Miss US Virgin Islands is a beauty pageant in the US Virgin Islands.
History Between 1961 and 1978, the National Committee of Virgin Islands celebrated Miss Virgin Islands contest, in which the grand winners competed at the Miss Universe and other beauty pageants. Beginning in 1979, the official name changed to Miss US Virgin Islands.
Franchise ownership and extended history The Miss U.S. Virgin Islands competition began in 1956 when Miriam Edna Golden was crowned as the first Miss Virgin Islands in June 1956 (sponsored by Virgin Islands Hotel Association.) In 1961 was the second edition of Miss Virgin Islands, which saw the first international delegate Priscilla Bonilla representing the territory at Miss Universe 1961 in the United States. The pageant was then owned by Sam King (Owner of Pan American Finishing School) and the U.S. Virgin Islands Carnival Committee.
In franchise history, Cherrie Raphaelia Creque has been the only Miss Universe U.S. Virgin Islands to place in the Top 12 at Miss Universe. The only other international pageant finalist from the U.S. Virgin Islands has been Esonica Veira of St. Thomas, who was awarded 4th Runner up in Miss Supranational in Minsk, Belarus in September 2013.
Through the 1990s, franchise ownership of the Miss US Virgin Islands title belonged to The Lions Club of St. Thomas and also to Debra Gottlieb; a local staple in pageantry. In 2017, the Miss Universe U.S. Virgin Islands franchise was granted the license to Miss Universe Organization led by Lulu Orange Tyson of Lulu Orange, Inc. There was no known license holder of the Miss Universe U.S. Virgin Islands franchise pageant from 2020 to 2023. As of 2024, the franchise ownership transferred to Jaielean Jagroup with the main winner of the Miss USVI pageant going to Miss Universe in 2024 and 2025.
Titleholders
YearMiss US Virgin IslandsNotes Miss Virgin Islands 1956 Miriam Edna Golden 1961 Priscila Bonilla 1962 Juanita Monell Poblete 1967 Gail Garrison 1968 Elodie Sadie Sargeant 1971 Cherrie Raphaelia Creque 1972 Carol Krieger 1973 Cindy Richards 1974 Thelma Yvonne Santiago 1975 Julia Florencia Wallace 1976 Lorraine Patricia Baa 1977 Denise Naomi George 1978 Barbara Henderson Miss US Virgin Islands 1979 Linda Torres 1980 Deborah Velisa Mardenborough 1981 Marise James 1982 Ingerborg Hendricks 1983 Julie Elizabeth Woods 1984 Patricia Maria Graham 1985 Mudite Alda Henderson 1986 Jasmine Olivia Turner 1987 Feliza Ramone Bencosme 1988 Heather Carty 1989 Nathalie Lynch 1991 Monique Lindesay 1992 Cathy-Mae Sitaram 1993 Sheryl Simpson 1995 Kim Marie Ann Boschulte 1997 Vania Thomas 1998 Leah Webster 1999 Sherece Shurmain Smith 2001 Lisa Hasseba Wynne 2002 Merlisa Rhonda George 2005 Tricia Homer 2006 JeT’aime Cerge Grant 2007 Renata Christian 2010 Janeisha John 2011 Alexandrya Evans 2014 Angela Gabriel 2016 Carolyn Carter 2017 Esonica Veira 2018 Aniska Tonge 2019 Andrea Piecuch 2023Madison Ramsingh2024Stephany Andujar Jaielean Jagroup Directorship2025Britanny RobinsonJaielean Jagroup Directorship
Representatives at Big Ten international pageants Miss Universe US Virgin Islands
The winner of Miss US Virgin Islands represents the U.S territory at the Miss Universe. Between 1961 and 1978 Miss Virgin Islands winners went to Miss Universe with a Virgin Islands sash before a constitutional referendum was declared. On March 6, 1979 the queen was officially referred to as Miss U.S Virgin Islands. The Miss US Virgin Islands represents the islands to Miss Universe. The celebration of Miss US Virgin Islands was not held in 2000, 2003-2004, 2008-2009, 2012-2013, and in 2015. It made a return in 2016.
YearMiss US Virgin IslandsPlacement at Miss UniverseSpecial AwardsNotes 2026 Jenna-Monét Queeley TBA TBA 2025 Britanny Robinson Unplaced 2024 Stephany Andujar UnplacedJaielean Jagroup Directorship colspan=5 2019 Andrea Piecuch Unplaced Lulu Orange Tyson Directorship 2018 Aniska Tonge Unplaced Cynthia Jerry, CEO of Miss Virgin Islands Scholarship Pageant, directorship 2017 Esonica Veira Unplaced Lulu Orange Tyson directorship — Esonica was 4th Runner-up at Miss Supranational 2013 and Top 15 at Miss World 2011. 2016 Carolyn Carter Unplaced Best National Costume (Top 12) Tom Youth from US Ventures LLC. directorship. 2015 colspan=4 2014 Angela Gabriel colspan=2 Gabriel was set to fly to Florida to compete at Miss Universe but withdrew after she suffered an arm injury. colspan=5 2011 Alexandrya Evans Unplaced 2010 Janeisha John Unplaced colspan=5 2007 Renata Christian Unplaced Sponsored by Department of Tourism 2006 JeT’aime Cerge Grant Unplaced 2005 Tricia Homer Unplaced Miss Congeniality colspan=5 2002 Merlisa Rhonda George Unplaced Miss Congeniality 2001 Lisa Hasseba Wynne Unplaced 2000 colspan=4 1999 Sherece Shurmain Smith Unplaced Miss US Virgin Islands "The Essence of the Caribbean", held at Wyndham Sugar Resorts, St. Thomas. 1998 Leah Webster Unplaced 1997 Vania Thomas Unplaced 1996 colspan=4 1995 Kim Marie Ann Boschulte Unplaced 1994 colspan=4 1993 Sheryl Simpson Unplaced 1992 Cathy-Mae Sitaram Unplaced 1991 Monique Lindesay Unplaced Miss Congeniality The Lions Club of St. Thomas held the Miss US Virgin Islands — Debra Gottlieb, Helen Hart, Denise Green directorship. 1990 colspan=4 1989 Nathalie Lynch Unplaced 1988 Heather Carty Unplaced 1987 Feliza Ramone Bencosme Unplaced 1986 Jasmine Olivia Turner Unplaced 1985 Mudite Alda Henderson Unplaced 1984 Patricia Maria Graham Unplaced 1983 Julie Elizabeth Woods Unplaced 1982 Ingerborg Hendricks Unplaced 1981 Marise Cecile James Unplaced 1980 Deborah Velisa Mardenborough Unplaced 1979 Linda Torres Unplaced Miss Virgin Islands 1978 Barbara Henderson Unplaced 1977 Denise Naomi George Unplaced 1976 Lorraine Patricia Baa Unplaced 1975 Julia Florencia Wallace Unplaced 1974 Thelma Yvonne Santiago Unplaced 1973 Cindy Richards Unplaced 1972 Carol Krieger Unplaced 1971 Cherrie Raphaelia Creque Top 12 Utta Williams colspan=2 Utta scheduled to compete at Miss Universe but withdrew. Her runner-up, Cherrie Raphaelia Creque took over her participation. colspan=5 1968 Elodie Sadie Sargeant Unplaced 1967 Gail Garrison Unplaced Miss Virgin Islands — Sam King (Owner of Pan American Finishing School and carnival committee). colspan=5 1962 Juanita Monell Poblete Unplaced 1961 Priscila Bonilla Unplaced Sam King purchased Miss Universe franchise for Virgin Islands; Miss Virgin Islands — Virgin Islands Hotel association. colspan=5 1956 Miriam Edna Golden colspan=2 Semifinalist at Miss United States beauty pageant — The Miss V.I competed at Miss United States, not Miss Universe.
Miss World US Virgin Islands
Between 1976 and 1980, it was unknown how the delegates representing the US territory were chosen. Between 1982 and 2005 the Miss American Virgin Islands went to Miss World. In 2010, the Miss World USVI committees appointed the delegate to Miss World 2010 in Sanya. From 2012-2016 the Miss US Paradise winner is the selected delegate to the Miss World pageant. In 2019, a separate pageant called Miss World USVI was held to select the delegate for the Miss World pageant.
YearMiss World US Virgin IslandsPlacement at Miss WorldSpecial AwardsNotes colspan=5 2021 Adisha Penn colspan=3 2020 colspan=5 2019 A'yana Phillips Unplaced Miss World Talent (Top 27) Previously Miss BVI 2018. colspan=5 USVI Representatives from Miss US Paradise 2016 Kyrelle Thomas Unplaced 2015 Jahne Massac Unplaced 2014 Aniska Tonge Unplaced 2013 Petra Cabrera-Badia Unplaced Miss World Beach Beauty (Top 32) 2012 Taiesa Annique Lashley Unplaced Miss World Talent (Top 25) Miss US Paradise Organization — Cyndee's Models in the Isle directorship. USVI Representative from Miss US Virgin Islands 2011 Esonica Veira Top 15 Miss World Talent (Top 11) Beauty With a Purpose (Top 30) Miss World Beach Beauty (Top 36) The 1st Runner-up of Miss US Virgin Islands represented the territory at Miss World 2011 — In 2011 the Miss US Virgin Islands franchised the Miss World license. Miss World US Virgin Islands 2010 Carolyn Carter Unplaced Miss World Sport (Top 20) American Virgin Islands changed name as US Virgin Islands — Cyndee's Models in the Isle has received the licensing rights to host the selection for the US Virgin Islands. Miss American Virgin Islands — World / by wearing sash the "American Virgin Islands" colspan=5 2005 Kmisha-Victoria Counts Top 15 Miss World Talent colspan=5 2002 Hailey Cagan Unplaced 2001 Cherrisse Wood Unplaced 2000 Luciah Hedrington Unplaced 1999 Shani Afua Smith Unplaced 1998 Wendy Sanchez Unplaced 1997 Taisha Regina Gomes Unplaced 1996 Emoliere Williams Unplaced 1995 Roshini Nibbs Unplaced 1994 Jessalyn Pearsall Unplaced 1993 Suzanne Palermo Unplaced 1992 Leah Webster Unplaced 1991 Cheryl Leiba Milligan Unplaced 1990 Keima Akintobi Unplaced 1989 Vania Thomas Top 10 Miss World Caribbean 1988 Cathy-Mae Sitaram Unplaced 1987 Lisa Pitram Unplaced 1986 Carmen Rosa Acosta Unplaced 1985 Connie Mary Colaire Unplaced 1984 Sandy Lewis Unplaced 1983 Chandra Theresa Ramsingh Unplaced 1982 Benedicta Acosta Unplaced Miss American Virgin Islands. Miss World Virgin Islands — official designation 1981 colspan=4 1980 Palmira Frorup Unplaced 1979 Jasmine Olivia Turner Unplaced 1978 Enid d'Lores Francis Unplaced 1977 colspan=4 1976 Denise La Franque Unplaced Miss World Virgin Islands — official designation from 1976 to 1980.
Miss Earth US Virgin Islands
YearMiss Earth US Virgin IslandsPlacement at Miss EarthSpecial AwardsNotes 2024 Brianna McSween Unplaced 2023 Madison Ramsingh Unplaced colspan=5 2020 Isabella Bennett Unplaced 2019 Talisha White Unplaced 2018 colspan=4 2017 Kaylee Carlberg Unplaced colspan=5 2014 Esonica Veira Unplaced Talent Competition Teacher Challenge 2013 Vanessa Mari Donastorg Unplaced 2012 Carolyn Carter Unplaced Evening Gown Competition Walk with M.E I Love My Planet School CampaignUSVI Representative from Miss US Virgin Islands 2011 Kara Williams Unplaced colspan=5 2007 JeT’aime Cheree Cerge Unplaced
Miss International US Virgin Islands
YearMiss International US Virgin IslandsPlacement at Miss InternationalSpecial AwardsNotes2026Alejandra RanaudoTBADirected by JDP Pageants2025Sikeza Chandra FowlksUnplacedPreliminary Speech Top 3Directed by JDP Pageants colspan=5 2012Vanessa Mari DonastorgUnplacedThe 1st Runner-up of Miss US Paradise represented the territory at Miss International 2012 — In 2012 the Miss US Paradise franchised the Miss International license.
Miss Supranational US Virgin Islands
YearMiss Supranational US Virgin IslandsPlacement at Miss Supranational Special AwardsNotes 2024 Bria JamesUnplaced colspan=6 2020 colspan=5 2019 Destani Huffman-Jefferson Unplaced 2013 Esonica Viera 4th runner-up
Miss Cosmo US Virgin Islands
YearMiss Cosmo US Virgin IslandsPlacement at Miss CosmoSpecial AwardsNotes2025Francely LopezUnplacedDirected by Nakia Hardy‑Patterson 2024 London Tucker Withdrew2nd Runner-Up at Miss Grand US Virgin Islands 2024 represented the territory at Miss Cosmo 2024Later Miss Petite International 2025 (represented United States).
Miss Grand US Virgin Islands
YearMiss Grand US Virgin IslandsPlacement at Miss Grand InternationalSpecial AwardsNotes 2024 Shriya BoppanaOriginally crowned the 1st runner-up at Miss Grand US Virgin Islands 2024, assumed the winner after the original winner's reign was prematurely terminated2023Heather ThompsonUnplacedFinalist Miss Grand United States 2019 colspan=5 2018Morgan EvansUnplaced1st runner-up Miss Universe U.S. Virgin Islands 20182017Brianna KeyUnplaced1st runner-up Miss Grand United States 2017 colspan=5 2015Petra CabreraUnplacedMiss U.S. Paradise World 20132014Wilma EchandyUnplacedQueen of Puerto Rico 2012
References
External links missuniverseusvi.com