The Miss Kentucky USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Kentucky in the Miss USA pageant. It is currently directed by Proctor Productions and it was formerly directed by Connie Clark Harrison, Miss Kentucky USA 1976.
Tara Conner became the first Kentucky delegate to win Miss USA, after being crowned Miss USA 2006. She later finished as fourth runner-up at Miss Universe 2006. Elle Smith later became the second Kentucky delegate to win Miss USA, being crowned Miss USA 2021.
Four Miss Kentucky USA titleholders have also held the Miss Kentucky Teen USA title and competed at Miss Teen USA, including Conner. Two Miss Kentucky USA titleholders have also competed at Miss America, with one representing Wyoming.
Brijet Finister of Stockton, California, was appointed Miss Kentucky USA 2026 on June 30, 2026, after the open casting call from Thomas Brodeur, the new owner of the national pageant. She will represent Kentucky at Miss USA 2026.
Media coverage In 2006, it was reported that Miss Kentucky USA 2002, Elizabeth Arnold, was in a relationship with celebrity Nick Lachey.STAR'S WORLD EXCLUSIVE: THE FATHER OF NICK LACHEY'S NEW GIRL SAYS SHE AND NICK ARE "VERY CLOSE", Star Magazine (accessed 6 May 2006)Nick Lachey: poster boy for the brokenhearted, Houston Chronicle, 28 April 2006 (accessed 6 May 2006) That same year Tara Conner became the first Kentucky delegate to win the Miss USA title, putting Kentucky in the top five for the second consecutive year, after Kristen Johnson placed 2nd runner-up in 2005. She later came under intense scrutiny when it was revealed that she had been drinking underage, tested positive for the use of cocaine, and kissed Miss Teen USA Katie Blair, among other things. Conner was allowed to keep her title, but was ordered into rehab for one month. After her rehab session, she resumed her reign until her year was completed.
In 2008, Miss Kentucky USA Alysha Harris was involved in an incident involving photos in which she was photographed dancing with New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss in a manner some saw as sexually suggestive.
Results summary
Placements Miss USA: Tara Conner (2006), Elle Smith (2021) 1st runners-up: Connor Perry (2024) 2nd runners-up: Kristen Johnson (2005) 3rd runners-up: Julie Andrus (1965) 4th runners-up: Johanna Reid (1964), Patricia Barnstable (1971), Lisa Devillez (1980), Kristina Chapman (1982), Maria Montgomery (2009) Top 6: Tiffany Tenfelde (1990), Angela Hines (1992) Top 11/12: Carol Wallace (1975), Mitzi Jones (1995), Katie George (2015) Top 15/20: Mary Ann Stice (1953), Marcia Chumbler (1961), Brijet Finister (2026)
Kentucky holds a record of 18 placements at Miss USA.
Awards Miss Congeniality: Julia Pinkley (1968), Connie Clark (1976), Kia Hampton (2011) Miss Photogenic: Robyn Overbey (1985) Best State Costume: Charlesy Gulick (1974)
Winners
Color key
Year Name HometownAge1 Local title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes 2026 Brijet Finister Stockton, CA 36 Top 20 2025 Mattie Barker Bowling Green 22 Miss Run For The Roses Previously Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2020 2024 Connor Perry Lexington 23 Miss Heart of Lexington 1st Runner-up 2023 Madalyne Cassady Kinnett Lexington 22 Miss Greater Lexington 2022 Elizabeth "Lizzy" Neutz Louisville 23 Miss Greater Louisville 2021 Ellen Elizabeth "Elle" Smith Louisville 23 Miss Germantown Miss USA 2021Top 10 at Miss Universe 2021 2020 Alexis Marie "Lexie" Iles Louisville 24 Miss Louisville Previously Miss Ohio Teen United States 2016 (top 15 at Miss Teen United States 2016) 2019 Jordan Weiter Louisville 22 Miss Bluegrass 2018 Braea Tilford Louisville 25 Miss Jefferson County 2017 Madelynne Myers Louisville 22 Miss Louisville 2016 Kyle Hornback Louisville 20 Miss Louisville 2015 Katie George Louisville 21 Miss Louisville Top 11 Advanced to top 11 as fan vote winner 2014 Destin Kincer Whitesburg 21 Miss Keeneland 2013 Allie Leggett McCreary County 19 Miss Lake Cumberland December 2017 Playboy Playmate of the Month 2012 Amanda Mertz Louisville 25 Miss Louisville Monster Energy Girl 2011 Kia Hampton Louisville 21 Miss Congeniality Later Pussycat Dolls member 2010 Kindra Clark Mt. Washington 19 2009 Maria Montgomery Danville 19 4th runner-up 2008 Alysha Harris Carrollton 20 Later represented Kentucky at Miss United States International 2020 2007 Michelle Banzer Louisville 24 First minority woman to win state pageant 2006 Tara Conner Russell Springs 20 Miss USA 2006 Previously Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2002 (2nd runner-up & Best in Swimsuit at Miss Teen USA 2002) 4th runner-up at Miss Universe 2006 2005 Kristen Johnson Slaughters 23 2nd runner-up Previously Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2000 (2nd runner-up & Miss Photogenic at Miss Teen USA 2000) Contestant on Fear Factor in 2005 on the Miss USA episode #5.29 2004 Lauren Stengel Louisville 22 2003 Lori Mitchell Scottsville 21 Reporter for WRCB in Chattanooga 2002 Elizabeth Ann "Lizzie" Arnold Columbia 24 Previously Miss Kentucky Teen USA 1998 Appears on The Real Housewives of Orange County 2001 Jo Pritchard Hardin 20 2000 Jolene Youngster Glasgow 18 1999 Lori Menshouse Ashland 25 Previously Miss Kentucky 1997 1998 Nancy Bradley Franklin 23 1997 Rachyl Hoskins Liberty 22 1996 Lorie Bennett West Campbellsville 22 1995 Mitzi Jones White Plains 22 Semi-finalist, finishing in 8th Place 1994 Kim Buford Paducah 26 1993 Karen Gibson Kevil 1992 Angela Hines Maysville Finalist, finishing in 5th place 1991 Susan Farris Benton 24 Runner-up state costume 1990 Tiffany Tenfelde Lakeside Park Top 6 finalist 1989 Veronica Hensley Danville 1988 Suzanne Pitman Murray 1987 Beth Ann Clark Mayfield 21 Guinness Beer Spokesmodel, Swimwear Illustrated Cover Model of the Year 1989, Mrs. Kentucky United States 1999, Mrs. Georgia America 2001 1986 Jackie Taylor Paducah 1985 Robyn Key Overbey Calvert City 24 Miss Photogenic 1st runner-up at Miss World USA 1979 1984 Tammy Melendez Murray 24 1983 Lee Ann Austin Benton 1982 Kristina Leah Chapman Owensboro 19 4th runner-up 1981 Denise Gibbs Paducah 1980 Lisa Louise Devillez Owensboro 19 Miss Owensboro Hydrofair 4th runner-up 1979 Linda Passmore Hopkinsville 1978 Linda Woodruff Louisville 1977 Sandy Smith Princeton 1976 Connie Clark Benton Miss Congeniality Former director of the Miss Kentucky USA and Miss Kentucky Teen USA pageants under her married name, Connie Clark-Harrison 1975 Carol June Wallace Somerset 23 Semi-finalist Later Miss Wyoming 1976, mother of Miss Kentucky 2002, Mary Catherine Correll 1974 Charlesy Gulick Williamstown Best State Costume 1973 Nancy Jane Coplen Mayfield 1972 Tamara Branstetter Summer Shade 1971 Patricia Barnstable Louisville 4th runner-up 1970 Joanna Smith Morgantown 1969 Regina Pryor 1968 Julia Kay Pinkley Miss Congeniality 1967 Debbie Dibble 1966 Jennifer Burcham 1965 Julie Andrus Mayfield 3rd runner-up 1964 Johanna Reid 4th runner-up 1963 Mary Ann Arnold 1962 Sally Margaret Carter Lowes 1961 Marcia Chumbler Mayfield Semi-finalist 1960 Barbara Joan Lovins 1959 Sherree Owens 1958 Shannon Beasley 1955-57 Did not compete 1954 Nikki Horner 1953 Mary Stice Semi-finalist 1952 Jean Tingle 1 Age at the time of the Miss Kentucky USA pageant
References
External links Miss Kentucky USA official website