The Miss Washington competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Washington in the Miss America pageant.
Natalie Worthy of Battle Ground was crowned Miss Washington on July 11, 2026, at the Capital High School Performing Arts Center in Olympia. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2027 in September.
History Washington first sent delegates to Miss America in 1926 with Leona Fengler, Miss Seattle. She was sponsored by the Seattle Times newspaper, a practice common in the early days of Miss America pageants. She was pictured in the paper leaving in a biplane for her cross-country flight to Atlantic City, where she was voted "Prettiest Girl in an Evening Gown." In 1987, Fendler was featured again in the newly-revived Miss Seattle Pageant.
The Depression and war years caused sporadic participation by Washington contestants in the Miss America pageant, but the Miss Washington pageant was revived in 1948 and held in Ephrata, with a $1000 scholarship offered to the winner. In 1949 the pageant was a "financial flop" and the winner had to seek community donations to fund her appearance at Miss America. At the time the organization was so deeply in debt that the titleholder's tiara was nearly repossessed by the manufacturer.
From 1961 to 1997 the pageant was hosted by Vancouver, under a number of executive directors before moving to the Tri-Cities under the directorship of Chamber President, Dorothy Schoeppach. Under the direction of Schoeppach the local programs again grew from 9 to 22. Two years later the pageant moved to Tacoma under the directorship of Joan Dehn and Mike Shinkle.
The competition was held in Renton or Des Moines, WA beginning in 2008 under the directorship of Charlie VanTramp and then Peggy Miller and Patti Belik, except for 2021, which was held at Little Creek Casino Resort in Shelton, WA, due to pandemic restrictions. . In 2023, the competition as well as all of its annual events moved to the Capital High School Performing Arts Center in Olympia.
The Miss Washington Scholarship Organization is a 501(c)4 organization, and its scholarship arm, MWSO Miracle, Inc. is a 501(c)3, where donations are tax deductible.
Gallery of past titleholders
Results summary Following is a summary of the results of Miss Washington 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: Anna Mae Schoonover (1939), Sharon Vaughn (1960), Sharon Rogers (1983), Elyse Umemoto (2008) 3rd runners-up: Honey Castro (1986), Jacquie Brown (2011), Alicia Cooper (2017) 4th runners-up: Laurie Nelson (1979) Top 10: Lauren Waddleton (1965), Susan Buckner (1972), Leslie Mays (1974), Kathleen Moore (1975), Doris Hayes (1981), Jennifer Wall (1990), SoYoung Kwon (1992), Kristen Eddings (2007), Mandy Schendel (2013) Top 15: Leona Natalia Fengler (1926), Amanda Beers (2003), Danamarie McNicholl (2019) Top 16: Karlyne Abele (1951) Top 18: Gladine Sweetser (1933)
Awards Preliminary awards Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Sharon Vaughn (1960), Susan Buckner (1972), Leslie Mays (1974), Kristine Weitz (1982), Mandy Schendel (2013) Preliminary Talent: Doris Hayes (1981) (tie)
Non-finalist awards Non-finalist Interview: Fianna Dickson (2004) Non-finalist Talent: Mardi Hagen (1964), Kippy Lou Brinkman (1966), Kristine Weitz (1982), Brittney Henry (2012)
Other awards Miss Congeniality: N/A Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship: Honey Castro (1986) Miss America Scholar: Mariana Loya (1999) Quality of Life Award Finalists: Mandy Schendel (2013) STEM Scholarship Award Winners: Lizzi Jackson (2016)
Winners
Year Name Hometown Age Local Title Miss America Talent Placement at Miss America Special scholarships at Miss America Notes2026Natalie WorthyBattle Ground23Miss Greater VancouverVocal2025Amber PikeSnohomish24Miss SpokaneViolinPreliminary Evening Gown winner at Miss Washington 2025.First Runner Up at Miss Washington 2024.First Runner Up and Preliminary Talent winner at Miss Washington 2023.Competed at Miss Washington 2022.2024Hermona GirmaySeattle23Miss SeattleVocal, "My Days"Preliminary Evening Gown and Talent winner at Miss Washington 2024.Top 10 at Miss Washington 2023.Previously National American Miss Washington 2021-2022, Second Runner Up at National American Miss 2021-2022.Previously National American Miss Teen 2017-2018.2023Vanessa MunsonBattle Ground23Miss Clark CountyDancePreliminary Evening Gown winner at Miss Washington 2023.2022Regan GalloPuyallup23Miss Pierce CountyDancePreviously Top 10 at Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 2016.Third Runner Up at Miss Washington Volunteer 2022.2021Maddie LouderSeattle23Miss Emerald CityDanceCompeted at Miss Oklahoma 2018, Top 16 finalist at Miss Oklahoma 2019. Later became Miss Washington Volunteer 2024 and Top 16 at Miss Volunteer America. 2019–20 Abbie KondelBrush Prairie 21 Miss Clark County Power Tap Dance, "Sax" by Fleur East First Runner Up at Miss Washington 2018.
Top 10 at Miss Washington 2017. 2018 Danamarie McNichollSpokane 23 Miss Columbia Basin Piano, "Curse of the Black Pearl" from Pirates of the Caribbean Top 15First Runner Up at Miss Washington 2017.
Competed at Miss Washington 2016. 2017 Nicole Renard Kennewick 22 Miss Rainier Jazz Dance, "I Love Me" by Meghan Trainor Previously Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 2011Previously Distinguished Young Woman of America 2013 Semi Finalist at Miss California 2016 2016 Alicia Cooper Vancouver 21 Miss Clark County Tap Dance, "Let's Get Loud" by Jennifer Lopez 3rd runner-upThird Runner up and Preliminary Swimsuit Winner at Miss Washington 2014.
Top 10 at Miss Washington 2013.