The Miss North Carolina USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state North Carolina in the Miss USA pageant. This state is part of the RPM Productions group since 1992. In 2025 and onwards, the pageant is now produced and directed by Ariana Blaize, Miss Universe Guyana 2024, under A Blaize Productions alongside the rest of former RPM states.

In 2005, Miss North Carolina USA Chelsea Cooley won the Miss USA crown and placed in the top 10 at Miss Universe. Cooley is the first former Miss North Carolina Teen USA to win the Miss title, although not the first to have competed at Miss Teen USA. The second Miss North Carolina Teen USA to win the Miss title was Erin O'Kelley in 2007. She went on to place in the top 15 at Miss USA 2007. Similar to the Miss Utah USA titleholders, both Cooley and Kelley placed at Miss USA, eclipsing their teen performances. In 2009, Kristen Dalton became the second woman from North Carolina to be crowned Miss USA. In 2019, Cheslie Kryst became the third woman from the state to win Miss USA. In both occasions, they placed top 10 on their respective Miss Universe pageants. The most recent placement was Jordyn McKey placing Top 20 in 2023.

North Carolina is currently third tied with Idaho in number of former teens have competed in this pageant: eight, after Indiana and Virginia, including three competed at Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia, respectively. In addition, two others have also competed at Miss America.

In 2019 (billed as 2020 pageant), Madeline Delp was the first woman in a wheelchair to win the top 10 finalists in a statewide Miss USA pageant.

Brittany Boltinhouse of Wilmington was crowned Miss North Carolina USA 2026 on June 28, 2026, at The Spartanburg Marriott Hotel in Spartanburg. She intended to represent North Carolina at Miss USA 2026. However, on August 5, 2026, she was dethroned due to a violation of conduct. Therefore, leaving Myla Hadley of Charlotte assuming the title of Miss North Carolina USA 2026.

Gallery of titleholders

Results summary Placements Miss USAs: Chelsea Cooley (2005), Kristen Dalton (2009), Cheslie Kryst (2019) 1st runners-up: Caelynn Miller-Keyes (2018), Morgan Romano (2022) 2nd runners-up: Constance Ann Dorn (1975), Lynn Jenkins (1994), Ashley Puleo (2004) 3rd runners-up: Lyndia Ann Tarlton (1960) 4th runners-up: Marcia Burton (1974) Top 6/8: Pat Arnold (1991), Madison Bryant (2021) Top 10/11/12: Deborah Ann Falls (1972), Dianne Jamerson (1979), Cookie Noak (1984), Rhonda Nobles (1986), Tess Elliott (1992), Ashley Love-Mills (2013) Top 15/20: Shirley Bagwell (1956), Erin O'Kelley (2007), Jordyn McKey (2023), Kenzie Hansley (2024)

North Carolina holds a record of 22 placements at Miss USA.

Awards Miss Photogenic: Pat Arnold (1991) Miss Congeniality: Vera Morris (1998), Monica Palumbo (2001)

Winners Color key

Year Name HometownAge Local title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes2026 Myla Hadley Charlotte 24 Miss Charlotte Originally 1st runner-up, assumed title after the emergence of past inflammatory social media posts created by Boltinhouse Brittany Boltinhouse Beulaville 27 Miss Wilmington colspan="3" 2025 Lourdes "Lulu" Madera Raleigh 39 Miss Raleigh 2024 McKenzie "Kenzie" Hansley Charlotte 24 Miss South Park Top 20 Previously Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2017 Previously Miss North Carolina's Outstanding Teen 2015 2023 Jordyn Ashlee McKey Charlotte 25 Miss Uptown Top 20 2022 Morgan Renee Romano Concord 23 Miss Queen City 1st runner-upBecame Miss USA 2022 after R'Bonney Gabriel became Miss Universe 2022 2021 Madison Alexis Bryant Fayetteville 24 Miss Metrolina Top 8 2020 Jane Madison Axhoj Waxhaw 22 Miss Lake Wylie Previously Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2015 2nd runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2015 Later New England Patriots Cheerleader 2019 Laura Little Charlotte 23 Miss Mount Holly colspan="2" Originally first runner-up, assumed the title when Cheslie Kryst won Miss USA Charlotte Honey Bees dancer Sister of Courtney Little, Miss Teen North Carolina United States 2017 Cheslie Kryst Charlotte 27 Miss Metrolina Miss USA 2019 Top 10 at Miss Universe 2019 2018 Caelynn Miller-Keyes Asheville 22 Miss Asheville 1st runner-upPreviously Miss Virginia Teen USA 2013 Reality TV contestant on The Bachelor (season 23) and Bachelor in Paradise (season 6) 2017 Kaitlin "Katie" Coble Charlotte 26 Miss Weddington Previously Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2007 2nd runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2007 2016 Devin Gant Charlotte 24 Miss Harrisburg Originally 1st runner-up, assumed the title after Allie Dunn's resignation and competed in Miss USA Allison "Allie" Dunn Stallings 21 Miss Stallings colspan="2" Resigned the title a couple of weeks before the Miss USA 2016 pageant due to illness 2015 Julia Dalton Wilmington 23 Miss Wilmington Previously Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2008 2nd runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2008 Sister of Kristen Dalton, Miss USA 2009 Daughter of Jeannie Boger, Miss North Carolina USA 1982 2014 Olivia Olvera Fayetteville 26 Miss Fayetteville 2013 Ashley Love-Mills Raleigh 24 Miss Raleigh Durham Top 10 2012 Sydney Perry Wilmington 21 Miss Wilmington Previously Miss Vermont Teen USA 2008 2011 Brittany York Wilmington 22 2010 Nadia Moffett High Point 24 2009 Kristen Dalton Wilmington 21Miss USA 2009 Top 10 at Miss Universe 2009 Sister of Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2008 and Miss North Carolina USA 2015, Julia Dalton Daughter of Miss North Carolina USA 1982, Jeannie Boger 1st runner-up at Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2005 2008 Andrea Duke Hendersonville 25 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2006 2007 Erin O'Kelley Asheville 21 Top 15 Previously Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2001 2006 Samantha Holvey Buies Creek/Glenville, WV 20 On Oct. 14, 2016 Holvey told CNN that Donald Trump personally inspected each woman prior to the contestScott Zamost, CNN, October 13, 2016, Ex-contestant: Trump inspected each woman before pageant, Retrieved October 14, 2016, "...He would step in front of each girl and look you over from head to toe like we were just meat ... You know when a gross guy at the bar is checking you out? It's that feeling..." -- Samantha Holvey 2005 Chelsea Cooley Charlotte 21 Miss USA 2005 Top 10 at Miss Universe 2005 Previously Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2000 Miss United States Teen 2001 1st runner-up at Miss Teen International 2001 2004 Ashley Puleo Pinehurst 25 2nd runner-up Sister of Laura Puleo, Miss Virginia USA 2015 2003 Kristen Luneberg Durham 22 Previously Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 1998 2002 Alison English Archdale 22 2001 Monica Palumbo Charlotte 19 Miss Congeniality 2000 Portia Johnson Greensboro 24 1999 Joy Hall Sanford 24 1998 Vera Morris Nashville 23 Miss Congeniality 1997 Crystal McLaurin-Coney Durham 1996 Jessica McMinn Tuxedo 1995 Michelle Mauney Stanley Previously Miss North Carolina World 1994 Top 7 finalist in Miss World America 1994 1994 Lynn Jenkins Gastonia 26 2nd runner-up Mother of Juliana Morehouse, Miss Maine USA 2023 1993 Christa Tyson Monroe 1992 Tess Elliott High Point 20 Top 11 Died in a sky-diving accident only weeks after the conclusion of her reign 1991 Pat Arnold Chapel Hill 21 Top 6 Miss Photogenic 1990 Altman Allen Shelby 1989 Jacqueline Padgette Hobgood 1988 Tammy Lynn Tolar Fayetteville Fourth runner-up at Miss North Carolina USA 1987 1987 Donna Leigh Wilson Davidson 21 1986 Rhonda Nobles Fayetteville 20 Top 10 1985 Kate Kenney Raleigh 1984 Cookie Noak Hickory 23 Top 10 1983 Allison Payge Pinson Mooresville 1982 Jeannie Boger Sanford Mother of Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton (Miss North Carolina USA 2009) and Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2008 Julia Dalton (second runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2008) 1981 Lisa Swift Southport 1980 Lori Boggs Kannapolis 1979 Dianne Jamerson Asheville 24 Top 12 1978 Kathryn Norman Charlotte 1977Vikki Verbyla Lenoir 1976 Dianne Bowen Windsor 1975 Constance Dorn Kinston 21 2nd runner-up Previously Miss North Carolina 1972 1st runner up to Miss America 1973 1974 Marcia Patrice Burton Hickory 21 4th runner-up 1973 Vivian Craig Stanley 1972 Deborah Falls Vale 21 Top 12 1971 Mary Elinor Rudroff Winston-Salem 21 1970 Susan Bodsford Ramseur 1969 Faye Bass Durham 19 Received United Artist Special Talent Award 1968 Kelli Moore Raleigh 1967 Patti Effron Jacksonville 1966 Brenda Faye Moye Raleigh 21 1965 Sandra Farmer Greensboro 1964 Did not compete 1963 Trudy Cauthen Newton 1962 Brenda Smith Charlotte 1961 Marie Clyburn Charlotte 1960 Lyndia Tarlton Wingate 19 3rd runner-up 1959 Peggy Brown Sunbury 1958 Carol Edwards Elizabeth City 1957 Peggy Dennis Lilesville 1956 Shirley Bagwell Raleigh 18 Top 15 1955 Mary Ratliffe Wadesboro 1954 Ann Pickett Charlotte 1953 Libby Walker Wilton 1952 Doris Stanley Greensboro

Notes

External links

References