Miss California USA is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state of California in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. The pageant is directed by Crown Diva Productions.
California's most successful placements were in 1959, 1966, 1975, 1983, 1992, and 2011, when Terry Huntingdon, Maria Remenyi, Summer Bartholomew, Julie Hayek, Shannon Marketic, and Alyssa Campanella, respectively, were crowned Miss USA.
The current Miss California USA is Acacia McBride of Calabasas, who was crowned on July 12, 2026, at The Grand Hyatt Indian Wells in Indian Wells. McBride will represent California at Miss USA 2026.
History The Miss California USA Pageant was produced by Carolee Munger. Prior to Ms. Munger, Guyrex Productions held the franchise for a number of years and produced successful televised pageants with over 100 participants. Before Guyrex, the pageant was produced by Dr. Leanord Stallcup, who took over the directorship after Faye Smith successfully led the way through the 1970s and 1980s. Also was produced by Top 10 Productions, Inc. based in San Diego. Top 10 was led by Pam Wilson and Alex Kuty, who have been involved in pageant and fashion production for many years. Top 10 took over for K2 Productions in 2013. K2 had a number of controversies but during its 9 years producing the pageant, it managed to be the top placing state at Miss USA, growing the entry numbers to the largest state pageant in the history of Miss USA and doing the first live television airing in over 10 years. In the beginning, K2 Productions was directed by former Miss Teen USA 1995, Keylee Sue Sanders and Keith Lewis. K2 Productions was later directed by Lewis and briefly co-produced by Miss USA 1995, Shanna Moakler. From 2018 until 2021, Chrisley Productions held the franchise alongside Miss Florida USA under directed by the Chrisley family. In October 2021, Kristen Bradford of Crown Diva Productions took over the directorship for California pageants.
In 2009, Carrie Prejean was forced to resign after placing 1st runner-up at Miss USA 2009 after a controversy developed regarding the answer she gave to her final interview question at the national pageant. Pageant organizers claimed she was fired due to contractual violations.
California has produced a Miss USA every decade (except the 2000s) and is ranked second highest among states in terms of placements, after Texas.
Shauna Gambill, who won the Miss Teen USA crown in 1994, is the only Miss California USA who has previously held the Miss California Teen USA title. As Miss California USA in 1998, Gambill placed 1st Runner-Up to Shawnae Jebbia of Massachusetts. Three Miss California USA titleholders have also competed in the Miss America pageant while two were former winners of the Miss Teenage California Scholarship Pageant.
Gallery of titleholders
Results summary Miss USAs: Terry Huntingdon (1959), Maria Remenyi (1966), Summer Bartholomew (1975), Julie Hayek (1983), Shannon Marketic (1992), Alyssa Campanella (2011) 1st Runners-Up: Pamela Stettler (1961), Susan Bradley (1967), Diana Magaña (1988), Shauna Gambill (1998), Brittany Hogan (2005), Tamiko Nash (2006), Carrie Prejean (2009) 2nd Runners-Up: Kim Hobson (1972), Diane Schock (1991), Angelique Breaux (1999) 3rd Runners-Up: Donna Schurr (1955), Marilyn Tindall (1962), Gayle Gorrell (1974), Pamela "Pam" Gergley (1977), Cynthia Kerby (1981), Meagan Tandy (2007) 4th Runners-Up: Francine Herack (1963), Troas Hayes (1969), Kelly Parsons (1986) Top 5: Nadia Mejía (2016) Top 10/12: Karin Morrell (1971), Carol Herrema (1973), Joni Pennock (1976), Donna Adrain (1978), Linda Fogarty (1979), Christina Faust (1989), Jane Olvera (1993), Tarah Peters (2002), Nicole Johnson (2010), Cassandra Kunze (2014), India Williams (2017), Kelley Johnson (2018), Allyshia Gupta (2020) Top 15/16/20: Marcella Roulette (1953), Sandra Constance (1954), Peggy Jacobson (1957), Donna Brooks (1958), Teri Janssen (1960), Jeanne Venables (1964), Kathryn Hage (1965), Suzanne Fromm (1968), Linda Hall (1970), Raquel Beezley (2008), Mabelynn Capeluj (2013), Tiffany Johnson (2022), Tianna Clark (2023), Samantha Ramos (2024), Acacia McBride (2026)
California holds a record of 54 placements at Miss USA, second overall behind Texas and ahead of South Carolina.
Awards Miss Congeniality: Jeanne Venables (1964), Cynthia Kerby (1981), Lori Dickerson (1987) Miss Photogenic: Maria Remenyi (1966), Cynthia Kerby (1981), Shannon Marketic (1992), Cassandra Kunze (2014), Acacia McBride (2026) Best State Costume: Suzanne Fromm (1968)
Winners
Color key
Year Name HometownAge Local Title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes 2026 Acacia McBride Calabasas 28 Miss Calabasas Top 20 Miss Photogenic 2025 Kylie Chang Cupertino 21 Miss Golden State 2024 Samantha Ramos Santa Monica 24 Miss Santa Monica Top 20 2023 Tianna Clark Perris 27 Miss Perris 2022 Tiffany Johnson Lancaster 26 Miss Lancaster Top 16 Formerly a Los Angeles Clippers professional dancer 2021 Sabrina Lewis Berkeley 23 Miss Berkeley Later Miss California 2023 2020 Allyshia Gupta Los Angeles 25 Miss Los Angeles Top 10 Contestant on season 29 of The Bachelor 2019 Erica Dann San Francisco 27 Miss San Francisco 2018Kelley JohnsonLos Angeles24 Miss Redondo Beach Top 10Previously Miss Colorado 2015 (2nd runner-up at Miss America 2015) 2017 India Williams Lafayette 20 Miss Santa Monica 2016 Nadia Mejia Diamond Bar 20 Miss Corona Del Mar Top 5 Daughter of Gerardo Mejia and Kathy Eicher, Miss West Virginia USA 1989 Later First runner-up Miss Universe Ecuador 2024 Miss Universe Ecuador 20252015 Natasha Martinez Chino Hills 23 Miss Santa Anita Park Formerly a Los Angeles Laker Girl2014 Cassandra Kunze San Diego 20 Miss Beverly Hills Top 10 Miss Photogenic2013 Mabelynn Capeluj 21 Miss Greater San Diego Top 15Contestant in Nuestra Belleza Latina 20152012 Natalie Pack Palos Verdes 22 Miss Hoag Hospital Contestant in cycle 12 of America's Next Top Model 2011 Katie Blair Los Angeles 23 Miss Laurel Canyoncolspan=2 Originally first runner-up, assumed the title when Alyssa Campanella won Miss USA Previously Miss Montana Teen USA 2006 and Miss Teen USA 2006Alyssa Campanella Los Angeles 20 Miss Hillsbourough Miss USA 2011 Previously Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2007 (1st runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2007)2010 Nicole Johnson Westlake Village 24 Miss Sherwood Top 10 Married to swimmer Michael Phelps 2009 Tami Farrell Los Angeles 25 Miss Malibu colspan=2 Originally first runner-up, assumed the title when Carrie Prejean was dethroned Previously Miss Oregon Teen USA 2003 and Miss Teen USA 2003 Carrie Prejean San Diego 21 Miss La Jolla 1st Runner-Up Subject of the Miss USA 2009 same-sex marriage controversy Dethroned by Miss California USA Organization 2008 Raquel Beezley Barstow 21 Miss Barstow Top 15 2007 Meagan Tandy Fontana 21 Miss Inland Empire 3rd Runner-Up 2006 Tamiko Nash Los Angeles 26 Miss North Los Angeles 1st Runner-Up 2005 Brittany Hogan Escondido 20 Miss City of San Diego 2004 Ellen Chapman San Jose 22 Miss San Francisco-Bay Area Sister of Sarah Chapman, Miss Nevada USA 2011 2003 Candice Sanders La Habre 26 Miss Greater Los Angeles 2002 Tarah Peters San Diego 21 Miss Greater San Diego Top 12 2001 Jennifer Jean Glover Castro Valley 21 Miss Bay City Previously Miss United States International 1999 Later Miss California 2002 2000 Rebekah Ann Keller Lakewood 25 Miss Greater Lakewood Previously Miss California 1997 (4th runner-up at Miss America 1997) 1999 Angelique Sue Breaux San Diego 21 Miss Vista 2nd Runner-Up 1st Runner-up at Miss World USA 1999 Later Miss World USA 2000 (Top 10 at Miss World 2000) 1998 Shauna Gene Gambill Acton 21 Miss Acton 1st Runner-Up Previously Miss California Teen USA 1994 and Miss Teen USA 1994 Later Miss World USA 1998 (Top 10 at Miss World 1998) 1997 Alisa Marie Kimble Lake Elsinore 27 Miss Lake Elsinore 1996 Shauna Lyn Searles Grant Tustin 26 Miss Tustin Previously Miss California USA 1992, after Shannon Marketic was crowned Miss USA 1992 1995 Deana Avila Laguna Niguel 24 Miss Laguna Niguel 1994 Toay Lynn Foster Oxnard 19 Miss Tulare County 1993 Jane Olvera Reedley 24 Miss Central Valley Top 12 Participated at Miss California 1990 First Hispanic Miss California USA1992 Shauna Lyn Searles Grant Tustin 22 Miss Sacramento Valley colspan=2 Originally top 6 in Miss California USA, assumed the title when Shannon Marketic was crowned Miss USA Later went on to win Miss California USA 1996 Shannon LaRhea Marketic Malibu21 Miss West Los Angeles Miss USA 1992 Top 10 at Miss Universe 1992 Originally Miss Arizona Teen USA 1989, but dethroned after a auditing error was corrected 1991 Diane Lynn Schock Fontana 24 Miss Claremont 2nd runner-up 1990 Cynthia Lee "Cyndie" Nelson Gilroy 22 Miss Gilroy 1989 Christina Marie Faust Westlake Village 23 Miss San Fernando Valley Top 10 1st runner-up at Miss California USA 1987 2nd runner-up at Miss California USA 1988 1988 Diana Rosa Rodriguez Magaña Rancho Palos Verdes 22 Miss Los Angeles County 1st runner-up Top 10 at Miss World 1988 3rd runner-up at Miss California USA 1987 1987 Lori Lynn Dickerson Lodi 20 Miss San Joaquin County Miss Congeniality 1986 Kelly Elizabeth Parsons Chatsworth 22 Miss Northridge 4th runner-up 1985 Zina Ponder Long Beach 22 Miss Long Beach 1984 Theresa L. Ring San Diego 21 Miss Greater San Diego 1987 Star Search spokesmodel 1983 Julie Lynne Hayek Westwood 22 Miss Westwood Miss USA 1983 1st runner-up at Miss Universe 1983 1st runner-up at Miss California USA 1982 1982 Suzanne Paulette Dewames Thousand Oaks 19 Miss Ventura County Participated at Miss California USA 1981 Top 10 at Miss California 1985 1981 Cynthia Ann "Cindy" Kerby Westlake Village 18 Miss Las Virgenes 3rd runner-up Miss PhotogenicMiss Congeniality 1980 Kari Susanne Lloyd Thousand Oaks 19 Miss Woodland Hills 1979 Linda Marie Fogarty Fullerton 19 Miss Fullerton Top 12 1978 Donna Lynn Adrain Anaheim 21 Miss Anaheim Top 12 1977 Pamela Lynn "Pam" Gergely San Rafael 19 Miss Marin County 3rd runner-up 1976 Joan Marie "Joni" Pennock Northridge 19 Miss Los Angeles County Top 12 6th runner-up at Miss California USA 1975 1975 Summer Robin Bartholomew Merced 23 Miss Merced County Miss USA 1975 2nd runner-up at Miss Universe 1975 Previously Miss Oktoberfest 1973 1974 Gayle Andrea Gorrell Temple City 20 Miss Friendly El Monte-South El Monte 3rd runner-up Rose Princess at the 1973 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Later Miss Oktoberfest 1974 1973 Carol Marie Herrema Artesia 19 Miss Artesia-Cerritos Top 12 1972 Kim Christina Hobson San Mateo 20 Miss San Francisco 2nd runner-up 1971 Karin Dawn Klingler Morrell Newcastle 19 Miss Auburn Top 12 1970 Linda Lee Hall Van Nuys 21 Miss Los Angeles Top 15 3rd runner-up at Miss California USA 1969 1969 Troas Kaye Hayes Sacramento 22 Miss Metropolitan Sacramento 4th runner-up 1968 Suzanne Fromm Riverside 19 Top 15Best State CostumeTop 15 Best in Swimsuit Later Miss Rodeo California 1968 (second runner-up at Miss Rodeo America) Sharon McFarland Apple Valley 18 colspan=2 Resigned from the title 1967 Susan Ellen "Sue" Bradley Tustin 19 1st runner-up 1966 Maria Judith Remenyi El Cerrito 20 Miss USA 1966 Miss Photogenic Top 15 at Miss Universe 1966 1965 Kathryn Lee "Kathy" Hage Santa Monica 18 Miss Santa Monica Top 15 1964 Jeanne Elaine Venables Carmichael 24 Miss Carmichael Miss Congeniality 1963 Francine Cheryl Herack Encino 19 Miss Hollywood 4th runner-up 1962 Marilyn Ann Tindall Hollywood 21 Miss Los Angeles 3rd runner-up 1961 Pamela Ray Stettler San Rafael 18 Miss San Rafael 1st runner-up 1960 Teri Jean Janssen Los Angeles 17 Miss Los Angeles Top 15 Sister of David Janssen 1959 Terry Lynn Huntingdon Mount Shasta 19 Miss Mount Shasta Miss USA 1959