The Miss Delaware competition is the pageant that selects the representative of Delaware in the Miss America pageant. The event takes place annually in the month of June and has previously been held in Rehoboth Beach at Convention Hall, in the state capital of Dover, Delaware at the Dover Downs Hotel and Casino, and in Milton at the Milton Theatre. Miss Delaware serves as the official hostess to the state of Delaware.
Anaya Harrison of Wilmington was crowned Miss Delaware on June 20, 2026, at the Thompson Theatre at the University of Delaware in Newark. 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.
Results summary The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Delaware 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: Lois Anne Alava (1954), Catherine Lawton (1973), Debora Rica Lipford (1977), Kayla Martell (2011) Top 15: Peggy Insolo (1940), Galen Giaccone (2009)
Awards Preliminary awards Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Janice Anne Albro (1979) Preliminary Talent: Lois Anne Alava (1954), Catherine Lawton (1973), Junnie Cross (2001), Galen Giaccone (2009)
Non-finalist awards Non-finalist Talent: Robin Jane Whemper (1962), Elaine Campanelli (1976), Sandra Louise Aiken (1978), Lisa Marie Munzert (1991), Jennifer Lin Kaczmarczyk (1994), Alison White (1998), Rebecca Bledsoe (2006), Maria Cahill (2012), Rebecca Jackson (2014), Brooke Mitchell (2016) Non-finalist Interview: Alyssa Murray (2013)
Other awards Miss Congeniality: Paula Kusmer (1972) Equity and Justice Finalist: Sophie Phillips (2022) George Cavalier Talent Award: Anne Marie Jarka (1988) Bernie Wayne Scholarship for the Performing Arts: Junnie Cross (2001) Bert Parks Talent Award: Michelle Harris (1996), Junnie Cross (2001) Quality of Life Award 1st runners-up: Kayla Martell (2011), Brittany Lewis (2015) Quality of Life Award Finalists: Junnie Cross (2001), Linda Kurtz (2005), Alyssa Murray (2012) Forever Miss Americas Scholarship: Grace Otley (2023)
Winners
Year Name Hometown Age Local Title Miss America Talent Placement at Miss America Special scholarships at Miss America Notes2026Anaya HarrisonWilmington24Miss ClaymontPiano2025Hailey MackOcean View18Miss Ocean ViewColor Guard, “Uccen”2nd woman to perform color guard as a talent at Miss America 2024Nova GaffneyMilford24Miss Southern DelawareClassical Ballet en Pointe, "Carmen"2023 Emily Beale Ocean View 27Miss Ocean View Tap Dance, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”2022Grace OtleyHockessin22Miss DoverViolin, "Smooth Criminal" Forever Miss Americas ScholarshipPreviously Miss Delaware's Outstanding Teen 20142021Sophie PhillipsBear25Miss MilfordPiano, "Good Golly, Miss Molly"Equity and Justice Finalist2019–2020Hillary MayMount Vernon, IN23Miss HockessinVocal, "I Could Have Danced All Night"2020 competition was postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19 pandemic2018Joanna WicksWilmington 24Miss WilmingtonSpeed Painting, "Confident" 2017 Chelsea Bruce Manasquan, NJ 21 Miss Newark Contemporary Dance, "Sleeping at Last" by Turning Page Eligible as a student at the University of Delaware 2016 Amanda Debus Middletown 23 Miss First State Contemporary Ballet, "Fight Song" Previously Miss Delaware's Outstanding Teen 2008Previously Miss Delaware Teen USA 20113rd runner-up at Miss Delaware USA 2018 pageant1st runner-up at Miss Delaware USA 2019 pageant 2015 Brooke Mitchell Selbyville 19 Miss Milford Tap Dance/Baton Twirling, "Uptown Funk" Non-finalist Talent Award Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014 pageant2014 Brittany Lewis Brigantine, NJ 23 Miss Wilmington Jazz Dance Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up Originally first runner-up, assumed title when Longacre was dethroned Amanda Longacre Bear 24 Miss Pike Creek Vocal colspan =3 align="center" 2013 Rebecca Jackson Kennett Square, PA 21 Miss Dover Vocal, "Think of Me" from The Phantom of the Opera Non-finalist Talent Award 2012 Alyssa Murray Selbyville 20 Miss Coastal Bay Jazz Dance, "River Deep – Mountain High" Non-finalist Interview AwardQuality of Life Award Finalist 4th runner-up at Miss Delaware USA 2015 competition1st runner-up at Miss Delaware USA 2018 competition2011 Maria Cahill Newark 20 Miss Rehoboth Beach Irish Dance, "Lord of the Dance" Non-finalist Talent Award2010 Kayla Martell Milford 21 Miss Kent County Contemporary Ballet en Pointe, "The Way You Make Me Feel" Top 10 Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up Voted into the Top 15 as a "People's Choice" by public votingFirst contestant with alopecia areata to compete in Miss America pageant2009 Heather Lehman Magnolia 20 Miss Diamond State Classical Vocal, "Adele's Laughing Song" from Die Fledermaus2008 Galen Giaccone Wyoming 20Miss Diamond State Piano, "El Cumbanchero" by Rafael Hernández Marín Top 15 Preliminary Talent Award2007 Brittany Dempsey Dover 20 Miss Capital Jazz Dance, "Rhythm of the Night" Previously Delaware's Junior Miss 20052006 Jamie Ginn Wilmington 25 Miss Brandywine Dance, "Dancin' Fool" from Copacabana 4th runner-up at National Sweetheart 2005 pageant as Miss New Jersey2005 Rebecca Bledsoe Middletown 22 Miss Central Delaware Classical Vocal, "Una Voce Poco Fa" from The Barber of Seville Non-finalist Talent Award2004 Linda Kurtz Dover 21 Miss Dover Ballet, "Man of La Mancha" Quality of Life Award Finalist Contestant at National Sweetheart 2003 pageant2003 Erin Elizabeth Williams Lincoln 20 Miss Eastern Shore Classical Vocal, "Time to Say Goodbye"2002 Shoha Parekh Newark 24 Miss Greenville Bharatnatyam Style Dance 2001 Erin Cooper Camden 22 Miss Hockessin Lyrical Ballet, "Book of Days"2000 Junnie Cross Dover Miss Hockessin Vocal, "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" from The Phantom of the Opera Bert Parks Talent AwardBernie Wayne Scholarship for the Performing Arts AwardPreliminary Talent AwardQuality of Life Award Finalist1999 Kama Boland Hockessin Miss Diamond State Piano, "Jerry Lee Lewis Medley" 1998 Jody Kelly Dover Miss Hockessin Flute, "Shenandoah" and "Dueling Banjos" 1997 Alison White Millsboro 18 Miss Millsboro Classical Vocal, "Poor Wand'ring One" from The Pirates of Penzance Non-finalist Talent Award 1996 Aimee Michelle Voshell Felton Miss Dover Ballet en Pointe "Return to Innocence"Mother to Miss Delaware's Outstanding Teen 2022, Brynn String 1995 Michelle Harris Newark 24 Miss Brandywine Vocal, "I Will Always Love You" Bert Parks Talent Award 1994 Letitia Lee Pusey Millsboro 23 Miss Sussex County Lyrical Tap Dance 1993 Jennifer Lin Kaczmarczyk Hockessin 20 Miss Brandywine Popular Vocal, "This Is the Moment" Non-finalist Talent Award 1992 Kathleen Ann Slavin Dagsboro 25 Miss Sussex County Vocal, "My Man" 1991 Beth Ann Jones Wilmington 22Miss Brandywine Vocal Medley 1990 Lisa Marie Munzert New Castle 20 Dance / Twirling, "They're Playing Our Song" Non-finalist Talent Award 1989 Robin Lee Coutant Millsboro 21 Miss University Vocal, "Think of Me" 1988 Laura Kathleen Ludwig Lewes Miss Sussex County Popular Vocal, "Happy Days Are Here Again" 1987 Anne Marie Jarka Newark Miss University Vocal / Piano, "Almost Over You" George Cavalier Talent Award 1986 Lori Ann Scott Wilmington 23 Miss Wilmington Popular Vocal, "Love Is Spreading All Over" 1985 Lisa Anne Patrick Newark 24 Miss Newark Character Ballet en Pointe 1984 Nancy Lynn Ball Rehoboth Beach Miss Cape Henlopen Jazz Ballet en Pointe 1983 Tammy Renee Copeland Newark 21 Miss Greater Wilmington Vocal, "Cry Me a River" 1982 Nancy Ellen Farley Elsmere Miss New Castle Comedy Monologue, "Report of the Nominating Committee" 1981 Jodi Meade Graham Wilmington 19 Miss Brandywine College Vocal, "Can You Read My Mind" Daughter of Miss Pennsylvania 1956, Lorna Ringler Graham, and grand-niece of Miss America 1924, Ruth Malcomson 1980 Andra Lee Dickerson Newark 21 Miss Newark Piano / Vocal 1979 Ann Lorraine Harrington Milford 22 Miss Milford Magic Act 1978 Janice Anne Albro Claymont 25 Miss Brandywine Hundred Piano Medley, "The Entertainer" & "Maple Leaf Rag" Preliminary Swimsuit Award 1977 Sandra Louise Aiken Seaford 21 Miss Seaford Classical Vocal, "Quando me'n vo'" Non-finalist Talent Award 1976 Debora Rica Lipford Newark 21 Miss Newark Dramatic Interpretation, "It Was a Good Time" from Ryan's Daughter Top 10 First African-American contestant to reach the top 10 at Miss America pageant 1975 Elaine Campanelli Ocean View 20 Miss Ocean View Fire Baton Routine Non-finalist Talent Award 1974 Kathleen Attanasi Rehoboth Beach 22 Miss Rehoboth Beach Harp Medley, "Harmonious Blacksmith" & "Close To You" 1973 Jackie LaGuardia Milford 19 Miss Sussex West Vocal from Irma La Douce 1972 Catherine Lawton Clayton 20 Miss University Motors Banjo, "Banjo Memories" Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award 1971 Paula Kusmer Wilmington 19 Miss Goldey-Beacom College Dramatic reading from The Diary of Anne Frank Miss Congeniality 1970 Linda Sue Hitchens Seaford 20 Miss Nylon Capital Vocal / Dance, "Give My Regards to Broadway" 1969 Margo EwingWilmington 19 Miss Talleyville Vocal, "My Mother's Wedding Day" Served as a Delaware state senator 1968 Gayle Freeman Miss Brandywine College Vocal & Guitar, "Times They Are a-Changin'" 1967 Susan Alice Levens Dover 18 Miss Wesley College Vocal, "Who Will Buy" from Oliver! 1966 Mary Lee ManciniWilmington 19 Miss Greater Wilmington Ballet / Sketch 1965 Kathleen Grandell 18 Miss Brandywine Multi-lingual Monologue 1964 Anita Gail Eubank 20 Popular Vocal & Dance 1963 Diane Beverly Isaacs Greenwood Miss Greenwood Piano & Popular Vocal Previously married to current United States Senator, Tom Carper 1962 Alice Richards Watts Lewes 19 Miss Harrington Pantomime, "Seventeen" 1961 Robin Jane Whempner Wilmington 18 Miss Newark Vocal & Dance, "That's What Makes Paris Paree" from April in Paris Non-finalist Talent Award 1960 Deborah Dunkenfield Benoit 21 Composite Expression of Special Training 1959 Ester Olney Newark 18 Vocal 1958 Nancy M. Williams Wilmington Dance to musical selections from Gone With the Wind 1957 Kathleen Ann D'Attilio 19 Piano 1956 Janice Olson Newark 1955 Joanne Lorraine Sakowski Wilmington 19 Vocal 1954 Barbara Jane Woodall Claymont 20 Piano 1953 Lois Anne Alava Wilmington Piano, "Concerto in A Minor" Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award 1952 Helen Blackwell Wilmington Classical VocalLater, competed in Miss USA 1955 as Miss Delaware USA 1951 Suzanne ParrottDover Piano 1950 Lorna Elaine Edwardson 19 Classical Vocal, "Un Bel Di" from Madame Butterfly 1949No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 Jacquelyn VasseurWilmington 1943 Mona Crawford 1942 Dorothy McGovern 1941 Verona Smith Bridgeville 1940 Peggy Insolo Wilmington Piano Top 15 1939No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant 1938 1937 Nickey Harriet Harrington 1936 Lillian Shamers Wilmington 1935 1934 1933 Victoria A. George Wilmington 18 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 Ruth Agnes Brady Wilmington Miss Wilmington 1922 A. Adele Senft 1921
External links Miss Delaware Official Website
References