The Miss Florida competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Florida in the Miss America pageant. Florida has twice won the Miss America crown.
In the fall of 2018, the Miss America Organization terminated Miss Florida organization's license as well as licenses from Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and West Virginia. In December 2018, the Miss America Organization reinstated licensing for the Miss Florida Scholarship Pageant Inc., along with the organizations in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
Alexandra de Roos of Winter Haven was crowned Miss Florida on June 27, 2026, at the RP Funding Center's Youkey Theatre in Lakeland, Florida. She competed for the title of Miss America 2027 on September 6, 2026, at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Gallery of past titleholders
Results summary The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Florida 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 Miss Americas: Leanza Cornett (1993), Ericka Dunlap (2004) 1st runners-up: Muriel Elizabeth Smith (1943), Ann Gloria Daniel (1955) 2nd runners-up: Virginia Warlen (1944), Janet Ruth Crockett (1951), Carolyn Cline (1979), Lissette Gonzalez (1999), Paris Richardson (2026) 3rd runners-up: Virginia Freeland (1945), Carol Lynn Blum (1966), Myrrhanda Jones (2014), Victoria Cowen (2015), Taylor Tyson (2019), Casana Fink (2025) 4th runners-up: Irmigard Dietel (1937), Gloria Smyley (1938), Mary Elizabeth Godwin (1952), Dorothy Maria Steiner (1958), Dawn Cashwell (1968), Cathy La Belle (1978), Marti Sue Phillips (1980), Sierra Minott (2009) Top 10: Leona Fredericks (1942), Eileen Knapp (1942), Sandra Wirth (1956), Diane Colston (1967), Linda Fitts (1969), Lisa Donovan (1971), Ann K. Schmalzried (1976), Kim Boyce (1984), Jennifer Anne Sauder (1988), Melissa Aggeles (1989), Sandra Joanne Frick (1990), Christy Neuman (1998), Kelly Gaudet (2002), Mari Wilensky (2006), Mary Katherine Fechtel (2016), Leah Roddenberry (2022), Juliette Valle (2024) Top 12: Elizabeth Hull (1935), Vernell Bush (1944) Top 13: Kristina Janolo (2012) Top 15: Ruth Wooddall (1925), Mary Jane Thomas (1938), Irmigard Dietel (1939), Rose Marie Magrill (1939), Mitzi Strother (1940 and 1941), Pepper Shore (1947), Rosemary Carpenter (1948), Michaela McLean (2020) Top 16: Jacquelyn Jennings (1946), Kylie Williams (2008), Laura McKeeman (2013)
Awards Preliminary awards Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Virginia Warlen (1944), Ann Gloria Daniel (1955), Melissa Aggeles (1989), Dana Rinehart Dalton (1991), Lissette Gonzalez (1999), Jenna Edwards (2005), Victoria Cowen (2015), Mary Katherine Fechtel (2016), Sara Zeng (2018) Preliminary Talent: Gloria Smyley (1938), Virginia Warlen (1944), Pepper Shore (1947), Sandra Wirth (1956), Dawn Lauree Cashwell (1968), Linda Fitts (1969), Lisa Donovan (1971), Cathy La Belle (1978), Carolyn Cline (1979), Christy Neuman (1998), Myrrhanda Jones (2014), Taylor Tyson (2019) Preliminary Evening Gown: Kelly Gaudet (2002) Preliminary Fitness: Paris Richardson (2026)
Non-finalist awards Non-finalist Talent: Barbara Jo Ivey (1972), Ellen Meade (1974), Delta Burke (1975), Monica Farrell (1986), Molly Pesce (1987), Mary Ann Olson (1992), Jamie Bolding (1997) Non-finalist Interview: Megan Welch (1995), Jamie Bolding (1997) Non-finalist Social Impact Pitch: Lindsay Bettis (2023)
Other awards Equity and Justice Finalist: Leah Roddenberry (2022), Lindsay Bettis (2023) Bernie Wayne Talent Award: Lissette Gonzalez (1999) Charles & Theresa Brown Scholarship: Victoria Cowen (2015) Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship: Ann K. Schmalzried (1976), Ameigh Verderosa Worley (2006) Final Night Evening Gown Award: Ericka Dunlap (2004) Final Night Talent Award: Ericka Dunlap (2004) Jean Bartel Social Impact Initiative Finalist: Leah Roddenberry (2022) Quality of Life Award 1st runners-up: Kylie Williams (2008) Quality of Life Award Finalists: Jenna Edwards (2005), Jaclyn Raulerson (2011) Women in Business Finalists: Lindsay Bettis (2023) Quality of Life Award Winners: Paris Richardson (2026), Alexandra de Roos (2027)
Winners
Year Name Hometown Age Local Title Miss America Talent Placement at Miss America Special scholarships at Miss America Notes2026Alexandra de RoosWinter Haven23Miss ManateeClassical BalletQuality of Life Award Winner2025Paris RichardsonJacksonville23Miss GainesvilleAcrobatic/Jazz Dance2nd Runner-UpPreliminary Fitness AwardQuality of Life Award Winner 2024Casana FinkOcala25Miss TampaLyrical Dance, "Rescue"3rd Runner-upPreliminary Evening Gown Award2023 Juliette VallePlantation22Miss Orlando Operatic Vocal, "Sempre Libera" from La Traviata by Giuseppe VerdiTop 10The second Hispanic Miss Florida to be crowned in 87 yearsThe first Miss America contestant to deliver a bilingual onstage question response onstage2022Lindsay BettisPonte Vedra Beach26Miss Seminole CountyJazz DanceWomen in Business Finalist Equity & Justice Finalist Non-finalist Social Impact Pitch Award2021Leah RoddenberryBradenton22Miss TampaDanceTop 10Equity and Justice FinalistJean Bartel Social Impact Initiative FinalistPreviously Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen 2013 and 2015First teen titleholder to hold the state title twice2019–20Michaela McLeanClermont 21Miss Florida CitrusLyrical Dance, "You Say" Top 15 Previously Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen 2014Top 12 at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2015 pageant2018 Taylor Tyson Jupiter 23 Miss South Florida Fair Classical Piano, "Mephisto's Waltz" by Franz Liszt 3rd runner-up Preliminary Talent AwardAccepted to Stetson University College of Law2017 Sara Zeng Palm Coast 22 Miss Heart of Florida Classical Piano, "Fantaisie-Impromptu" in C Sharp minor by Frédéric Chopin Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award2016 Courtney Sexton Starke 23 Miss Orlando Jazz Dance, "I Got Love" Previously Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen 2008Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant2015 Mary Katherine Fechtel Leesburg 19 Miss University of Florida Lyrical Dance, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Tessanne Chin Top 10 Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness AwardSister of Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2012, Elizabeth FechtelPreviously Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen 20102014 Victoria Cowen Panama City21Miss North FloridaLyrical Dance, "Note to God"3rd runner-upCharles & Theresa Brown Scholarship Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness AwardOriginally first runner-up, assumed title after tabulation error resulted in Fechtel incorrectly being named the winner Elizabeth Fechtel Leesburg 20 Miss University of Florida Dance, "Happy" by Pharrell Williams colspan=3 Sister of Miss Florida 2015, Mary Katherine FechtelPreviously Miss America's Outstanding Teen 20122013 Myrrhanda Jones Gainesville 19 Miss Palm Coast Baton, "Big Noise from Winnetka" 3rd runner-up Preliminary Talent Award Previously Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen 20092nd runner-up at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2009 pageant2012 Laura McKeeman St. Petersburg 23 Miss Pinellas County Ballet, La Esmeralda Top 16 Former reporter on and current host of SEC Nation on ESPN2011 Kristina Janolo Kissimmee 24 Miss Winter Park Vocal, "Gold" Top 13 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2009 pageant2010 Jaclyn Raulerson Plant City 19 Miss Largo Vocal, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" Quality of Life Award Finalist2009 Rachael Todd Oviedo 22 Miss Suncoast Irish Step Dance, "Riverdance"2008 Sierra Minott Fort Myers 20 Miss Palm Beach County Theater Style Dance, "I Can Cook Too" from On the Town 4th runner-up Previously Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen 20053rd runner-up at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 20052007 Kylie Williams Tallahassee 24 Miss Tallahassee Country Vocal, "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" Top 16 Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up2006 Allison Kreiger Miami 23 Miss Miami Dance / Twirl, "I Will Live For Love"2005 Mari Wilensky Jacksonville21Miss University of FloridaVocal, "Bridge Over Troubled Water"Top 10Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2005 pageantAssumed the crown when Cragg relinquished title Candace Cragg Jacksonville Miss Jacksonville colspan = 3 2004 Jenna Edwards Miami 23 Miss Winter Park Popular Vocal, "Solitaire" Preliminary Swimsuit AwardQuality of Life Award Finalist Later Miss Florida USA 2007 2003 Shauna Pender Miss St. Petersburg colspan=3 Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2001 pageant Ericka Dunlap Orlando 21 Miss City Beautiful Vocal, "If I Could" Winner Finals Evening Gown Award Finals Talent Award First African American to win the title of Miss Florida2002 Katherine Carson Sarasota 20 Miss Largo Vocal, "Gimme, Gimme" from Thoroughly Modern Millie2001 Kelly Gaudet Miami 22 Miss Largo Lyrical Dance, "It's Time" Top 10 Preliminary Evening Gown Award Previously Miss Florida Teen USA 19964th runner-up at National Sweetheart 1999 pageant2000 Candace Rodatz Orange Park 24 Miss First Coast Baton, "Sing, Sing, Sing"1999 Kelli Meierhenry Orlando, Florida 24 Miss University of Central Florida Vocal, "What Will I Tell My Heart?"1998 Lissette Gonzalez Miami 22 Miss Miami Vocal, "All That Jazz" 2nd runner-up Bernie Wayne Talent AwardPreliminary Swimsuit Award1997 Christy Neuman Jacksonville 20 Miss University of North Florida Rhythmic Gymnastics Dance, Theme from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award1996 Jamie Bolding Lakeland 22 Miss Mount Dora Lyrical Ballet, "Can You Read My Mind" Non-finalist Interview AwardNon-finalist Talent Award1995 Kristin Ludecke Eustis 19 Miss Central Florida Classical Vocal, "O Luce di Quest'anima" from Linda di Chamounix Later Miss Florida USA 20001994 Megan Welch DeLand 20 Miss Mount Dora Classical Vocal Non-finalist Interview Award Previously National Sweetheart 19931993 Nicole Padgett Fort Myers 21 Miss Tampa Vocal, "You're Gonna Hear From Me" from Inside Daisy Clover1992 Melinda Miller Miss Altamonte Springs colspan=3 Leanza Cornett Jacksonville 21 Miss Winter Park Vocal, "A New Life" from Jekyll & Hyde Winner Previously National Sweetheart 19911991 Mary Ann Olson Sarasota 24 Miss Manatee County Vocal, "Where the Boys Are" Non-finalist Talent Award1990 Dana Rinehart Dalton Orlando 23 Miss Orlando Dramatic Vocal, "If He Walked Into My Life" from Mame Preliminary Swimsuit Award1989 Sandra Joanne Frick Hialeah 23 Miss Coral Springs Character Ballet en Pointe, "Yankee Doodle Dandy" Top 101988 Melissa Aggeles St. Petersburg 24 Miss Manatee County Vocal / Dance, "Show Stopper" Top 10 Preliminary Swimsuit Award Previously National Sweetheart 19871987 Jennifer Anne Sauder Homestead 22 Miss Homestead Semi-classical Vocal, "If We Were In Love" from Yes, Giorgio Top 101986 Molly Pesce Longwood 23 Miss Seminole County Vocal medley from Cabaret Non-finalist Talent Award 1985 Monica Bruni Farrell Jacksonville 21 Miss Jacksonville University Classical Piano, "Prelude No. 5 in G Minor" by Sergei Rachmaninoff Non-finalist Talent Award Sister of Miss New York 1984, Mary-Ann Farrell, and Miss Illinois 1992, Kathleen FarrellLater Miss Florida USA 19883rd runner-up at Miss USA 1988 pageant