Miss West Virginia

Miss West Virginia
Formation1922
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersMartinsburg
Location
MembershipMiss America
Official language
English
LeaderShelley Nichols-Franklin
WebsiteOfficial website

The Miss West Virginia competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the U.S. state of West Virginia in the Miss America Pageant.

In the fall of 2018, the Miss America Organization terminated the Miss West Virginia organization's license as well as licenses from Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.[1][2]

The Miss America Organization reinstated the license to Shelley Nichols-Franklin of Martinsburg who was the former executive director of Miss Berkeley County (WV) between 2000 and 2019.[3]

With Alaska became the latest state crowned the Miss America title, West Virginia is one of the few states along with Maine, South Dakota and Wyoming that has yet to win a Miss America, Miss USA, or Miss Teen USA title.

Jennifer Reuther of Wheeling was crowned Miss West Virginia 2024 on June 22, 2024, at the Airborne Event Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2025.

Results summary

The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss West Virginia 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

  • 2nd runners-up: Ella Dee Kessel (1965)
  • 3rd runners-up: Elizabeth Lynch (2023)
  • Top 10: Deborah Davis (1980), Danae DeMasi (2002)
  • Top 15: Lillian Ward (1927), Juanita Park Wright (1940), Joan Elizabeth Estep (1947), Phyllis Walker (1952), Chelsea Malone (2016)
  • Top 16: Norma Lee Salisbury (1946)
  • Top 18: Mildred Fetty (1933)

Awards

Preliminary awards

Non-finalist awards

  • Non-finalist Interview: Leah Lasker (1992)
  • Non-finalist Talent: Karen Childers (1964), Lois Gay Ratcliff (1966), Judith Shoup (1970), Mary Derry (1975), Patricia Paugh (1978), Kari Safford (1997), Paige Madden (2015)

Other awards

  • Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award: Morgan Breeden (2016)
  • Fruit of the Loom Award: Melissa Costello (1991)

Winners

  •   Declared as winner
  •   Ended as a runner-up
  •   Ended as a finalist or semi-finalist
YearNameHometownAgeLocal TitleMiss America TalentPlacement at Miss AmericaSpecial scholarships at Miss AmericaNotes
2025Courtney BearerMorgantown23Miss MorgantownTBATBATBA
2024Jennifer ReutherWheeling26Miss Tri-State AreaDance
2023Karrington ChildressCharles Town21Miss ShenandoahOriginal Monologue
2022Elizabeth LynchMartinsburg25Miss Jefferson CountyOriginal Monologue3rd Runner-Up
2021Jaelyn Wratchford[4]Martinsburg20Miss Jefferson CountyOriginal Monologue
2019–20Toriane Graal[5]Morgantown25Miss Tygart ValleyBaton Twirling, music from Man of La ManchaFormer featured twirler for West Virginia University's Pride of the Mountaineer Marching Band[6]
2018Madeline Collins[7]Charleston23Miss Elkins AreaJazz Dance, "Shake Your Groove Thing"
2017Tamia Hardy[8]Martinsburg22Miss Berkeley CountyHip Hop Dance, "BURNITUP!" by Janet JacksonFirst African American woman crowned Miss West Virginia[9]

2nd Runner Up at Miss West Virginia USA Pageant[citation needed]

2016Morgan Breeden[10]Charles Town21Miss Jefferson CountyPianoDuke of Edinburgh Silver AwardPreviously Miss West Virginia's Outstanding Teen 2012[citation needed]

Contestant at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant[citation needed]

Aunt of Miss West Virginia's Teen 2024, Demi Breeden[citation needed]
2015Chelsea Malone[11][12]Morgantown23Miss WheelingVocal, "Over You"Top 15
2014Paige Madden[13][14]Moundsville21Miss Southern West VirginiaVocal, "Gravity"Non-finalist Talent Award
2013Miranda Harrison[15]Charleston19Vocal, "Feeling Good"
2012Kaitlin Gates[16]Bridgeport20Miss Harrison CountyVocal, "Since I Fell for You"Previously Miss West Virginia's Outstanding Teen 2006[17]
2011Spenser WempeShepherdstown18Miss North EasternDance, "Hallelujah"Contestant at National Sweetheart 2010 pageant
2010Cali Young[18]Glen Dale24Miss Northern West VirginiaJazz Dance, "I've Got 'Cha"
2009Talia MarkhamRipley22Miss Capital CityVocal, "Take My Hand, Precious Lord"
2008Kayla LynamShort Gap21Miss Eastern PanhandlePianoPreviously West Virginia's Junior Miss 2005[citation needed]
2007Summer WyattAthens21Miss Capital CityVocal, "Why Haven't I Heard from You"2nd runner-up at Miss West Virginia USA 2013 pageant[citation needed]
2006Tiffany LawrenceShepherdstown24Miss Jefferson CountyVocal, "Black Velvet"
2005Kimberly GoodwinMorgantown21Miss MorgantownTap Dance
2004Julia BurtonPetersburg22Miss Southern West VirginiaVocal, "The Promise"
2003Allison WilliamsCharles Town22Miss Mountain StateVocal, "Where the Boys Are"
2002Janna KernsTerra Alta23Miss MorgantownVocal, "There You'll Be"
2001Danae DeMasiMorgantown20Miss AppalachiaBallet en Pointe, "Ravendhi"Top 10Preliminary Evening Gown Award
2000Jodi ClarkMoundsville22Miss Point PleasantBallet en Pointe, "Who Will Love Me As I Am?" from Side ShowContestant at National Sweetheart 1999 pageant
1999Lucy OursPetersburg22Miss Mason CountyVocal, "He Grew the Tree"
1998Amy TownsendMorgantown23Miss Marion County AreaVocal, "Hopelessly Devoted to You" from Grease
1997Eisa KrushanskyWestover24Miss North CentralTap Dance, "Dancin' Fool" from Copacabana
1996Kari SaffordPoint Pleasant23Miss Ohio ValleyVocal, "God Help the Outcasts"Non-finalist Talent Award
1995Elizabeth McIntyreDunbar24Miss AppalachiaClogging, "Dance"
1994Jennifer BoppElkins22Miss South CentralVocal, "It's Only a Paper Moon"
1993Cynthia SimsVienna22Miss Ohio ValleyVocal, "There! I've Said It Again"Preliminary Swimsuit Award
1992Kimberly ParrishParkersburg22Miss Marion County AreaContemporary Ballet en Pointe, "Part of Your World"
1991Leah LaskerBluefield23Miss Mercer CountyTap Dance, "I'm a Brass Band" from Sweet CharityNon-finalist Interview Award
1990Melissa CostelloShenandoah Junction20Miss Jefferson CountyVocal, "Hurt"Fruit of the Loom Award
1989Lisa BittingerFairmont21Miss North CentralVocal, "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" from The Phantom of the Opera
1988Lisa SeagrovesMorgantown24Tap Dance, "They're Playing Our Song"Contestant at National Sweetheart 1985 pageant as Miss Georgia
1987Saundra PattonMorgantown22Variety Act
1986Shannon BarillCharleston23Miss Charleston AreaJazz en Pointe
1985Rebecca PorterfieldMartinsburg21Miss Berkeley CountyJazz Dance, "Dance Attack"
1984Melanne PenningtonCross Lanes24Miss Kanawha CountySemi-classical Vocal, "One Kiss" from The New MoonDied of leukemia in 1988[citation needed]
1983Andrea Lynn PatrickMorgantown23Miss West Virginia UniversityTap Dance, "Malagueña" & "España cañí"Previously Miss Pennsylvania USA 1980
1982Kelly Lea AndersonClarksburg21Miss Harrison CountyStylized Can-CanLater Miss West Virginia USA 1984
1st runner-up at Miss USA 1984 pageant[citation needed]

Later Miss World USA 1984[citation needed]
Top 5 finalist at Miss World 1984 pageant[citation needed]
1981Candy CohenHuntington24Miss Marshall UniversityTap Dance, "How High the Moon"
1980Pamela Ellen PaughCharleston21Miss South CharlestonVocal, "Anytime"Sister of Miss West Virginia 1977, Patricia Paugh[19]
1979Deborah DavisHuntington22Miss Southern West VirginiaVocal Medley, "He Touched Me" from Drat! The Cat! & "Maybe This Time" from CabaretTop 10Previously Miss West Virginia USA 1978

Later Mrs. America 1984[citation needed]
1st runner-up at Mrs. World pageant
1978Ivy MeadowsSt. Albans22Miss South CharlestonInterpretive Dance, "Brian's Song"
1977Patricia PaughParkersburg20Miss Parkersburg AreaOriginal Dramatic Monologue, "Deadline"Non-finalist Talent AwardSister of Miss West Virginia 1980, Pamela Paugh[19]

Mother of JonBenét Ramsey[20]
1976Teresa LucasElkins22Miss Fayette CountyGymnastics Routine
1975Kristi WickSouth Charleston20Miss South CharlestonVocal, "Am I Blue?"
1974Mary DerryMorgantown21Miss West Virginia UniversitySemi-classical Vocal, "Cycles"Non-finalist Talent Award
1973Myra Elizabeth "Beth" McVeyHuntington20Miss HuntingtonClassical Vocal, "Quando me'n vo'"
1972Lynette KoperWeirton21Presentation of Original Art Works
1971Deborah LambertMorgantown19Miss West Virginia UniversityPiano, "What the World Needs Now Is Love"
1970Linda Dianne BarnettParkersburg19Miss Wood CountyModern Jazz Dance, "The Electric Indian"
1969Judith ShoupGibsonia, Pennsylvania22Miss West Virginia UniversityVocal Medley & French Horn, "Days of Wine and Roses," "A Taste of Honey," & "I've Gotta Be Me"Non-finalist Talent Award
1968Charlotte WarwickCharleston22Miss Morris-Harvey CollegeSemi-classical Vocal, "The Impossible Dream"
1967Helen MorganLewisburg19Miss BeckleyToe & Acrobatic Dance, "Teakwood Nocturne" by Roger Williams
1966Judith SkundaWeirton18Miss WeirtonDramatic Monologue
1965Lois Gay RatcliffBluefield19Miss Greater BluefieldDramatic Reading, "Lonesome Train"Non-finalist Talent Award
1964Ella Dee KesselRipley21Miss MorgantownPiano, "Three Preludes" by Gershwin2nd runner-upPreliminary Swimsuit Award
1963Karen ChildersSouth CharlestonMiss Marshall UniversityDramatic Reading from "The Yellow Wallpaper"Non-finalist Talent Award
1962Diane HunterArlington, Virginia20Miss MorgantownDance & Dramatic Sketch
1961Carole JohnsonRivesvilleVocal & Dance, "Hey, Look Me Over" from Wildcat & "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun" from Annie Get Your GunLater Miss West Virginia World 1962[citation needed]
1960Mary HobackBluefield18Miss BluefieldOriginal Dramatic Reading
1959Janet HillNitro21Miss NitroDramatic Reading
1958Sandra BoydFairmontVocal, "Money Honey"
1957Janice SickleVocal & Dance
1956Carolyn Jane MillerMartinsburg19DramaCarolyn Jane (Miller) Miller died at 84 on April 17, 2021.
1955Mary FrymanMadisonVocal
1954Miriam ReepClarksburgDance
1953Patricia StewartPinevilleVocal & Impersonations
1952Nancy RohrboughGraftonDance
1951Phyllis WalkerCharlestonDramaTop 15
1950No West Virginia representative at Miss America pageant[21]
1949Georganne SteissBarrackvillePiano
1948Jane QueenHuntingtonVocal & Piano
1947Joan Elizabeth EstepWheelingPiano, Rhapsody in BlueTop 15
1946Norma Lee SalisburyParkersburgTop 16
1945No West Virginia representative at Miss America pageant[22]
1944Sharon Allyson Scott
1943No West Virginia representative at Miss America pageant[23][24]
1942
1941Juanita Park WrightHuntington
1940Juanita Park WrightHuntingtonMiss HuntingtonTop 15Multiple West Virginia representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Mary Schlarmann BowlesMontgomeryMiss West Virginia
1939No West Virginia representative at Miss America pageant[25][26][27][28][29]
1938
1937
1936
1935
1934No national pageant was held[30]
1933Mildred Fetty20Miss West Virginia UniversityN/A[31]Top 18
1932No national pageants were held[30]
1931
1930
1929
1928
1927Lillian WardHuntingtonMiss HuntingtonN/A[31]Top 15Multiple West Virginia representatives

Contestants competed under local title at national pageant
Mildred Dorothy BrightWheelingMiss Wheeling
1926Olive DavisHuntingtonMiss HuntingtonMultiple West Virginia representatives

Contestants competed under local title at national pageant
Mary Cecilia CresapWheelingMiss Wheeling
1925Eleanor McCrackenHuntingtonMiss HuntingtonCompeted under local title at national pageant
1924No West Virginia representative at Miss America pageant[32]
1923Neva Jackson[33]PhilippiMiss West VirginiaN/A[31]Competed under local title at national pageant
1922Mary Dague[34]WheelingMiss Wheeling
1921
No West Virginia representative at Miss America pageant[35]

References

  1. ^ Parry, Wayne (October 8, 2018). "Miss America Organization strikes back at rebellious states". The Associated Press.
  2. ^ Parry, Wayne (December 5, 2018). "Miss America terminates agreements with NJ, NY and FL". The Associated Press.
  3. ^ Bonk, Valerie (June 30, 2019). "Morgantown woman crowned Miss West Virginia 2019 as Martinsburg welcomes pageant". Herald-Mail Media.
  4. ^ Chwalik, Marsha (2021-06-28). "New Miss West Virginia and Miss Outstanding Teen ready to represent the Mountain State on national stage". WV MetroNews. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
  5. ^ Bonk, Valerie (June 30, 2019). "Morgantown woman crowned Miss West Virginia 2019 as Martinsburg welcomes pageant". Herald-Mail Media.
  6. ^ "The Featured Twirlers for the 2016–2017 season!". Facebook. June 6, 2016.
  7. ^ Griffith, Conor (June 30, 2018). "Madeline Collins crowned Miss West Virginia 2018". WV News.
  8. ^ "Hardy, Harrison win West Virginia pageant crowns". The Dominion Post. June 26, 2017.
  9. ^ Van Tassell, Pepper (July 10, 2017). "New Miss West Virginia hopes to empower others". Herald-Mail Media.
  10. ^ Nestor, Leah (December 4, 2016). "Miss West Virginia shares bullying experiences with girls". Times West Virginian. Herald Mail Media.
  11. ^ Babich, Richard (July 1, 2015). "Miss West Virginia, Miss West Virginia Outstanding Teen selected". Times West Virginian. Fairmont, WV: Community Newspaper Holdings.
  12. ^ Babich, Richard (July 2, 2015). "Chelsea Malone, Braelynn Neely are Miss West Virginia winners: PHOTOS". Times West Virginian.
  13. ^ Gallagher, Emily (June 25, 2014). "Moundsville woman named Miss West Virginia". Times West Virginian.
  14. ^ "Two Area Natives Win Pageant Titles". Wheeling News-Register. June 26, 2014.
  15. ^ "Eastern Panhandle women compete in Miss West Virginia pageants". The Journal. July 7, 2013.
  16. ^ Perine, Julie (July 1, 2012). ""Beyond Excited:" Kaitlin Gates is Crowned Miss West Virginia". Connect Bridgeport.
  17. ^ Moore, Sarah (July 22, 2012). "Miss W.Va.: 'It's like living a dream'". The DA Online. In 2007, she was crowned Miss Teen West Virginia, a pageant under the Miss West Virginia umbrella.
  18. ^ Fitzwilliams, Erin (June 30, 2010). "2010 Miss West Virginia, Outstanding Teen crowned". The DA Online.
  19. ^ a b Murphy, Samantha (September 3, 1998). "Aunt says JonBenet knew her killer". CNN.com. Both Patsy Ramsey and Paugh, her unmarried younger sister, are former Miss West Virginia beauty queens.
  20. ^ Jerome, Richard (October 6, 1997). "Mystery Couple". People. 48 (14). Time Inc. ISSN 0093-7673.
  21. ^ "1951 Candidates". Miss America.
  22. ^ "1945 Candidates". Miss America.
  23. ^ "1943 Candidates". Miss America.
  24. ^ "1942 Candidates". Miss America.
  25. ^ "1939 Candidates". Miss America.
  26. ^ "1938 Candidates". Miss America.
  27. ^ "1937 Candidates". Miss America.
  28. ^ "1936 Candidates". Miss America.
  29. ^ "1935 Candidates". Miss America.
  30. ^ a b "Miss America Timeline: 1901–1950". PBS. Archived from the original on 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  31. ^ a b c Schnitzspahn, Karen (September 8, 1997). "There She Was – Miss Long Branch". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com. ...talent contest that was established in 1935.
  32. ^ "1924 Candidates". Miss America.
  33. ^ "West Virginia's Best". The Daily News. Frederick, Maryland. September 6, 1923. p. 11 – via Newspaper.com.
  34. ^ "none". Evening Public Ledger. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. September 2, 1922.
  35. ^ "1921 Candidates". Miss America.
  • Official website
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