964 Merilee Miller Radersburg 20 Miss Western Montana College Dance
1963 Roberta Tarbox Missoula Miss Missoula Classical Vocal
1962 Marsha Thompson Bozeman 21 Miss Montana State College Dress Making & Design
1961 Joanna Lester Missoula 20 Miss Montana State University, Missoula Vocal Medley, "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" & "There Once Was a Man" from The Pajama Game Top 10
1960 Lois Marie Volkel Missoula 18 Miss Missoula Classical Vocal, "Voi lo Sapete" from Cavalleria rusticana
1959 Sharon D. Tietjen Great Falls Original Humorous Interpretation
1958 No Montana representative at Miss America pageant[32][33]
1957
1956 Alice Jean White Great Falls Art The original winner, Marjorie Edmondson, was disqualified as she was married[34]
1955 Bertha Mae Huebl Glendive Vocal
1954 No Montana representative at Miss America pageant[35][36]
1953
1952 Karen Whittet Livingston Piano
1951 Patricia McGinty Great Falls Classical Vocal, "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix" from Samson and Delilah
1950 Donna Marie Buls Missoula
1949 Carol Fraser Billings Equestrian Display Miss Congeniality (tie) After her horse nearly fell into the orchestra pit, the use of live animals was banned from Miss America talent competition[37]
1948 Patti Luer Anaconda Vocal / Dance, "Gypsy Song" Top 15 Preliminary Talent Award
1947 Carol Chaffen Corvallis Classical Vocal, "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix" from Samson and Delilah
1941–1946 No Montana representative at Miss America pageant
1940 Kay Kittendorf Missoula Classical Vocal, "Un bel dì vedremo" from Madama Butterfly Top 15 Preliminary Talent Award
1939 Lucille Chouinard Fort Peck
1935–1938 No Montana representative at Miss America pageant[38]
1934 No national pageant was held[39]
1933 No Montana representative at Miss America pageant[40]
1932 No national pageants were held[39]
1931
1930
1929
1928
1921–27 No Montana representative at Miss America pageant[41]

Notes
  1. State competition took place in 2020, as national pageant postponed to 2021 for the 2022 edition due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

References
  1. Cole, Erin (July 6, 2010). "An Uphill Climb for Miss Montana". Flathead Beacon. Kalispell, MT. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  2. "Home". Miss Montana Org. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  3. "Madison Murray crowned Miss Montana 2017". MTN News. June 18, 2017.
  4. Kuperinksy, Amy (May 8, 2020). "Miss America postpones pageant until 2021, N.J. pageant still set for September". Press of Atlantic City.
  5. Trainor, Tim (July 29, 2020). "Miss Montana has Klamath Falls roots". Herald and News. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  6. Chaney, Jesse (June 23, 2019). "Helena's Mo Shea crowned Miss Montana 2019". Helena Independent Record.
  7. "Miss America 2020 Scholarship Award Winners Announced". Miss America Organization. December 19, 2019.
  8. Brunetti, Michelle (December 14, 2019). "Miss America scholarships finalists to be interviewed in public at Mohegan Sun". Press of Atlantic City.
  9. "Cut Bank woman crowned Miss Montana 2012". Billings Gazette. June 18, 2012.
  10. "Helena woman crowned Miss Montana 2018". KRTV.com. June 17, 2018. Archived from the original on June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  11. "Miss America 2019 Nia Franklin Crowned in Atlantic City". Miss America Organization. September 9, 2018.
  12. "Miss Montana 2017 crowned in Glendive". KTVQ.com. June 18, 2017.
  13. "Miss Montana is Lauren Scofield, 22, of Havre". Billings Gazette. June 12, 2016.
  14. "Miss America 2017 will be one of these 52 contestants". AL.com. September 6, 2016.
  15. "Danielle Wineman of Cut Bank crowned Miss Montana 2015". Great Falls, MT: KRTV. June 14, 2015. Archived from the original on July 18, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  16. "Missoula resident crowned as Miss Montana". www.nbcmontana.com. June 17, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  17. Barber, Louisa (December 29, 2009). "Time to look back on 2009". Sidney Herald. Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2008 Taylor Fitch visited Sidney along with Miss Montana Outstanding Teen Victoria Valentine during the 2009 teen pageant.
  18. "Sidney woman crowned Miss Montana, Skyview student named outstanding teen". Billings Gazette. June 16, 2013.
  19. "Miss Montana USA & Teen USA state pageant results". Pageant Update Results.
  20. Reuer, Wendy. "Former Miss Montana resigns North Dakota teaching job following controversy". Archived from the original on 2018-06-28. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  21. Golodryga, Bianna (January 11, 2013). "Alexis Wineman, Miss Montana, First Miss America Contestant Diagnosed With Autism". Good Morning America. ABC News. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  22. "Miss Montana: First autistic Miss America contestant". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  23. "Corvallis Woman Gives Up Miss Montana Crown Due to Knee Injury". The Missoulian. July 15, 2011.
  24. "Miss West Virginia's Outstanding Teen 2005". GeoCities.
  25. "Corvallis' Taryn Chuter crowned Miss Montana 2011". Ravalli Republic. June 19, 2011.
  26. "Brittany Wiser crowned Miss Montana". Billings Gazette. June 22, 2009.
  27. Strickler, Lee (April 30, 2011). "Brains and Beauty: You Can Have Both?". Bozeman Magazine.
  28. Cates, Kristen (2008-06-16). "Great Falls woman wins elusive title". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
  29. "Miss Montana faces DUI charge". The Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  30. Tuttle, Greg. "Former Miss Montana sues pageant's leaders". The Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  31. "Beauty Queen Gives Up Title Rather Than Muzzle Views". The News and Courier. Jul 21, 1970.
  32. "1959 Candidates". Miss America.
  33. "1958 Candidates". Miss America.
  34. "Miss Montana Mrs the Boat". Spokane Daily Chronicle. 1956-06-26.
  35. "1955 Candidates". Miss America.
  36. "1954 Candidates". Miss America.
  37. "There she goes . . . Miss America!". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  38. "1935 Candidates". Miss America.
  39. "Miss America Timeline: 1901–1950". PBS.
  40. "1933 Candidates". Miss America.
  41. "1921 Candidates". Miss America.
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