The Miss Texas competition was founded in 1937 as a scholarship contest for young women. The winner represents Texas in the Miss America pageant; four winners have gone on to be crowned Miss America.
To become Miss Texas, a contestant must first win a local competition. A young woman may compete at the local and state level more than once, but may only compete in the national Miss America competition one time. Hundreds of women participate each year in the local pageants, culminating in the selection of local finalists who compete for the Miss Texas title each July. The state pageant was held in Fort Worth for 36 years before relocating to the University of Texas at Arlington's Texas Hall in 2009. In 2012, the pageant moved to the Allen Event Center in suburban Collin County. In 2014 the Miss Texas pageant began being held at the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts in Richardson, Texas.
In 2010, Miss Texas celebrated its 75th anniversary, and Randy Pruett wrote a book, A Dream as Big as Texas, to document the stories of the 75 women that were crowned Miss Texas.
Regan Hutsell of Houston was crowned Miss Texas on June 27, 2026, at Eisemann Center in Richardson, Texas. She represented Texas and won the title of Miss America 2027 on September 6, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Florida. She is the fourth Texan to win the title.
Stephanie Wendt of Coppell was named the new Miss Texas on September 12, 2026.
Gallery of past titleholders
Results summary The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Texas 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: Jo-Carroll Dennison (1942), Phyllis George (1971), Shirley Cothran (1975), Regan Hutsell (2027) 1st runners-up: Moselle Ransome (1927), Alice Emerick (1937), Shilah Phillips (2007), Ellie Breaux (2024), Annette Addo-Yobo (2025), Sadie Schiermeyer (2026) 2nd runners-up: Penny Lee Rudd (1963), Carmen McCollum (1977), Jonna Fitzgerald (1986), Averie Bishop (2023) 3rd runners-up: Linda Loftis (1962), Sharon McCauley (1965), Mae Beth Cormany (1973), Suzanne Lawrence (1991) 4th runners-up: Sheri Ryman (1982), Tamara Hext (1985), Yanci Yarbrough (2000), Margana Wood (2018) Top 7: Caroline Carothers (2017) Top 8: Molly Hazlett (2008) Top 10: Mary Nell Hendricks (1959), Susan Logan (1967), Judy Mallett (1974), Mary Ellen Richardson (1976), Lori Smith (1978), Sandi Miller (1979), Terri Eoff (1981), Dana Rogers (1984), Stephany Samone (1987), Rita Jo Thompson (1988), Leah Kay Lyle (1990), Rhonda Morrison (1992), Arian Archer (1995), Michelle Martinez (1997), Tara Watson (2001), Mary Lisa Dalzell (2003), Jamie Story (2005), Morgan Matlock (2006), Kristen Blair (2010), Kendall Morris (2012), DaNae Couch (2013), Ivana Hall (2014), Shannon Sanderford (2016), Mallory Fuller (2022) Top 12: Ashley Melnick (2011) Top 13: Polly Below (1945) Top 15: Rosebud Blondell (1926), Patricia Allen Green (1936), Charmayne Smith (1939), Chandler Foreman (2020) Top 16: Margaret Sommers (1951), Monique Evans (2015) Top 20: Stacy James (2002)
Awards Preliminary awards Preliminary Fitness: Regan Hutsell (2027) Preliminary Evening Gown: Ellie Breaux (2024), Annette Addo-Yobo (2025) Preliminary Interview: Mary Lisa Dalzell (2003) Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Jo-Carroll Dennison (1942), Phyllis George (1971), Shirley Cothran (1975), Carmen McCollum (1977), Tamara Hext (1985), Molly Hazlett (2008), Kendall Morris (2012), Margana Wood (2018) Preliminary Social Impact Pitch: Mallory Fuller (2022) Preliminary Talent: Jo-Carroll Dennison (1942), Linda Loftis (1962), Carmen McCollum (1977), Sheri Ryman (1982), Jonna Fitzgerald (1986), Stephany Samone (1987), Suzanne Lawrence (1991), Shilah Phillips (2007), Regan Hutsell (2027)
Non-finalist awards Non-finalist Interview: BaShara Chandler (1994) Non-finalist Talent: Marilyn Turner (1960), Mary Cage Moore (1961), Gloria Gilbert (1983), Sunni Cranfill (2004), Madison Fuller (2019)
Other awards Equity & Justice Finalists: Averie Bishop (2023) Miss Congeniality: Joyce Courrege (1944), Luna McClain (1947), Rebecca Robinson (2009) Louanne Gamba Instrumental Award: Kendall Morris (2012) Quality of Life Award Winners: Suzanne Lawrence (1991) Women in Business Winners: Averie Bishop (2023) Women Who Brand Winners: Averie Bishop (2023)
Winners
Year Name Hometown Age Local Title Miss America Talent Placement at Miss America Special scholarships at Miss America Notes2026Stephanie WendtCoppell26Miss Park CitiesLyrical Dancecolspan =2 align="center" Previously Miss Texas' Outstanding Teen 20173rd Runner-Up at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2018Regan HutsellHouston25Miss HoustonJazz Dance, "Le Jazz Hot!" from the film Victor/VictoriaWinnerPreliminary Fitness WinnerPreliminary Talent WinnerFormer Radio City Rockette2025Sadie SchiermeyerFrisco22Miss RichardsonJazz Dance, "That's Life"1st Runner-UpDaughter of Miss Texas 1994, Arian Archer Orlando2024Annette Addo-YoboSouthlake25Miss SouthlakeSlam Poetry, "Autism Speaks"Preliminary Evening Gown WinnerFirst immigrant born and Ghanaian winner2023 & 2024 Overall Interview Winner at Miss Texas2023 Ellie BreauxHouston22Miss Tarrant County Rhythmic Gymnastics/Dance, "Hold my Hand"2022 Averie BishopDallas26Miss CarrolltonVocal, "On my Own"2nd Runner-UpWomen in Business WinnerWomen Who Brand WinnerEquity & Justice FinalistFirst Asian American to win the title of Miss TexasRan for Texas' 112th House of Representatives district in 20242021Mallory FullerFairfield23Miss ColleyvilleFiddleTop 10Preliminary Social Impact Pitch AwardFourth Runner Up at Miss Texas 2019Semi Finalist at Miss Texas 2018Younger sister of Miss Texas' Outstanding Teen 2010 and Miss Texas 2018, Madison Fuller2019–20 Chandler Foreman Pearland 22 Miss Park Cities Flute, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" Top 15 ABC Big 2 & Fox 24, teams Morning Anchor in Odessa, TX2018 Madison Fuller Fairfield 23 Miss Dallas Ventriloquism, "I've Been Everywhere" Non-finalist Talent Award Previously Miss Texas' Outstanding Teen 2010