The Miss Maryland USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Maryland in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant is directed by D&D Productions.
The first Miss USA winner from Maryland, Mary Leona Gage, won Miss USA 1957. However, she was later discovered to be a mother of two sons and was therefore dethroned. In 2012, Nana Meriwether placed 1st runner-up, but became Miss USA 2012 when Olivia Culpo won Miss Universe 2012.
Seven Maryland titleholders are former Miss Maryland Teen USAs. These four all reigned in the early 1990s, and in fact four out of seven titleholders from 1990 to 1995 were former teens. Only four Miss Maryland USA has competed at Miss America.
From 2006 to 2008, each woman who won Miss Maryland USA was the previous year's first runner-up.
Holly Plank of Baltimore was crowned Miss Maryland USA 2026 on July 26, 2026 at Hilton Parsippany in Parsippany. She will represent Maryland at Miss USA 2026.
Gallery of titleholders
Results summary Miss USA placements Miss USAs: Mary Leona Gage (1957) 1st runners-up: Paulette Reck (1968), Nana Meriwether (2012) 4th runners-up: Betty Jo Grove (1973), Mamé Adjei (2015) Top 8/10/12: Carol Theis (1971), Tonja Walker (1980), Linda Lambert (1981), Angie Boyer (1982), Rowann Brewer (1988), Jennifer Wilhoit (1995), Marina Harrison (2005), Allyn Rose (2011), Taylor Burton (2014), Mariela Pepin (2019), Layilah Nasser (2021) Top 15/20: Barbara Eschenburg (1954), Charlene Holt (1956), Diane White (1959), Royette Tarry (1964), Roselaine Zetter (1966), Sandy Clevering (1967), Kasey Staniszewski (2013), Brittinay Nicolette (2018), Savena Mushinge (2023)
Maryland holds a record of 25 placements at Miss USA.
Awards Miss Photogenic: Rowann Brewer (1988) Style Award: Megan Gunning (2001)
Winners Color key
Year Name HometownAge Local title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes 2026 Holly Plank Baltimore 35 Miss Baltimore 2025 Lexia Gillette Chevy Chase 29 Miss Chevy Chase 2024 Bailey Anne Kennedy Williamsport 31 Miss Williamsport First trans woman to win the title. 2023 Savena Mushinge Germantown 26 Miss Germantown Top 20 Previously Miss Supranational Zambia 2022 2022 Caleigh Shade Cumberland 22 Previously Miss Maryland Teen USA 2018 Top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2018 2021 Layilah Nasser Montgomery Village 26 Top 8 2020 Taelyr Robinson Annapolis 27 Minor part in The Vineyard Represented USA at Miss Model of the World 2016 Longest reigning Miss Maryland USA () 2019 Mariela Pepin Severn 23 Top 10Born in Puerto Rico Previously Miss Maryland Teen USA 2014 Previously Top 10 finalist at Miss World America 2017 Later contestant on season 25 of The Bachelor and season 7 of Bachelor in Paradise. Later Miss Intercontinental Puerto Rico 2022 and 1st runner-up at Miss Intercontinental 2022 2018 Brittinay Nicolette Fallston 26 Top 15 2017 Adrianna David Rockville 22 Miss University of Maryland Later Miss Maryland 2018 2016 Christina Denny Owings Mills 25 Previously Miss Maryland 2013 Top 10 at Miss America 2014 Represented Maryland at Miss World America 2016 Top 12 at Miss World America 2016 Previously Miss Globe United States 2017 1st runner-up at Miss Globe International 2017 2015 Mamé Adjei Silver Spring 23 4th runner-up 1st runner-up on America's Next Top Model Cycle 22 2014 Taylor Burton La Plata 25 Top 10 2013 Kasey Staniszewski Annapolis 21 Top 15 Triple crown winner Previously Miss Maryland's Outstanding Teen 2007 Previously Miss Maryland Teen USA 2009 3rd runner-up to Miss Teen USA 2009 2012 Nana Meriwether Potomac 27 1st runner-up Became Miss USA 2012 after Olivia Culpo became Miss Universe 2012 Born in South Africa 2011 Allyn Rose Newburg 22 Top 8 Later Miss District of Columbia 2012 Later Miss U.S. Supranational 2014 3rd Runner-up at Miss Supranational 2014 2010 Simone Feldman North Potomac 23 2009 Gabrielle Carlson Marion Station 24 2008 Casandra Tressler Damascus 22 Later Miss U.S. International 2010 2007 Michaé Holloman Fort Washington 25 Cheerleader for Washington Redskins 2006 Melissa DiGiulian Bowie 20 2005 Marina Harrison Severn 24 Top 10 Previously Miss Maryland 2003 3rd runner-up at Miss America 2004 pageant 2004 Tia Shorts Gaithersburg 24 2003 Jamie Kramer Pasadena 2002 Mistie Renee Adams Silver Spring 2001 Megan Gunning Fallston Style Award 2000 Christie S. Davis Silver Spring Sister of Wendy Davis, Miss Maryland USA 1994 1999 Kelly Donohue Union Bridge 1998 Maria Lynn Sheriff Bowie 1997 Ann Coale Baltimore 1996 Michele Michael Annapolis 1995 Jennifer Danielle Wilhoit Annapolis 22 Top 12 Previously Miss Maryland Teen USA 1991 1994 Wendy Davis Silver Spring Sister of Christy Davis, Miss Maryland USA 2000 1993 Mary Ann Cimino Baltimore Previously Miss Maryland Teen USA 1990 1992 Renee Rebstock Pasadena Previously Miss Maryland Teen USA 1987 1991 Lisa Marie Lawson Crofton 1990 Julie Stanford Edgewater Previously Miss Maryland Teen USA 1986 1989 Jackie Carroll Gaithersburg 1988 Rowanne Brewer Silver Spring 23 Semi-finalist Married rock musician Jani Lane 1987 Michelle Snow Germantown 1986 Kelly Koehler Churchton 1985 Christine Marie Baldwin 1984 Betsy Cook Bethesda 1983 Shawn Keller Ashton 1982 Angie Boyer Dunkirk 18 Semi-finalist 1981 Linda Susan Lambert Baltimore 22 Semi-finalist 1980 Tonja Annette Walker Kingsville 19 Top 12 Previously Miss Teen All American 1979 1979 Jean Bourne Silver Spring 1978 Rhonda Koch Brookeville Unplaced at Miss World USA 1976, as Miss District of Columbia World. 1977 Twyla Littleton Oxon Hill 1976 Linda Lee Potter Adelphi 1975 Ellen Bowie Templeville 1974 Mary Jo Ruppert College Park 1973 Betty Jo Grove College Park 19 4th runner-up 1972 Patty Townsend Silver Spring 1971 Carol Jeanne Theis Silver Spring 20 Semi-finalist 1970 Beckie Price Camp Springs 1969 Ardis Fowler Ellicott City 1968 Paulette Reck Perry Hall 20 Miss Perry Hall 1st runner-up 2nd runner up at Miss World USA 1969 1967 Sandra Clevering Silver Spring 19 Semi-finalist 1966 Roselaine Zetter Bowie 22 Semi-finalist 1965 Barbara Kiefer Baltimore 1964 Royette Michele Tarry Baltimore 19 Semi-finalist Represented Delaware in Miss World USA 1970 1963 Marsha Barbara Metrinko Laurel Represented New York City at the Miss America 1964 pageant Sister of Michele Metrinko, Miss District of Columbia USA 1963 and United States representative at Miss World 1962 Shelda Farley Catonsville 1961 Gail Baxter High Point 1960 Jerri Fiorilli Baltimore 1959 Diane Dolores White Baltimore 24 Semi-finalist 3rd runner up at Miss World USA 1961 Mother of Miss Georgia USA 1989 1958 Patricia Vogts Silver Spring 1957 Mary Leona Gage Glen Burnie 18 Miss USA 1957 Dethroned after it was discovered she was married and had two children 1956 Charlene Holt Annapolis 28 Semi-finalist 1955 Gloria Ruth King Baltimore 1954 Barbara Eschenburg Berlin Semi-finalist Disqualified (under age) 1953 Diane Gale Durham Silver Spring 1952 Did not compete
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