The Miss Michigan USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Michigan in the Miss USA pageant. It is currently directed by Proctor Productions.
Their first Miss USA victory was in 1990, and notable because Carole Gist was the first African-American to win the title. Following in her footsteps, Kenya Moore, also African-American, won the title in 1993. In 2010, Michigan's Rima Fakih became the first Arab-American to win the title. The most recent placement was Alma Cooper in 2024, who won the title.
Until 2012, no Michigan delegate had been previously competed at either Miss Michigan or Miss Michigan Teen USA to appear a crossover with Miss USA. Kristen Danyal became the first Michigan delegate to have a Teen to Miss crossover in Miss USA.
Alma Cooper of Okemos was crowned Miss Michigan USA 2024 on March 21, 2024. She represented Michigan at Miss USA 2024, and eventually won the title. She represented the country at Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico but was unplaced.
Amber Uhler of Tampa, FL was appointed Miss Michigan USA 2026 on July 30th, 2026, after the open casting call from Thomas Brodeur, the new owner of the national pageant. She will represent Michigan at Miss USA 2026.
Gallery of titleholders
Results summary Placements in Miss USA Miss USAs: Carole Gist (1990), Kenya Moore (1993), Rima Fakih (2010), Alma Cooper (2024) 1st runner-up: Kevin Gale (1976) 3rd runner-up: Elisa Schleef (2003) Top 6: Natasha Bell (1996) Top 10/11/12: Judy Hatula (1952), Pat Glannon (1971), Marilyn Ann Petty (1972), Diane Arabia (1982), Kimberly Mexicotte (1983), Johnelle Ryan (1998), Shannon Clark (1999), Jillian "Jill" Dobson (2000), Kenya Howard (2001), Rashontae Wawrzyniak (2015) Top 15/16: Barbara Sias (1956), Judith Richards (1960), Patricia Squires (1961), Pamela Lee Sands (1963), Susan Pill (1965), Virginia Clift (1968), Crystal Hayes (2005), Kelly Best (2007), Kristen Danyal (2012), Elizabeth Johnson (2018)
Michigan holds a record of 26 placements at Miss USA.
Awards Miss Congeniality: Taylor Hale (2021), Amber Uhler (2026)
Winners Color key
Year Name HometownAge1 Local title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes 2026 Amber Uhler Tampa, FL 41 2025 Michele Lewandoski Norton Shores 23 Miss Norton Shores 2024 Alma Oralia Minerva Cooper Okemos 22 Miss Okemos Miss USA 2024 Non-semi-finalist at Miss Universe 2024 2023 Alexis Fagan-Williams Detroit 22 Miss Motown 2022 Aria Hutchinson Plymouth 23 Miss Plymouth Daughter of Chris Hutchinson and Melissa Sinkevics Hutchinson, Miss Michigan Teen USA 1988; and sister of Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson 2021 Taylor Hale Detroit 26 Miss Spirit of Detroit Miss CongenialityShortest reigning Miss Michigan USA () Winner of Big Brother 24 and America's Favorite Houseguest. 2020 Chanel Johnson Southfield 25 Miss Southfield Longest reigning Miss Michigan USA () Second longest reigning Miss USA state titleholder in the organization's history2019Alyse MadejGarden City25 Miss Garden City 2018 Elizabeth JohnsonPlymouth 25 Miss Wayne County Top 15 2017 Krista Ferguson Detroit 23 Miss North Shore Bay 2016 Susie Leica Livonia 25 Miss Livonia 2015 Rashontae Wawrzyniak Detroit 24 Miss St. Clair Lake Top 11 2014 Elizabeth Ivezaj Macomb 24 Miss Macomb Born in Albania 2013 Jaclyn Schultz Wyandotte 24 Miss Wyandotte Runner-up on Survivor: San Juan del Sur 2012 Kristen Danyal Sterling Heights 21 Miss Blue Water Top 16 Previously Miss Michigan Teen USA 2009 and top 15 at Miss Teen USA 2009 2011 Channing Pierce Royal Oak 23 Miss Royal Oak 2010 Rima Fakih Dearborn 24 Miss Wayne County Miss USA 2010 Born in Lebanon Non-semi-finalist at Miss Universe 2010 2009 Lindsey Tycholiz Sterling Heights 26 Miss Great Lakes 2008 Elisabeth Crawford Canton 25 Miss East Michigan 2007 Kelly Best Troy 20 Miss Troy Top 15 Later Miss U.S. International 2008 Non-finalist at Miss International 2008 2006 Danelle Gay Lapeer 24 Miss Lapeer 2005 Crystal Hayes Rock 20 Miss Northville Top 15 2004 Stacey Lee Rochester Hills 26 Miss Oakland County 2003 Elisa Schleef St. Joseph 23 Miss Great Lakes 3rd runner-up 2002 Rebekah Lynn Decker Ferndale 24 2001 Kenya Howard Detroit 24 Top 10 2000 Jillian Susan "Jill" Dobson Quincy 22 Top 10 Michigan's Junior Miss 1995 1999 Shannon Grace Clark Troy 26 Top 10 Semi-finalist at Miss World America 1993 1998 Johnelle Ryan Cassopolis 25 Top 10 1997 Jennifer Reed Taylor 25 Later Mrs. Michigan America 2001 1996 Natasha Bell Berrien Springs 20 Top 6 finalist 1995 Keisha Eichelberger Detroit 1994 Kelly Richelle Pawlowski Allen Park 1993 Kenya Summer Moore Detroit 22 Miss USA 1993 Top 6 at Miss Universe 1993 1992 Lainie Lu Howard St. Joseph 1st runner-up at Miss World America 1994 1991 Leann Rothi 18 1990 Carole Anne Marie Gist Detroit 20 Miss USA 1990 1st runner-up at Miss Universe 1990 1989 Karen Finucan Birmingham 1988 Anthonia Dotson Detroit 1987 Elizabeth Puleo Grosse Pointe 1986 Lisa Bernardi Carleton 1985 Nancy Mazuro Washington 1984 Adriana Krambeck Dearborn Heights 1983 Kimberly Mexicotte Livonia Semi-finalist 1982 Diane Marie Arabia Warren Semi-finalist 4th runner-up in Miss Oktoberfest 1981Previously Miss Michigan World 1980 and Top 15 semi-finalist at Miss World America 1980. 1981 Karen Eidson Hazel Park 1980 Teena Hammonds Detroit 1979 Susan James Hazel Park 1978 April Patrick Detroit 1977 Jenny Pinks Trenton 1976 Kevin Gale Dearborn Heights 1st runner-up 1975 Debra Holland Detroit 1974 Patricia Loftis Detroit 1973 Linda East Warren 1972 Marilyn Ann Petty Roseville Semi-finalist Represented Michigan in Miss World USA 1974, 2nd runner-up 1971 Pat Glannan Detroit Semi-finalist 1970 Duane Marie Bergen Detroit 19 1969 Lisa Brenner Reed City 1968 Virginia Clift Novi Top 15 1967 Sonja Dunson Detroit 1966 Kathlene Blascak Allen Park 1965 Susan Lynne Pill Top 15 represented Michigan in the Miss USA World 1964, 3rd runner up 1964 Johneane Teeter Represented Michigan in the Miss USA World 1966 1963 Pamela Lee Sands Ludington Top 15 1962 Judith Lamparter 1961 Patricia Squires Top 15 1960 Judith Richards Top 15 1959 Susan Westergaard 1958 Shirley Ann Black Flint 19 1957 Sharon Moore 1956 Barbara Sias Top 15 1955 Martha Smith 1954 Gerri Hoffman 1953 Jo Ann Page 1952 Judy Hatula Top 10 1 Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant
References
External links Official website Past Titleholders at Official Website