18 states that have never won Miss USA

• Not every state has won Miss USA since it began in 1952.
• Some states, including Georgia and Indiana, have just fallen short, placing first runner-up.
• Others, like Florida, have only assumed the title after the Miss USA winner became Miss Universe.

Delaware

Florida

Maryland

Maryland last placed at Miss USA in 2023, when Savena Mushinge reached the top 20.

Montana

Montana has placed three times at Miss USA, all before 1960. 

Montana last placed in the Miss USA competition in 1958, when Sharon Tietjen made it to the top 15. 

New Hampshire

The closest New Hampshire has gotten to the Miss USA crown was in 2000, when Bridget Vezina was named first runner-up. 

The state has placed six times at Miss USA, most recently in 2025 when Mona Lesa Brackett made the top 20.

Brackett made history as the first woman to compete in Miss USA wearing a hijab and a burkini.

New Jersey

New Jersey nearly nabbed the Miss USA crown in 2025 when Ivy Harrington placed first runner-up.

Contestants from the Garden State also placed first runner-up at Miss USA in 2017 and 1991, and took the second runner-up spot three times — in 1989, 1990, and 2008. 

North Dakota

North Dakota has come close to the Miss USA crown twice. Audra Mari placed first runner-up in 2014, as did Caitlyn Vogel in 2021. 

Vogel was the last Miss North Dakota titleholder to place at Miss USA.

Oregon

Oregon came closest to winning the Miss USA crown in 2025, when Chantéa McIntyre was named second runner-up.

McIntyre, a mother of four, became the first married woman and the first mother to ever reach the top five at Miss USA.

Oregon also won second runner-up in 1976.

South Dakota

Miss South Dakota Madison Nipe landed the state’s best placement at Miss USA in 2018 when she made the top five. 

South Dakota most recently placed at Miss USA in 2021, when Caroline Pettey made the top 16. 

West Virginia

West Virginia has almost won the Miss USA crown twice. Ruth Parr won first runner-up in 1957, as did Kelly Anderson in 1984. 

The state last placed at Miss USA in 2022, when Krystian Leonard made it to the top 16. 

Wisconsin

Wisconsin nearly won the Miss USA crown in 1974 and 2023, when Mary Lynn Cook and Alexis Loomans placed second runner-up.

The last Miss Wisconsin titleholder to place at Miss USA was Aneisha Cox, who made it to the top 20 during the 2025 pageant.

Wyoming

Wyoming’s closest attempt at the Miss USA crown was in 1986, when Beth King placed in the top 10. 

The state has only placed twice in the Miss USA competition, most recently with Claire Schreiner, who made the top 15 in 2010. 

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