Miss Arkansas USA, previously known as Miss Arkansas Universe, is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state of Arkansas in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. The pageant is directed by Vanbros and Associates.

Arkansas's most successful placement was in 1982, when Terri Utley was crowned Miss USA. The most recent placement was Olivia Halsey in 2025 who placed in the Top 20. Nine Miss Arkansas USA titleholders were former Miss Arkansas Teen USA titleholders who competed at Miss Teen USA. The longest reigning titleholder was Haley Rose Pontius in 2020, having held the title for 18 months, while the shortest titleholder was Stephanie Barber in 2021, having held the title for 10 months and 18 days.

The state pageant was directed by Premier Pageants from 2002 to 2007 before becoming part of the Vanbros organization, headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas. In 2018, Vanbros chose Fort Smith, Arkansas as the new host city of the pageant. Other host cities for the pageant have included Bentonville, Little Rock, Magnolia, and West Memphis.

The current Miss Arkansas USA is Anna Claire Hay of Fayetteville who was crowned on May 3, 2026, at The Center for the Arts in Russellville. She will represent Arkansas at Miss USA 2026.

Gallery of titleholders

Results summary

Placements Miss USA: Terri Utley (1982) 1st Runner-Up: Margaret Haywood (1955) 2nd Runner-Up: Nancy McCollum (1956) Top 5: Savannah Skidmore (2019) Top 10: Chanley Painter (2009), Abby Floyd (2016) Top 15/16/20: Waydine Nesbitt (1954), Helen Garrott (1957), Donna Needham (1959), Ann Smithwick (1968), Mary Dial (1970), Jessica Furrer (2005), Adrielle Churchill (2010), Kelsey Dow (2012), Mackenzie Hinderberger (2023), Olivia Halsey (2025)

Arkansas holds a record of 16 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

Miss Photogenic: Jennifer Sherrill (2004) Miss Congeniality: Madeline Bohlman (2024)

Winners Color key

Year Name HometownAge Local title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes 2026 Anna Claire Hay Fayetteville 22 Miss Razorback Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2020 Top 16 at Miss Teen USA 2020 Previously Miss International 2023 2025 Olivia Halsey Jonesboro 25 Miss West Little Rock Top 20 2024 Madeline Bohlman Fayetteville 22 Miss Northwest Arkansas Miss CongenialityPreviously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2021 Cousin of Madison Marsh, Miss America 2024 2023 Mackenzie Elizabeth Hinderberger Farmington 23 Miss Farmington Top 20 Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2018 2022 Rylie Wagner Ozark 21 Miss Ozark 2021 Stephanie Barber Fayetteville 22 Miss Northwest Arkansas Shortest reigning Miss Arkansas USA 2020 Haley Rose Pontius Houston 23 Miss Richland Hills Previously Miss Teen International 2013 and IJM International Miss 2017 Longest reigning Miss Arkansas USA 2019 Savannah Jera Skidmore Calico Rock 23 Miss White River Top 5 Previously Miss Arkansas 2016 after Savvy Shields was crowned Miss America 2017 2018 Lauren Ashton Weaver Greenwood 21 Miss Greenwood Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2014 2017 Arynn Nicole Johnson Hot Springs 19 Miss Hot Springs Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2015 Top 15 semi-finalist at Miss Teen USA 2015 2016 Abby Elizabeth Floyd Searcy 19 Miss Searcy Top 10Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 2013 Semi-finalist at Miss Teen USA 2013 Married to former NFL player Phillip Supernaw 2015 Leah Michele Blefko Fayetteville 21 Miss White River 2014 Helen Elizabeth Wisner Fayetteville 25 Miss White River 2013 Hannah Love Billingsley Franklin 22 Miss North Arkansas Married to Shay Mooney of Dan + Shay 2012 Kelsey Rhea Dow Jonesboro 21 Miss Craighead County Top 16 2011 Courtney Lakynn McBride White Hall 20 Miss Central Arkansas 2010 Adrielle Lynn Churchill Dover 24 Miss White River Top 15 Previously National Sweetheart 2005 2009 Chanley Shá Painter Conway 24 Miss Conway Top 10 2008 Rachel Dianne Howells Alma 21 Miss Washington County 2007 Kelly George Sherwood 24 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2004 as Miss Maryland 2006 Kimberly Forsyth Cabot 26 2005 Jessica Furrer Conway 22 Top 15 2004 Jennifer DeAnn Sherrill Sherwood 19 Miss Photogenic 2003 Taylor Marie Carlisle Jacksonville 21 2002 Amber Nicole Boatman Norphlet 23 2001 Jessie Davis Harrison 2000 Whitney Lea Moore Cabot 22 1999 Allison Nicole Heavener Batesville 22 1998 Kami Mikhael Tice Huntsville 21 First runner-up at Miss Arkansas USA 1997 1997 Tamara Henry Little Rock 25 1996 Tiffany Brooke Parks Cabot 20 Miss Boston Mountain Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 1993 1995 Kristen Bettis 1994 Hannah Hillyard Little Rock 1993 Katherine Leigh "Kati" Fish Hot Springs First runner-up at Miss Arkansas 1991 1992 Jona Garner 1991 Angela Rockwell 1990 Kathryn Grace Harris Pine Bluff 18 1989 Paige Ann Yandell Greenwood Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 1987 1988 Melissa Anne Staples Calion 20 Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 1984 1987 Sheri Donette Smeltzer Smackover 23 Fourth runner-up at Miss Arkansas 1984 First runner-up at Miss Arkansas 1985 Top 11 at Miss Arkansas 1986 1986 Rhonda Blaylock Springdale 22 1985 Susan Caroline Dean Osceola 23 1984 Michelle A. "Shelly" Boyd Manila 21 Second runner-up at Miss Arkansas USA 1983 1983 Debra "Debbie" Baltz Paris 23 1982 Leanne Derryberry Jerusalemcolspan=2 Originally first runner-up, assumed the title when Terri Utley won Miss USA Twin sister of Lynnanne Derryberry, Miss Arkansas USA 1981 Terri Lea Utley Cabot 20 Miss USA 1982 Third runner-up at Miss Arkansas USA 1981 1981 Lynnanne Derryberry Jerusalem 18 1980 Susie Owens Jacksonville 21 1979 Cynthia LaFran Caldwell Jacksonville 21 1978 Donna Funderburk El Dorado 22 1977 Debra Lynn Duree Texarkana 1976 Sonia Kay Jines Conway 1975 Robin Fields Hot Springs 18 1974 Gina Huddle 1973 Christal Phiffer Texarkana 1972 Susan Tichenor Pine Bluff 21 1971 Paula Keith Little Rock 20 1970 Mary Jane Dial Malvern 21 Top 15 1969 Leonette Reed Heber Springs 1968 Ann Smithwick Jacksonville 19 Top 15 1967 Katy Lou Wurst Fort Smith 19 1966 Peggy Jean Jones Green Forest 1965 Jeri Haynie El Dorado 1964 Barbara McGlothlin 1963 Cheryl Jane Bechtelheimer Camden 2nd runner up at Miss American Beauty 1964 (Title for US Rep to Miss International pageant) 1962 Linda Riggan Leola 1961 Mickey Lambert 1960 Gene Chambers Danville Married to Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys 1959 Donna Sue Needham Berryville 19 Top 15 1958 Nancy Hill Little Rock 19 1957 Helen Elizabeth Garrott West Memphis 19 Top 15 1956 Nancy McCollum Stuttgart 19 2nd Runner-Up 1955 Margaret Anne Haywood Jonesboro 19 1st Runner-Up 1st runner up at Miss World 1955 as Miss USA 2nd runner-up Miss Dixie 1955 1954 Waydine Nesbitt Magnolia 21 Top 21 1953 Jackie Stucker West Helena 19 1952 Barbara Wathen Jonesboro 20

Notes

References

External links Official Website