Miss California USA

Updated on Feb 03, 2024

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Formation 1952 Headquarters Los Angeles Membership Miss USA		Type Beauty pageant Location California Official language English

Miss California USA is a pageant that selects the representative for the state of California in the Miss USA pageant. The current Miss California USA titleholder is India Williams.

History

The current producers are the San Diego-based Top 10 Productions, Inc. Top 10 is led by Pam Wilson and Alex Kuty, who have been involved in pageant and fashion production for many years. Alex Kuty competed multiple times for the title of Miss California USA and although never crowned, she returned to assist during the previous directors leadership. 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. Moakler resigned in protest after Miss California USA 2009, Carrie Prejean, initially kept her title after controversy escalated from alleged contract violations. Prejean was later dethroned and a public lawsuit with K2 followed. After rumored sex tapes involving Prejean surfaced, both parties settled the case. Prior to K2 Productions, 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.

California has produced a Miss USA every decade (except the 2000s) and is ranked second highest among states in terms of placements.

Only one Miss California USA was a former Miss California Teen USA, Shauna Gambill, who won the national Miss Teen USA crown in 1994. As Miss California USA in 1998, Gambill placed 1st runner up to Shawnae Jebbia of Massachusetts, in what is widely considered by pageant fans to be one of the closest-fought pageants in recent years. Two Miss California USAs have also competed in the Miss America pageant, while two were former winners of the Miss Teenage California Scholarship Pageant.

Crown

The Miss California USA 2010 Crown was designed by INTA Gems and Diamonds designer Peter Young in 2009. The crown contains hand-crafted silver and gold as well as over 700 gemstones, including diamonds, sapphires, and pearls. The crown features a heart in the center surrounded by sparkling waves. According to Young, it symbolizes love, unity, and the beauty of California.

Results summary

Miss USA: 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 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: Christina Faust (1989), Nicole Johnson (2010), Cassandra Kunze (2014)

Top 12: Karin Morrell (1971), Carol Herrema (1973), Joni Pennock (1976), Donna Adrain (1978), Linda Fogarty (1979), Jane Olvera (1993), Tarah Peters (2002)

Top 15: 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)

Top 20: Marcella Roulette (1953), Sandra Constance (1954)