Miss Iowa
Beauty pageant competition
Miss Iowa Formation 1924 Type Beauty pageant Headquarters Davenport Location Membership
Miss America Official language
English Leslie Moore (Executive Director)
Rachael Vopatek (President / Director of Public Relations & Marketing)
Ashley Brown (Secretary / Field Operations)
Lisa Durbin (Treasurer / Scholarships Chair)
Dapo Kolawole (Sponsorship Chair)
Jessica Patel (Judge's Chair)
Bill Lee
Sandy Koester (Competition Week Contestant Coordinator)
Andrea Riley (Princess Camp Coordinator)
Natasha Sottos Website Official website
The Miss Iowa competition is the official preliminary for the state of Iowa in the Miss America Scholarship Competition.
Abi Batu-Tiako of Oskaloosa was crowned Miss Iowa 2024 on June 15, 2024 at the Adler Theatre in Davenport, Iowa . She will compete for the title of Miss America 2025.
No contestant from Iowa has ever won the national Miss America title although two Miss Iowa Titleholders have been named first runner-up.[citation needed ]
Cheryl Browne , Miss Iowa 1970, competed in the Miss America 1971 pageant as the first African American contestant.[1]
Gallery of past titleholders
Taylor Wiebers, Miss Iowa 2015
Olivia Myers, Miss Iowa 2008
Results summary
The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Iowa titleholders at the national Miss America pageants/competitions. The year in parentheses indicates the year of the national competition during which a placement and/or award was garnered, not the year attached to the contestant's state title.
Placements
1st runners-up: Joanne MacDonald (1959), Catherine Lemkau (1993)
2nd runners-up: Susan Thompson (1969), Olivia Myers (2009)
3rd runners-up: Lisa Somodi (1992)
4th runners-up: Mariah Cary (2013)
Top 10: Lynda Jeanne Formanek (1968), Renee Stuedemann (1973), Lori Froeling (1980), Kerri Rosenberg (1991), Diana Reed (2008), Jessica Pray (2012), Kelly Koch (2017)
Top 12: Aly Olson (2015), Taylor Wiebers (2016)
Awards
Preliminary awards
Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness : Susan Thompson (1969), Catherine Lemkau (1993) (tie), Taylor Wiebers (2016)
Preliminary Talent : Lisa Somodi (1992), Catherine Lemkau (1993), Diana Reed (2008), Taylor Wiebers (2016)
Preliminary Social Impact Pitch: Bailey Hodson (2023)
Non-finalist awards
Non-finalist Talent: Martha Barsness (1957), Joleen Wolf (1963), Carolyn Northway (1964), Marie Mushro (1966), Lois Koth (1970), Cheryl Browne (1971), Jean Bollhoefer (1975), Darla Blocker (1982), Linda Simon (1983), Robin Wolfram (1987), Jayna Sanchez (1990), Lisa Dondlinger (1999), Jennifer Caudle (2000), Carolyn Nicholas (2005), Anne Langguth (2010), Chelsea Dubczak (2018)
Non-finalist Interview: Pauli Mayfield (2011)
Other awards
Miss Congeniality : Marie Mushro (1966)
Miss America Scholar Award: Erin Smith (2002)
Quality of Life Award 1st runners-up: Theresa Uchytil (2001)
Quality of Life Award 2nd runners-up: Nancy Van Meter (1994)
Quality of Life Award Finalists: Anne Langguth (2010)
Winners
Declared as winner
Ended as a runner-up
Ended as a finalist or semi-finalist
Year
Name
Hometown
Age
Local Title
Miss America Talent
Placement at Miss America
Special scholarships at Miss America
Notes
2024
Abi Batu-Tiako
Oskaloosa
21
Miss Polk County
Vocal
TBA
TBA
2023
Alysa Goethe
Bettendorf
23
Vocal
2022
Bailey Hodson[2]
Des Moines
24
Miss Metro
Vocal
2021
Grace Lynn Keller[3]
Island Lake, IL
22
Miss Eastern Iowa
Contemporary Dance
Eligible as a student and recent graduate of the University of Iowa [3]
2019 –20[a]
Emily Tinsman[5]
Bettendorf
22
Miss Wild Rose
Classical Vocal
2018
Mikhayla Hughes-Shaw[6]
Rock Island, IL
21
Miss Clinton County
Violin, “Chrystalize” by Lindsey Stirling
Eligible as a student and recent graduate of the University of Iowa [6]
2017
Chelsea Dubczak[7]
Urbandale [7]
23
Miss Metro
Operatic Vocal, "Sempre Libera" from La traviata
Non-finalist Talent Award[8]
Later Iowa Sweetheart 2019[citation needed ]
2016
Kelly Koch[9]
Waukee
20
Miss Polk County
Dance
Top 10
2015
Taylor Wiebers[10]
Clinton
21
Miss Clinton County
Vocal, "Don't Forget Me " from Smash
Top 12
Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award Preliminary Talent Award
2014
Aly Olson[11]
Des Moines
21
Miss Scott County
Vocal, "How Could I Ever Know" from The Secret Garden
Top 12
Previously Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen 2010[12]
2013
Nicole Kelly
Keokuk
23
Miss Metro
Vocal, "Brave " by Sara Bareilles
Born without left forearm[13]
2012
Mariah Cary
Burlington
20
Miss Muscatine
Tap Dance, "Scatman (Ski Ba Bop Ba Dop Bop) "
4th runner-up
2011
Jessica Pray[14]
Johnston
18
Miss Muscatine
Vocal, "You Raise Me Up "
Top 10
2010
Pauli Mayfield
Davenport
24
Miss Scott County
Vocal, "I Know Where I've Been" from Hairspray
Non-finalist Interview Award
2009
Anne Langguth
Iowa City
22
Miss Johnson County
Violin, Zigeunerweisen
Non-finalist Talent Award Quality of Life Award Finalist
Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2008 pageant
2008
Olivia Myers[15]
Sperry
22
Miss Burlington
Tap Dance, "Fever "
2nd runner-up
2007
Diana Reed[16]
Norwalk
23
Miss Capital City
Baton, "You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray
Top 10
Preliminary Talent Award
2006
Emily Nicholas
Clear Lake
21
Miss Cedar River
Vocal, "Over the Rainbow "
Sister of Miss Iowa 2004, Carolyn Nicholas
2005
Kay Pauszek
Bettendorf
23
Miss Muscatine
Irish Step Dance, "Tipping Wheel"
2004
Carolyn Nicholas
Clear Lake
22
Miss Cedar River
Flute, "The Heebie Jeebies"
Non-finalist Talent Award
Sister of Miss Iowa 2006, Emily Nicholas
2003
Nicole White
Eldridge
22
Miss Scott County
Vocal, "If I Had My Way"
2002
Stephanie Moore
Okoboji
22
Miss Golden Circle
Vocal, "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" from The Phantom of the Opera
2001
Erin Smith
Bettendorf
20
Miss Mississippi Valley Fair
Piano, "Toccata in E-flat minor " by Aram Khachaturian
Miss America Scholar
2000
Theresa Uchytil
Urbandale
24
Miss Johnson County
Baton, "The Cup of Life "
Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up
1999
Jennifer Caudle
Davenport
21
Miss Scott County
Cello, "Sabre Dance "
Non-finalist Talent Award
1998
Lisa Dondlinger
Des Moines
24
Miss Capital City
Violin, "Hoe-Down" from Rodeo
Non-finalist Talent Award
1997
Sheri Riley
Clear Lake
19
Miss Cedar Valley
Gospel Vocal, "His Eye Is on the Sparrow "
1996
Natasha Courter
Davenport
23
Miss Mississippi Valley Fair
Tap Dance, "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) "
1995
Jennifer Curry
Muscatine
21
Miss Johnson County
Vocal, "The Last Man In My Life" from Song and Dance
1994
Tammy Truitt
Davenport
21
Miss Scott County
Dramatic Vocal, "I Still Believe" from Miss Saigon
1993
Nancy Van Meter
Burlington
24
Miss Burlington
Vocal, "Stand by Your Man "
Quality of Life Award 2nd runner-up
1992
Catherine Lemkau
Muscatine
24
Miss Mississippi Valley Fair
Vocal, "Someone Like You" from Jekyll & Hyde
1st runner-up
Preliminary Talent Award Preliminary Swimsuit Award (tie)
1991
Lisa Somodi
23
Miss Muscatine County
Classical Piano, "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 15 "
3rd runner-up
Preliminary Talent Award
1990
Kerri Rosenberg
Burlington
26
Miss Mississippi Valley Fair
Classical Vocal, "Ah, Je Veux Vivre" from Roméo et Juliette
Top 10
1989
Jayna Sanchez
Davenport
24
Miss Cedar-Johnson County
Dance / Twirl, "Another Cha-Cha" by Santa Esmeralda
Non-finalist Talent Award
1988
Tiffany DiBernardo
Bettendorf
19
Miss Scott County
Vocal, "I Go To Rio "
1987
Robin Wolfram
Davenport
24
Popular Vocal, "Only You "
1986
Darcy Benton
Delmar
19
Miss Clinton County
Vocal, "Someone to Watch Over Me "
1985
Sherri Bowman
Council Bluffs
24
Miss Nishna Valley
Piano
1984
Debra Deitering
Missouri Valley
23
Miss Southwest Iowa
Vocal, "This Is My Life"
1983
Karri Nussle
Des Moines
19
Miss Polk County
Vocal, "Minute Waltz"
1982
Linda Simon
DeWitt
23
Miss Clinton County
Baton Twirling
Non-finalist Talent Award[citation needed ]
1981
Darla Blocker
Davenport
19
Miss Scott County
Vocal, "But the World Goes Round"
Non-finalist Talent Award
1980
Jane Patton
Council Bluffs
24
Miss Nishna Valley
Semi-Classical Vocal, "Climb Ev'ry Mountain " from The Sound of Music
1979
Lori Froeling
Keokuk
20
Miss Keokuk
Flute, "Carnival of Venice "
Top 10
1978
Mary England[17]
Davenport
20
Miss Scott County
Piano, "Spellbound"
1977
Debra Jo Scheller[18]
Fort Dodge
23
Miss Emmet County
Popular Vocal, "Country Girl"
1976
Ronda Frogley[19]
Davenport
20
Miss Scott County
Popular Vocal, "Tomorrow"
1975
Debbie Weuve[20]
State Center
20
Miss Marshall County
Vocal, "Maybe This Time" from Cabaret
1974
Jean Bollhoefer[21]
Haverhill
25
Popular Vocal, "Starting Here, Starting Now "
Non-finalist Talent Award
1973
Lynette Henninger[22]
Bettendorf
19
Miss Scott County
Ballet, "Color My World" & "Make No Sound"
1972
Renee Stuedemann[23]
Clinton
23
Miss Clinton County
Baton Twirling, "Can-Can" from Orpheus in the Underworld
Top 10
1971
Judith Stephens[24]
Clarinda
21
Miss Southwest Iowa
Piano, Rhapsody In Blue
1970
Cheryl Browne [25]
Decorah
20
Miss Decorah
Ballet, "Deep Purple "
Non-finalist Talent Award
First African American contestant to compete at a Miss America pageant[citation needed ] Cheryl Adrienne Browne was a native of Jamaica, Queens, New York City, New York who attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
1969
Lois Koth[26]
Alta
20
Miss Storm Lake
Pipe Organ, "Toccata" by Charles-Marie Widor
Non-finalist Talent Award
1968
Susan Thompson[27]
Des Moines
21
Miss Des Moines
Piano, Warsaw Concerto
2nd runner-up
Preliminary Swimsuit Award
1967
Lynda Jeanne Formanek[28]
Belle Plaine
23
Miss Newton
Character Portrayal from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Top 10
1966
Pamela Ericson[29]
Sioux City
19
Miss Sioux City
Semi-classical Vocal, "Love Is Where You Find It" from The Kissing Bandit
1965
Marie Mushro[30]
19
Ballet en Pointe, The Dying Swan
Miss Congeniality Non-finalist Talent Award
1964
Carol Johnson[31]
Ames
21
Miss Ames
Folk Vocal & Guitar
1963
Carolyn Northway[32]
Davenport
19
Miss Davenport
Piano, "Étude Op. 25, No. 8 " by Frédéric Chopin
Non-finalist Talent Award
1962
Joleen Wolf[33]
Des Moines
19
Miss Des Moines
Interpretive Ballet, "Autumn Concerto" from The Four Seasons
Non-finalist Talent Award
1961
Patti Whalen[34]
Clinton
18
Miss Clinton County
Vocal Medley, "I Feel Pretty" & "Tonight" from West Side Story
1960
Sally Neville[35]
Davenport
18
Miss Davenport
Dramatic Reading, "Mother on a Moment's Notice"
1959
Jacquelyn Baker[36]
Grinnell
20
Miss Grinnell
Modern Interpretive Dance
1958
Joanne MacDonald[37]
Ames
20
Miss Ames
Dramatic Recitation from The White Cliffs of Dover
1st runner-up
1957
Carol Fleck[38]
Oskaloosa
19
Miss Southeast Iowa
Dance
1956
Martha Barsness[39]
Decorah
20
Miss Decorah
Vocal, "Ah, Fors'e Lui" from La Traviata
Non-finalist Talent Award
1955
Kay Taylor[40]
Iowa City
20
Miss Cedar Rapids
Tap Dance, "French Maids Dreaming of Marriage"
1954
Carol Morris [41]
Ottumwa
18
Miss Ottumwa
Violin
Later Miss Iowa USA 1956 Later Miss USA 1956[42] and Miss Universe 1956
1953
Constance VerHoef[43]
Sheldon
18
Miss Sheldon
Vocal
1952
Carolyn Hill[44]
Cedar Falls
19
Miss Waterloo
Vocal, "You're My Everything"
1951
Nancy Jane Norman[45]
Shenandoah
19
Miss Southwest Iowa
Vocal, "Romance" from The Desert Song
1950
Mary Virginia Lines[46]
Clarinda
18
Miss Southwest Iowa
Piano / Marimba, "Stardust "
1949
Barbara Juel[47]
Council Bluffs
20
Miss Council Bluffs
Classical Vocal, "Strie la Vampa" from Il trovatore
1948
No Iowa representative at Miss America pageant[48]
1947
Ruth Janet Anderson[49]
Oelwein
19
Miss Fayette County
Vocal, "You Made Me Love You "
1946
Jacquline Means[50]
Des Moines
19
Miss Des Moines
Acrobatic Dance
1945
Jeanne Gordon[51]
19
1944
No Iowa representative at Miss America pageant[52] [53] [54]
1943
1942
1941
Lorene Snoddy[55]
Des Moines
20
1940
No Iowa representative at Miss America pageant[56] [57] [58] [59]
1939
1938
1937
1936
Carol Bailey
Waterloo
16
Miss Waterloo
1935
Connie Rosefield
Des Moines
18
Miss Des Moines
No Miss Iowa Competed as Miss Des Moines at Miss America pageant
1934
No national pageant was held[60]
1933
Eleanor Dankenbring
Manning
20
1932
No national pageants were held[60]
1931
1930
1929
1928
1927
Geneva Roberts
Storm Lake
19
Miss Storm Lake
1926
No Iowa representative at Miss America pageant[61]
1925
Dorothy Nordyke
Miss Sioux City
No Miss Iowa Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
1924
Alta Sterling
1923
No Iowa representative at Miss America pageant[62] [63] [64]
1922
1921
Notes
^ Titleholder extended to a second full year in 2020 after state and national pageants postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic [4]
References
^ Photographs by Paul Cauley, 1971 Door Gunner, A Co 101st Avn
^ Geyer, Thomas. "Bailey Hodson of Berwick, Iowa, named Miss Iowa 2022" . The Quad-City Times . Retrieved 2022-06-14 .
^ a b Geyer, Thomas. "Grace Lynn Keller named Miss Iowa 2021" . The Quad-City Times . Retrieved 2021-06-13 .
^ Kuperinksy, Amy (May 8, 2020). "Miss America postpones pageant until 2021, N.J. pageant still set for September" . Press of Atlantic City .
^ Geyer, Thomas (June 15, 2019). "Bettendorf's Emily Tinsman is crowned Miss Iowa" . Quad-City Times .
^ a b "Miss Clinton County dazzles to state title" . Clinton Herald . June 17, 2018. Retrieved 2018-06-18 .
^ a b Geyer, Thomas (June 24, 2017). "Chelsea Dubczak of Urbandale named Miss Iowa 2017" . Quad-City Times.
^ "Miss America Scholarship Awards" . Miss America Organization.
^ "Iowa State Student from Waukee Crowned Miss Iowa" . whotv.com . June 12, 2016.
^ Geyer, Thomas (June 13, 2015). "Miss Clinton County, Taylor Wiebers, crowned Miss Iowa 2015" . Quad-City Times . Davenport, IA : Lee Enterprises .
^ Geyer, Thomas (June 14, 2014). "Miss Scott County crowned Miss Iowa" . Quad-City Times . Davenport, IA : Lee Enterprises . Retrieved June 24, 2015 .
^ Geyer, Thomas (June 12, 2010). "Davenport woman wins Miss Iowa crown" . Quad-City Times . Davenport, IA : Lee Enterprises . Retrieved June 23, 2015 . Iowa also has a new Outstanding Teen. Aly Olson, 17, of Des Moines, who is Miss Capital City's Outstanding Teen, was crowned Friday during competition at the Adler Theatre.
^ Miss America contestant born without forearm: 'I'm just like you'
^ "Miss Muscatine wins Iowa crown" . Quad-City Times. June 11, 2011.
^ "Miss Burlington becomes Miss Iowa 2008" . WQAD 8 News . WQAD. June 15, 2008.
^ Geyer, Thomas; Fedderson, Dawn (June 10, 2007). "Reed wins Miss Iowa competition" . The Quad-City Times .
^ "Mary Beth Finds The Key" . Quad-City Times . June 11, 1978.
^ "Miss Emmet Takes Crown" . Quad-City Times . June 12, 1977.
^ "Miss Scott Crowned Miss Iowa" . Quad-City Times . June 13, 1976.
^ "Marshall County Wins Crown Again" . Quad-City Times . June 15, 1975.
^ "The Second Time is The Charm" . Quad-City Times . June 17, 1974.
^ "Scott County Gal Wins!" . Quad-City Times . June 17, 1973.
^ "Clinton Gal Wins!" . Quad-City Times . June 18, 1972.
^ "Southwest Iowa Girl Wins Title" . Quad-City Times . June 20, 1971.
^ "Decorah's Gal is New Miss Iowa" . Quad-City Times . June 14, 1970.
^ "Miss Storm Lake Wins" . Sioux City Journal . June 22, 1969.
^ "Miss Des Moines is New Miss Iowa" . Quad-City Times . June 23, 1968.
^ "Miss Iowa of '67 Dies in Crash" . Waterloo Daily Courier . March 17, 1969.
^ "Sioux City Gal New Miss Iowa" . Quad-City Times . July 17, 1966.
^ "Miss Sioux City Wins Iowa Beauty Crown" . Quad-City Times . July 18, 1965.
^ "ISU Coed New Miss Iowa" . Globe Gazette . July 20, 1964.
^ "Davenport Lass is New Miss Iowa" . Globe Gazette . July 29, 1963.
^ "Joleen Wolf, 19, a Drake Coed Named Miss Iowa" . The Des Moines Register . July 30, 1962.
^ "Pat Whalen, Clinton, is Miss Iowa" . Globe Gazette . July 24, 1961.
^ "Davenport Girl New Miss Iowa" . Globe Gazette . August 1, 1960.
^ "Grinnell Coed Named Miss Iowa" . The Courier . July 27, 1959.
^ "Miss Iowa is Floridan ISC Student" . Carroll Daily Times Herald . August 4, 1958.
^ "Grinnell College Coed is Named Miss Iowa" . Estherville Daily News . July 29, 1957.
^ "Decorah Coed is Crowned" . Globe-Gazette . July 30, 1956.
^ "University of Iowa Student Chosen Miss Iowa of 1955" . Iowa City Press-Citizen . August 1, 1955.
^ "Crowned Miss Iowa of 1954" . The Courier . August 2, 1954.
^ "Iowa Beauty Wins Title of Miss U.S.A." Toledo Blade . Associated Press . July 19, 1956. p. 2.
^ "Connie VerHoef of Sheldon is Named Miss Iowa" . The Courier . July 27, 1953.
^ "Carolyn Hill Miss Iowa" . The Courier . August 4, 1952.
^ "A Governor Crowns a Queen" . Globe-Gazette . August 6, 1951.
^ "Marian Rees 2nd in Miss Iowa Contest" . Carroll Daily Times Herald . July 24, 1950.
^ "Barbara Juel, Songstress, Captures Miss Iowa Title" . Council Bluffs Nonpareil . August 6, 1949.
^ "1948 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "A Cinderella Who Dodged The Pumpkin at Midnight" . Iowa City Press-Citizen . July 11, 1947.
^ "Des Moines Entry is Selected Miss Iowa" . The Des Moines Register . July 2, 1946.
^ "Jeann Gordon, 19, is Crowned Miss Iowa" . The Des Moines Register . August 1, 1945.
^ "1944 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1943 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1942 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "Miss Iowa of 1941 Eats As She Likes" . The Des Moines Register . August 1, 1945.
^ "1940 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1939 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1938 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1937 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ a b "Miss America Timeline: 1901–1950" . PBS . Archived from the original on 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2019-08-15 .
^ "1926 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1923 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1922 Candidates" . Miss America .
^ "1921 Candidates" . Miss America .
External links
Miss America state pageants
Active (1921-present) Inactive since 2019 (under Miss America 2.0)