Miss Pennsylvania USA

The Miss Pennsylvania USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Pennsylvania in the Miss USA pageant. It has been previously known as Miss Pennsylvania Universe.[1] This pageant is independently conducted and produced by Proctor Productions based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was produced by Sanders & Associates, Inc., dba- Pageant Associates based in Buckhannon, West Virginia from 2001 to 2020.[2]

For the state pageant affiliated with Miss America, see Miss Pennsylvania.
Miss Pennsylvania USA
Formation1952
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersPhiladelphia
Location
Membership
Miss USA
Official language
English
Key people
Melissa Proctor-Pitchford, State Pageant Director
WebsiteOfficial website

The annual competition is currently held in Pittsburgh and has previously been hosted by Harrisburg, Greensburg and Monroeville.[1][3][4]

Michele McDonald, Miss USA 1971, is the only woman from Pennsylvania to win the Miss USA title.[5] At just eighteen, she was the youngest competitor ever to win the crown.[6] Their most recent placement came in 2019 when Kailyn Marie Perez reached in the Top 15.

Victoria Piekut of Irwin was crowned Miss Pennsylvania USA 2020 on November 3, 2019 at Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center in Johnstown. She represented Pennsylvania for the title of Miss USA 2020.

  • Kimmarie Johnson, Miss Pennsylvania USA 1993
  • Tanya Lehman, Miss Pennsylvania USA 2006
  • Lindsey Nelsen, Miss Pennsylvania USA 2009

Results summary
  • Miss USA: Michele McDonald (1971)
  • 4th runners-up: LauRen Merola (2008)
  • Top 6: Kimmarie Johnson (1993)
  • Top 10/12: Sandy Dell (1978), Julie Page (1983), Denise Epps (1989), Brenda Brabham (2005)
  • Top 15/16/20: Jeri Bauer (1953), Margaret Lineman (1962), Barbara Ann Woronko (1967), Gina Cerilli (2010), Jessica Billings (2013), Valerie Gatto (2014), Kailyn Marie Perez (2019)

Pennsylvania holds a record of 14 placements at Miss USA.

Awards
  • Best State Costume: Julie Page (1983)
  • Best in Swimsuit: Barbara Ann Woronko (1967)

Winners
Color key
  •   Winner
  •   Runner-up or Finalist
  •   Semifinalist
Year Name City Age1 Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes
2020 Victoria Piekut Irwin 23 Previously International Junior Miss Teen 2015[7]
2019 Kailyn Marie Perez Camp Hill 27 Top 15
2018 Olivia Ann Suchko[8] Belle Vernon[8] 21[8]
2017 Cassandra Lee Angst Philadelphia 22
2016 Elena Flora LaQuatra[9] Pittsburgh 23 Triple crown winner; deaf since age 4 due to bacterial meningitis[10][11]
2015 Elizabeth Lee Cardillo[14] Pittsburgh 24
2014 Valerie Gatto[15] Pittsburgh 24 Top 20[15]
2013 Jessica Billings Berwyn 26 Top 15
Title vacant
2012 Sheena Monnin Pittsburgh 26 Resigned the title after the Miss USA competition, alleging that the pageant was a fraud.[16]
2011 Amber-Joi Watkins Philadelphia 26 Former Sixers Dancer
2010 Gina Domenica Cerilli Greensburg 23 Top 15 Former Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleader
2009 Lindsey Nelsen Stewartstown 21
2008 LauRen Merola Pittsburgh 23 4th runner-up Former Miami Dolphins Cheerleader
2007 Samantha Johnson Philadelphia 22
2006 Tanya Lehman York 22
2005 Brenda Brabham Philadelphia 24 Top 10
2004 Nicole Georghalli East Stroudsburg 25
2003 Camille Young Philadelphia 23
2002 Nicole Bigham Belle Vernon 25 Previously Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA 1994 top 12 at Miss Teen USA 1994
2001 Jennifer Ann Watkins Monongahela
2000 Angela Patla Sweet Valley 26
1999 Melissa Godshall Philadelphia 25
1998 Kimberly Jaycox[17] Indiana[17]
1997 Cara Bernosky Whitehall
1996 Susan Barnett Levittown Previously Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA 1990, top 12 at Miss Teen USA 1990
1995 Stephanie Fallat Murrysville
1994 Linda Chiaraluna[3] Evans City[3] 23[3]
1993 Kimmarie Johnson Pittsburgh Top 6
1992 Catherine Weber Philadelphia
1991 Adrienne Romano Philadelphia
1990 Elizabeth Cebak[18][19] Ross[18] 23[18] 4th runner up at Miss World USA 1992
1989 Denise Epps[20][21] Lansdale[21] 22[21] Semi-finalist
1988 Susan Gray[22] Lansdale[22] 20[22]
1987 Lisa Rynkiewicz Clarksville
1986 Sherri Fitzpatrick Quakertown 23 1983 & 1984 Professional Cheerleader for the USFL Philadelphia Stars Football Team; 1985 Professional Cheerleader for the Philadelphia Eagles
1985 Sandra Ferguson[23][24] Pittsburgh 18 Played Amanda Cory on Another World[25]
1984 Tina Albright Lansford
1983 Julie Page[26][27] Belle Vernon[26] 18[26] Semi-finalist Best State Costume
1982 Theresa Rosa[28] North Versailles[28]
1981 Nena Stone[29] Bethel Park[29] 21[29]
1980 Andrea Patrick[30] Connellsville[30] Later Miss West Virginia 1983. Married Fabian in 1998[31]
1979 Maureen Starinsky[32] Monongahela[32] 23[32]
1978 Sandy Dell[33] Latrobe[33] 22[33] Semi-finalist
1977 Lorraine Lincoski Daisytown
1976 Marcy Zambelli Newcastle
1975 Pat Hurley Wilkes-Barre
1974 Dorisann Gatalski Bethel Park
1973 Jill Unbewust Benton
1972 Jeanie Zadrozny Pittsburgh
1971 Michele McDonald Butler Miss USA 1971 Semi-finalist at Miss Universe 1971 Michele Marlene McDonald-Boeke died in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania on January 23, 2020 at age 67 from complications stemming from a 2018 double-lung transplant surgery.
1970 Carol Cerully Altoona
1969 Marlene Vaughn Philadelphia 21
1968 Barbara Verlander[34] White Oak 20[34]
1967 Barbara Ann Woronko Edwardsville 17 Semifinalist Swimsuit Winner Former Radio City Rockette.
1966 Susan Joanne Fennell Philadelphia
1965 Beverly Rudolph Philadelphia
1964 Maryann Reilly Philadelphia
1963 Deborah Cardonick Philadelphia
1962 Margaret Lineman Philadelphia Semi-finalist
1961 Gayle Nelson Philadelphia
1960 Betsy Reeves Philadelphia
1959 Rhoda Mae Kachilo Philadelphia
1958 Natalie Dee Philadelphia
1957 Rosalie Culp Philadelphia
1956 Serena Kifer Philadelphia
1955 Marianne Marcus Philadelphia
1954 Helen Vidovich Philadelphia
1953 Jeri Bauer Philadelphia Semi-finalist
1952 Jeanne Ferguson Philadelphia

1 Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant

References
  1. "Miss Pennsylvania Pageant to be Held in Harrisburg". The Daily Notes. 9 March 1967. p. 3.
  2. "Who We Are: Pageant Associates". Miss Pennsylvania USA® & Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA®. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  3. "Deadline Set for Miss PA USA Entrants". The Titusville Herald. 7 December 1993. p. 7.
  4. "Deadline Set for Pageant Applications". The Daily News. 22 November 1980. p. 12.
  5. "First push from mother helps teen-age winner". The Manhattan Mercury. 24 May 1971.
  6. Koteski, Rena Lynn (3 July 1971). "'I still feel the same', Michelle: Miss Saxonburg to Miss USA". North Hills News Record.
  7. Larussa, Tony (September 23, 2015). "North Huntingdon's Piekut wins international title". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  8. "Pittsburgh-Area Natives Named Miss Pa. USA, Miss Pa. Teen USA". CBS Pittsburgh. 3 December 2017.
  9. McDermott, Maeve (5 June 2016). "This Miss USA contestant overcame losing her hearing to compete for the crown". USA Today.
  10. Wiggin, Sally (December 7, 2015). "4 the 412 team member Elena LaQuatra wins Miss Pennsylvania USA". WTAE News. As a teenager, she won Miss Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen, a pageant that is part of the Miss America system. LaQuatra finished as second runner-up in the national contest.
  11. Niederberger, Mary (2007-07-26). "Deaf teen tapping her way to fame". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
  12. Zapf, Karen (2007-08-02). "East Young Achiever: Elena LaQuatra". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Archived from the original on 2007-12-05. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
  13. Pennello, Toni (December 24, 2015). "Elena LaQuatra is the new Miss Pennsylvania USA". The Almanac.
  14. Ganster, Kathleen (8 January 2015). "Resume: A newsmaker you should know / Hampton alumnae Elizabeth Cardillo named Miss Pennsylvania USA". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  15. Glover, Sarah (8 June 2014). "Miss Pennsylvania USA Says She's a Product of Rape". NBC Pittsburgh.
  16. Krupnick, Ellie (2012-06-05). "Miss Pennsylvania USA 2012 Resigns Over Alleged Pageant Fraud". Huffington Post.
  17. McAndrew, Meghan (14 March 1997). "Miss Pennsylvania USA Entered Pageant on a Whim". Indiana Gazette.
  18. Opalka, William (9 February 1990). "Crowning Glory: Pitt student set for Miss USA pageant". News Record. p. 1.
  19. "Ross model wins state pageant". North Hills News Record. 14 March 1989.
  20. "Miss Pennsylvania-USA selected". The Harrisburg Patriot. 1988-03-07. p. B3.
  21. Fricker, Dan (16 April 1988). "Giving IUP Friend a Ride Leads to Beauty Title". Indiana Gazette.
  22. "Lansdale coed new Miss PA". Indiana Gazette. 6 April 1987. p. 8.
  23. Stefanik, Regis M. (March 11, 1985). "Senior here wins beauty pageant". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 5. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  24. Novakovich, Lilana (1988-03-14). "Ex-teen queen looks like Ivory gal". The Toronto Star. p. C8.
  25. Bianco, Robert (June 19, 1987). "If children's TV turns you off, try 'Kids America' on radio". The Pittsburgh Press. p. D7. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  26. "Miss Pennsylvania Crowned". The Gettysburg Times. 7 March 1983. p. 10.
  27. "Belle Vernon teen wins Miss Pennsylvania title". Indiana Gazette. 7 March 1983. p. 27.
  28. "Rosa wins beauty pageant". The Gettysburg Times. 1 March 1982. p. 13.
  29. "Miss Pennsylvania USA Leads Exercise Program and Models". Indiana Evening Gazette. 5 May 1981.
  30. "Dancer becomes Miss PA". Indiana Evening Gazette. 4 March 1980. p. 4.
  31. Bryant, Jean (1998-09-22). "Connellsville Beauty Queen weds Fabian". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. G1.
  32. "State police typist wins Miss Pennsylvania pageant". Indiana Evening Gazette. 6 March 1979.
  33. "New Miss Pennsylvania chosen from 77 contestants". The Kane Republican. 6 March 1978. p. 7.
  34. "Pitt coed wins Queen contest". The Oil City Derrick. 29 April 1968.
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