The Miss Washington's Teen competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the U.S. state of Washington in the Miss America's Teen pageant. The competition is held each June in Olympia, Washington and consists of five categories; private interview, health and fitness, talent, evening gown and on stage conversation.
Paiton Leibold of Kingston was named Miss Washington's Teen on July 1, 2026, at the Capital High School Performing Arts Center in Olympia. She competed for the title of Miss America's Teen 2027 on September 5, 2026, at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida.
In February 2023, the Miss America Organization renamed the Teen program, dropping "Outstanding" from the title of all local, state and the national program name. Morgan Greco was renamed "Miss America's Teen 2023".
Results summary Since the program's institution in 2004, dozens of local programs have helped mentor the young women who ultimately compete on the state and national stage. Payton May and Morgan Greco, Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2020/21 and 2023 respectively, are the only national Miss America titleholders from the Miss Washington Scholarship Organization.
Local Programs The teen program in Washington State is composed of candidates from local competitions as well as open titleholders. The local programs for Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen are as follows: Auburn; Top 5 (2014, 2019, 2023), Semi Finalist (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023), Preliminary Talent (2023, 2024) Special Awards (2018, 2022, 2023, 2025) Clark County/Greater Vancouver; Winner (2005, 2007), Top 5 (2011, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2024), Semi Finalist (2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023) Preliminary Talent (2021), Preliminary Fitness (2022), Special Awards (2021, 2022) Grays Harbor (Pacific Coast added in 2024); Top 5 (2009, 2012, 2021, 2025), Semi Finalist (2014, 2022), Preliminary Talent (2025), Preliminary Fitness (2022), Special Awards (2018) Lewis County; new for 2024 Pierce County; Winner (2008), Top 5 (2011, 2013, 2017, 2018), Semi Finalist (2009, 2012, 2016, 2021, 2022), Preliminary Fitness (2022), Special Awards (2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2024, 2025) Seattle/Emerald City; Winner (2018, 2023), Top 5 (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), Top 10 (2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2025), Preliminary Evening Gown (2023, 2025), Special Awards (2018, 2019) Spokane; Winner (2017), Top 5 (2015, 2023) Semi Finalist (2012, 2018, 2025), Special Awards (2012, 2017) Thurston County; new for 2023, Winner (2024), Top 5 (2023), Top 12 (2025), Special Awards (2025) Tri Cities; Winner (2011, 2012), Top 5 (2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2025), Semi Finalist (2010, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024), Preliminary Talent (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015), Preliminary Fitness (2014, 2015), Special Award (2011, 2012, 2017, 2022) West Sound / Evergreen; Top 5 (2018, 2019), Semi Finalists (2012, 2016, 2021, 2023, 2024), Special Awards (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015) Yakima County/Apple Valley/Sun Valley; Winner (2014), Top 5 (2008, 2016, 2024), Semi Finalists (2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2021), Special Awards (2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021)
Results summary National Placements Miss America's Outstanding Teen: Payton May (2020), Morgan Greco (2023) 2nd runners-up: Shalane Larango (2006) 3rd runners-up: Victoria Renard (2011) Top 12: Janae Calaway (2013)
Awards Preliminary awards Preliminary Evening Wear/On Stage Question: Tayler Plunkett (2015), Payton May (2020) Preliminary Talent: Nicole Renard (2012), Morgan Greco (2023)
Other awards Miss Congeniality/Spirit of America: Tia Moua (2018) America's Choice: Janae Calaway (2013) Advertising Award: Janae Calaway (2013) Non-finalist Evening Wear: Tayler Plunkett (2015) Non-finalist Talent: Nicole Renard (2012) Top Vocal Talent: Morgan Greco (2023)
Featured competitors
Many candidates from the Miss Washington's Teen program have gone on to win titles within MAO and other distinguished pageant programs.
Sami Schubert, Miss Washington Volunteer 2023, competed in the Miss Washington's Teen program from 2013 to 2016. Ripley Ramos, Miss Washington Teen Volunteer 2023, competed in the Miss Washington's Teen program in 2019 and 2020-21 (Top 10). She is the daughter of the current Miss Washington's Teen Director Krystle Ramos. Prior to winning the Miss Washington 2022 title, Regan Gallo competed at Miss Washington's Teen 2016, placing in the Top 10. Reagan Rebstock was crowned the inaugural Miss Washington Volunteer 2022. She previously competed for Miss Washington's Teen in 2014 (4th Runner Up) and 2016 (1st Runner Up). Novalee Lewis won the Miss Washington Teen USA 2021 title. She was crowned Miss Washington's Teen 2018, and was previously Miss Junior High School America 2016. Nicole Renard, the 2011 Miss Washington's Teen titleholder, competed at Miss California 2016 (Top 15) before becoming Miss Washington 2017. Renard has also competed in the National American Miss program. Alicia Cooper, Miss Washington 2016, was first runner up to the teen title in 2011. Reina Almon was crowned Miss Washington 2013. She placed first runner up in 2012, in addition to holding the 2009 teen title. Kenzi Novell competed in the Miss Washington's Teen program in 2009 before becoming Miss Washington USA 2015.
Winners
Year Name Hometown Age Local Title Talent Placement at MAO Teen Special scholarships at MAO Teen Notes2026Paiton LeiboldKingston17Miss Emerald City's TeenAmerican Sign Language2025Kendall RunyanSilverdale17Miss Liberty's TeenVocal2024Emma AdamsOlympia17Miss Thurston County's Teen2023Emily HamiltonSnoqualmie17Miss Seattle's Teen 2022Madison ZantelloBonney Lake18Miss South Sound's Outstanding Teen (open)Operatic VocalN/ATook over title when Greco won national title. 2nd Runner Up and Preliminary Talent winner at Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 2022 Competition. Top 10 at Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 2021.
Later Top 12 and Preliminary Talent Winner at Miss Washington 2024Morgan GrecoCamas16Miss Camas' Outstanding Teen (open)Operatic Vocal, "The Jewel Song"WinnerPreliminary Talent
Top Vocalist Award Later crowned Miss Teen International USA 2024 Previously First Runner Up, Preliminary Talent and Fitness winner at Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 20212021Chloe FurnstahlLake Tapps17Miss Rainier's Outstanding Teen (open)Jazz DancePreviously First Runner Up, Preliminary Talent and Preliminary Fitness Winner at Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 2019
Second Runner Up at Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 2018 2020Tiffany AbramsSpokane Valley18Miss Spokane Valley's Outstanding Teen 2019 (open)VocalNational Pageant Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic 3rd Runner-Up at Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 2019 Pageant. Appointed Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 2020 on June 1, 2020. Previously Top 10 at Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 2017 and 2018. 4th runner-up and Preliminary Evening Gown Winner at Miss Washington 2022 2019Emilie ScottBremerton17Miss West Sound's Outstanding TeenBallet en PointeN/A 2nd Runner Up at Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 2019 competition. Took over title when May won national title.Payton MayVancouver17Miss Greater Vancouver's Outstanding Teen (open)Vocal, "Over the Rainbow"WinnerPreliminary Evening Wear/OSQ AwardPreviously Top 10 at Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 20182018 Novalee LewisTacoma 14 Miss Emerald City's Outstanding Teen Tap Dance Previously Miss Junior High School America 2016
Later Miss Rhode Island High School 2020
Later Miss Washington Teen USA 20212017 Tia MouaSpokane 15 Miss Spokane's Outstanding Teen Jazz Dance Spirit of America First Hmong-American state titleholder in the Miss America program Previously Third Runner Up at Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 2015, also as Miss Spokane's Outstanding Teen2016 Vivian DaoAuburn 16 Miss Liberty's Outstanding Teen (open) Piano, "Game of Thrones Theme" by Ramin Djawadi Graduated from the University of Washington at 20
Previously Third Runner Up at Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 20142015 Abigail DominguianoBremerton 15 Miss Great Peninsula's Outstanding Teen (open) Musical Theater Vocal, "Shy" from the musical Once Upon a Mattress2014 Tayler PlunkettKennewick 16 Miss Sun Valley Outstanding Teen Classical Vocal Non-finalist Evening Wear AwardPreliminary Evening Wear/OSQ AwardPreviously Second Runner Up at Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 2013.
Later Fourth Runner Up at Miss Washington 2017.
Competed at Miss Kentucky 2021 and 2022.2013 Haley DowneyLake Stevens Miss Puget Sound's Outstanding Teen (open) HarpPreviously competed at Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 20122012 Janae CalawayKennewick 17 Miss Tri-Cities' Outstanding Teen Jazz Dance Top 12 Advertising AwardAmerica's Choice Award Later Fourth Runner Up and Preliminary talent winner at Miss Washington 2014. Top 10 and Preliminary Swimsuit Winner at Miss Washington 2015.2011 Nicole RenardKennewick 16 Miss Tri-Cities' Outstanding Teen Dance Non-finalist Talent AwardPreliminary Talent Award Younger sister of Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 2010, Victoria RenardLater Distinguished Young Woman of America 2013Later Miss Washington 20172010 Victoria RenardKennewick 17 Miss Benton County's Outstanding Teen (open) Dance 3rd runner-up Older sister of Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 2011, Nicole Renard
2nd Runner Up at Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 2009
Competed at Miss Oklahoma 2012 and 20132009 Reina AlmonYakima 17 Miss Apple Valley's Outstanding Teen VocalThird Runner Up at Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen 2008 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2012
Later Miss Washington 20132008 Tori KnightPuyallup 16 Miss Pierce County's Outstanding Teen VocalLater Miss Auburn 2013 and competed at Miss Washington 20132007 Genay TuckerVancouver Miss Greater Vancouver's Outstanding Teen Tap DanceThird Runner Up at Miss Washington 2011, competed at Miss Washington 20132006 Stefanie RangeAuburn 13 Miss Lakeland Hills' Outstanding TeenBroadway Vocal, "Shy" from the Musical Once Upon a Mattress2005 Shalane LarangoRidgefield 16 Miss Clark County's Outstanding Teen Dance 2nd runner-up Later Miss Washington Teen USA 2007First former Miss America's Outstanding Teen state titleholder to compete in Miss Teen USA 2004 Sadie PorterSelah DanceNo national pageant Later Miss Washington Teen USA 2009Top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2009 pageant
References
External links Official website