The Miss Texas USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Texas in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. This pageant is part of the Miss USA Organization, owned by Texas native Crystle Stewart, herself a Miss USA for 2008.
The pageant is currently held in Houston. It has previously been hosted by El Paso, San Antonio, South Padre Island, Lubbock and Laredo. It was televised from 1971 to 2009.
The current titleholder is Taylor Lauren Davis of Dallas, Texas, was crowned Miss Texas USA 2025 on May 3, 2025, at Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel in Houston, Texas. She represented Texas at Miss USA 2025, placing as 3rd runner-up.
Background
Unlike the rest of Miss and Teen state pageants in the Miss USA system have annually scheduled at the same time, this Miss and Teen pageants in Texas are held separately in different months, the Miss pageant goes first and is held on first Sunday of September every year. Those events have affected from the regular September schedule such as the 2018 pageant was held in January 2018 due to Hurricane Harvey devastated the pageant's host city, Houston; and the 2021 pageant was held in September 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, exactly a year originally planned for September 2020.
Ten Miss Texas USA titleholders have won the Miss USA title, including Chelsi Smith, has been crowned Miss Universe. In the 1980s Texas won the Miss USA title five consecutive years from 1985 to 1989, a streak known as the "Texas Aces". Prior to this no state had ever won the Miss USA pageant more than two times in succession. Past state directors have included Richard Guy and Rex Holt, "GuyRex" and Al and Gail Clark of "The Crystal Group".
Contestants enter by winning local pageants or may choose to compete "at large" with an assigned title. In 2001 a record number of former Miss Texas Teen USA winners, six, competed for the Miss Texas USA 2002 title. The following year Gretchen Polhemus became the fifth and final "ace". The term is still in use.
As well as directing the Texas pageant, GuyRex also acquired the Miss California USA franchise in 1986. In 1988, Diana Magaña of California placed first runner-up to Gibbs, the fourth ace. The two had both undergone extensive preparation by GuyRex, and even lived together prior to the pageant.
The five Aces were:
- 1985 - Laura Martinez-Herring (Miss USA, Top 10 at Miss Universe 1985)
- 1986 - Christy Fichtner (Miss USA, 1st runner-up at Miss Universe 1986)
- 1987 - Michelle Royer (Miss USA, 2nd runner-up at Miss Universe 1987)
- 1988 - Courtney Gibbs (Miss USA, Top 10 at Miss Universe 1988)
- 1989 - Gretchen Polhemus (Miss USA, 2nd runner-up at Miss Universe 1989)
Gallery
<gallery>
File:Miss Texas USA Logan Lester at 3-16th FA's Battalion Ball.jpg|Logan Lester, Miss Texas USA 2018
File:Lauren Guzman, Miss Texas USA.jpg|Lauren Guzman, Miss Texas Teen USA 2008 and Miss Texas USA 2014
File:Crystle Stewart 2014.jpg|Crystle Stewart, Miss Texas USA 2008 and Miss USA 2008 (pictured in 2014)
File:Stephanie Guerrero headshot.jpg|Stephanie Guerrero, Miss Texas USA 2004
File:Nicole OBrian.png|Nicole O'Brian, Miss Texas Teen USA 2000 and Miss Texas USA 2003
File:KandaceKrueger1cropped.jpg|Kandace "Kandy" Krueger, Miss Texas USA 2001 and Miss USA 2001
File:MichelleRoyer.jpg|Michelle Royer, Miss Texas USA 1987 and Miss USA 1987
File:ChristyFichtner.jpg|Christy Fichtner, Miss Texas USA 1986 and Miss USA 1986
File:Laura Harring 2011.jpg|Laura Martinez Harring, Miss Texas USA 1985 and Miss USA 1985 (pictured in 2011)
File:Lisa Allred Miss Texas USA 1983.png|Lisa Allred, Miss Texas USA 1983
</gallery>
Results summary
Placements
- Miss USAs: Kimberly "Kim" Tomes (1977), Laura Martinez Herring (1985), Christy Fichtner (1986), Michelle Royer (1987), Courtney Gibbs (1988), Gretchen Polhemus (1989), Chelsi Smith (1995), Kandace "Kandy" Krueger (2001), Crystle Stewart (2008), R'Bonney Gabriel (2022)
- 1st runners-up: Carelgean Douglas (1959), Diane Balloun (1964), Brenda Box (1971), Luann Caughey (1982), Lisa Allred (1983), Ylianna Guerra (2015)
- 2nd runners-up: Barbara Horan (1978), Nicole O'Brian (2003)
- 3rd runners-up: Betty Lee (1954), Ana Rodriguez (2011), Taylor Lauren Davis (2025)
- 4th runners-up: Jo Dodson (1956), Aundie Evers (1975), Alexandria Nugent (2013), Lluvia Alzate (2023)
- Top 5/6/8: Christine Friedel (1994), Amanda Little (1997), Holly Mills (1998), Victoria Hinojosa (2021)
- Top 10/11/12: Lavonne McConnell (1973), Candace Gray (1976), Anne Hinnant (1979), Barbara Buckley (1980), Diana Durnford (1981), Laura Shaw (1984), Stephanie Kuehne (1990), Katie Young (1992), Angie Sisk (1993), Kara Williams (1996), Kasi Kelly (2002), Lauren Lanning (2006), Magen Ellis (2007), Brooke Daniels (2009), Brittany Booker (2012), Aareianna Ware (2024)
- Top 15: Joan Bradshaw (1953), Mary Daughters (1955), Gloria Hunt (1957), Linda Daugherty (1958), Jackie Williams (1962), Phillis Johnson (1965), Dorothy Pickens (1966), Bonnie Robinson (1967), Sandy Drewes (1969), Diane Swendeman (1970), Stephanie Guerrero (2004), Tyler Willis (2005), Logan Lester (2018)
Texas holds a record of 58 placements at Miss USA, being placed first overall.
Awards
- Miss Congeniality: Diane Swendeman (1970), Chelsi Smith (1995)
- Miss Photogenic: Susan Peters (1972), Lisa Allred (1983), Laura Shaw (1984), Tyler Willis (2005)
- Best State Costume: Lavonne McConnell (1973), Kimberly "Kim" Tomes (1977), Barbara Horan (1978), R'Bonney Gabriel (2022)
- Best in Swimsuit: Chelsi Smith (1995), Lluvia Alzate (2023)
Winners
;Color key
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%;"
|-
! Year
! Name
! Hometown
! Local Title
! Age
! Placement at Miss USA
! Special awards at Miss USA
! Notes
|-style="background-color:#FFFF66;"
| 2025
| Taylor Lauren Davis
| Dallas
| Miss Dallas
| 26
| 3rd runner-up
|
|
|-style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 2024
| Aarieanna Ware
| Dallas
| Miss Dallas
| 26
| Top 10
|
|
|-
|-style="background-color:#FFFF66;"
| 2023
| Lluvia Alzate
| Houston
| Miss Houston
| 26
| 4th runner-up
| Best in Swimsuit
|
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2022
| Allison Drake
| Dallas
| Miss Dallas
| 26
| colspan=3 <br>
|-style="background-color:gold;"
| R'Bonney Gabriel
| Houston
| Miss Friendswood
| 28
| Miss USA 2022
| Best State Costume
|
- Miss Universe 2022
- First Asian American Miss Texas USA, 1st runner Up in Miss Texas 2021
|-style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 2021
| Victoria Hinojosa
| McAllen
| Miss South Texas
| 22
| Top 8
|
| Granddaughter of U.S. Representative TX-15 Rubén Hinojosa
|-
| 2020
| Taylor Kessler
| Houston
| Miss Lone Star
| rowspan="2" | 23
|
|
|
- Previously Miss Grand USA 2017
- Longest reigning Miss Texas USA () and also the longest reigning Miss USA state titleholder under three calendar years in the organization's history
|-
| 2019
| Alayah Benavidez
| San Antonio
| Miss San Antonio
|
|
|
- Previously Miss United States 2016
Later a contestant on season 24 of The Bachelor
|-style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 2018
| Logan Lester
| Houston
| Miss Harris County
| 23
| Top 15
|
| Shortest reigning Miss Texas USA ()
|-
| 2017
| Nancy Gonzalez
| Freeport
| Miss Kemah
| 27
|
|
|
- Competed in Nuestra Belleza Latina 2010
|-
| 2016
| Daniella Rodriguez
| Laredo
| McAllen
| Miss Tropics of Texas
| 22
| 1st runner-up
|
|
|-
| 2014
| Lauren Guzman
| Laredo
| Missouri City
| Miss Fort Bend County
| 26
| Miss USA 2008
|
|
- Top 10 at Miss Universe 2008.
- Former President of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA
- Top 12 in Miss Texas Usa 2003
- 1st runner up in Miss Texas Usa 2007
|-
|-style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 2007
| Magen Ellis
| Tyler
| Miss Houston
| rowspan="2" | Houston
| rowspan="2" | Miss Southeast Texas
| 22
|
|
|
|-
| 1999
| Carissa Nicole Blair
|23
|
|
|
- Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 1992
|-
|-style="background-color:#FFFF66;"
| 1998
| Holly Christine Mills
| San Antonio
| Miss San Antonio
| 22
| Top 5
|
|
|-
|-style="background-color:#FFFF66;"
| 1997
| Amanda Elizabeth Little
| Wylie
| Miss Metroplex
| 21
| Top 6
|
|
|-
|-style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1996
| Kara Williams
| Houston
| Miss Harris County
| 23
| Top 10
|
|
- Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 1991 (Top 12 at Miss Teen USA 1991), and 2nd runner up Miss Texas 1995
|-
| colspan="8"
|-style="background-color:gold;"
| 1995
| Chelsi Mariam-Pearl Smith
| Deer Park
| Miss Galveston County
| 21
| Miss USA 1995
| Miss Congeniality and Best in Swimsuit
|
- Miss Universe 1995
- First African American Miss Texas USA
| Missouri City
| Miss Houston
| 22
| Top 12
|
| Miss Wonderland 1989
|-style="background-color:gold;"
| 1989
| Gretchen Polhemus
| rowspan="2" | Fort Worth
|-style="background-color:gold;"
| 1988
| Courtney Gibbs
| Keller
| El Paso
|Miss El Paso County
| 21
| Miss USA 1985
|
|
- Top 10 at Miss Universe 1985
- First Hispanic Miss Texas USA
|-
|-style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1984
| Laura Shaw
| Burleson
| Miss Burleson
| 19
| Top 10
| Miss Photogenic
|
|-
|-style="background-color:#FFFF66;"
| 1983
| Lisa Allred
| Fort Worth
| Abilene
| El Paso
| Houston
| Miss Harris County
|
|-
|-style="background-color:gold;"
| 1977
| Kimberly Louise "Kim" Tomes
| Houston
|
| 21
| Miss USA 1977
| Best State Costume
|
- Top 12 at Miss Universe 1977
- Miss Texas World 1974 and 1st runner up at Miss World USA 1974.
- 2nd runner-up at Miss Texas USA 1976
|-
|-style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1976
| Mary Candace "Candy" Gray
|-
|-style="background-color:#FFFF66;"
| 1975
| Aundie Evers
| Haltom City
| Miss Haltom-Richland
| 20
| Top 12
| Best State Costume
|
- Top 10 at Miss Texas 1971
|-
| 1972
| Susan Lynette Peters
|Austin
|
| 22
|
|
|
|-
|-style="background-color:#FFFF66;"
| 1971
| Brenda Box
| Amarillo
|
|
| 1st runner-up
|
|
|-
|-style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1970
| Diane Farrar Swendeman
| Fort Worth
| Miss Highland Lakes
| 21
| rowspan="6" | Top 15
| Miss Congeniality
|
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1969
| Sandy Drewes
| Dallas
|
|
|
|
|-
| 1968
| Jeannie Wilson
| Dallas
|
|
|
|
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1967
| Bonnie Robinson
| Houston
|
|
|
|
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1966
| Dorothy Pickens
| Edinburg
|
|
|
|
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1965
| Phillis Johnson
| Houston
|
|
|
|
|-
|-style="background-color:#FFFF66;"
| 1964
| Diane Elaine Balloun
| Houston
|
|
| 1st runner-up
|
|
|-
| 1963
| Cheryl Wilburn
| Houston
|
|
|
|
|-
|-style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1962
| Jackie Williams
| Waxahachie
| Miss Lake Whitney
|
| Top 15
|
|
|-
| 1961
| Sheila Wade
| Dallas
| Miss Lake Whitney
|
|
|
|
|-
| 1960
| Pat Cloud
| Houston
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|-style="background-color:#FFFF66;"
| 1959
| Carelgean Douglas
| Houston
|
|
| 1st runner-up
|
|
|-
|-style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1958
| Linda Daugherty
| Houston
|
|
| rowspan="2" | Top 15
|
|
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1957
| Gloria Hunt
| Houston
|
|
|
|
|-
|-style="background-color:#FFFF66;"
| 1956
| Jo Dodson
| Houston
|
|
| 4th runner-up
|
|
|-
|-style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1955
| Mary Daughters
| Houston
|
|
| Top 15
|
|
|-
|-style="background-color:#FFFF66;"
| 1954
| Betty Lee
| Houston
|
|
| 3rd runner-up
|
|
|-
|-style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1953
| Joan Bradshaw
| Houston
|
| 17
| Top 15
|
|
|-
| 1952
| Charlene McClary
| Houston
|
|
|
|
|
|}
References
External links
- Official website