The Miss Maine competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Maine in the Miss America pageant. Maine has been represented in the pageant since 1937, although the state has never produced a winner.

Miss Maine
Formation1923
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersPortland
Location
Membership
Miss America
Official language
English
Key people
Sarah Nadeau-Balducci (Executive Director)
WebsiteOfficial website

With Alaska became the latest state crowned the Miss America title, Maine is one of the few states along with South Dakota, West Virginia and Wyoming that has yet to win a Miss America, Miss USA, or Miss Teen USA title.

Jennie Daley was crowned Miss Maine 2024 on June 30, 2024, at Freeport Performing Arts Center in Freeport. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2025.

Results summary

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The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Maine 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

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  • 2nd runners-up: Karen Johanna Johnson (1971)
  • 4th runners-up: Allyn Warner (1972)
  • Top 18: Iva Stewart (1933)

Awards

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Preliminary awards

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Non-finalist awards

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  • Non-finalist Talent: Sally Ann Robinson (1961), Dawn Frances Christie (1962), Marilyn Lash (1973), Laurie Wathen (1988), Elizabeth Edgecomb (2004), Ami Vice (2005), Susie Stauble (2010), Kristin Korda (2014)

Other awards

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Winners

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  •   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 Jennie Daley Sullivan 28 Miss Downeast HerStory: I Want to Be An Engineer TBA TBA
2023 Veronica Druchniak Standish 27 Aerial Acrobatics Preliminary Talent Award
2022 Madison Leslie Lewiston 22
Vocal, "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen Previously Miss Maine's Outstanding Teen 2016[1]
2021 Mariah Larocque Portland 25 Miss Sunrise County | Vocal, "I Who Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston Withdrew before the final competition due to COVID-19 rules
Miss Congeniality (unanimous)
2019–20 Carolyn Brady[2] Brunswick 22
-
Violin, "Roundtable Rival" by Lindsey Stirling First African American to win title[2]

4th runner-up at Miss Maine USA 2017 pageant[3]
2018 Olivia Mayo[4] Minot 20 Vocal, "Send In the Clowns"
2017 Katie Elliott[5] Scarborough 22 Vocal, "Someone to Watch Over Me" Previously Miss Maine's Outstanding Teen 2013[6]
2016 Marybeth Noonan[7] Raymond 20 Vocal, "I Got Rhythm" from Girl Crazy Previously Miss Maine's Outstanding Teen 2010[8]

Contestant at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant
2015 Kelsey Earley[9] Lebanon 24 Miss York Harbor Clogging, "Happy" by C2C Contestant at National Sweetheart 2012 pageant
2014 Audrey Thames[citation needed] Topsham 19 Miss Topsham Comedic Monologue, "Yma Dream" by Thomas Meehan
2013 Kristin Korda[10] Saco 21 Miss Casco Bay Vocal, "Finding Wonderland" Non-finalist Talent Award Previously Miss Maine's Outstanding Teen 2009[11]
2012 Molly Bouchard Caribou 21 Miss Northern Aroostook Classical Vocal, "Quando m'en vò" from La bohème Previously Maine's Junior Miss 2008
2011 Julia Furtado[12] Dayton 19 Miss Seacoast Vocal, "Over the Rainbow"
2010 Arikka Knights Chester 24 Miss Greater Lincoln Tap Dance, "Jumpin' Jack" Contestant at National Sweetheart 2007 pageant
2009 Susie Stauble Gray 22 Vocal, "Stand Up for Love" Non-finalist Talent Award
2008 Adrienne Watkinson Topsham 23 Miss Topsham Violin
2007 Tara Allain[13] Waterville 22 Miss Kennebec County Dance, "Hangin' By a Thread"
2006 Karissa Staples Biddeford 19 Miss Greater Portland Vocal, "Take Me or Leave Me" from Rent
2005 Megan Beals Ludlow 22 Miss Houlton Vocal, "Johnny One Note"
2004 Ami Vice Lisbon Falls 23 Classical Vocal, "Chi Il Bel Sogno di Doretta" from La rondine Bernie Wayne Scholarship

Non-finalist Talent Award
2003 Elizabeth Edgecomb Limestone 20 Classical Piano, Fantaisie-Impromptu Non-finalist Talent Award
2002 Rachel Wadsworth Hiram 20 Miss Forest City Rhythm Tap Dance Contestant at National Sweetheart 2001 pageant
2001 Meranda Hafford Washburn 20 Miss Northern Aroostook Vocal, "Next Time I Love"
2000 Renee Belanger 22 Jazz Dance, "Jet Prologue" from West Side Story
1999 Rebecca Pelkey Howland 21 Miss Greater Portland Character Ballet, "Can-can"
1998 Stephany Stanley Canton 20 Miss Southeast Acro-Jazz Dance, "The Stampede!" from The Lion King Contestant at National Sweetheart 1997 pageant
1997 Rachel Binder Presque Isle 23 Miss Aroostook County Lyrical Ballet. "Seasons of Love"
1996 Sarah Nadeau Portland 20 Miss Greater Portland Classical Vocal, "Addio" from La bohème
1995 Sharon Pelletier Madawaska 23 Popular Vocal, "At This Moment"
1994 Victoria Reynolds Bangor 22 Miss Cumberland County Tap Dance
1993 Josette Huntress Limestone 21 Miss Northern Maine Piano
1992 Christina Jane Lasso Augusta 23 Miss Central Maine Classical Vocal, "Una Voce Poco Fa" from The Barber of Seville
1991 Dorie Noble South Portland 25 Miss Cumberland County Comedic Monologue, "Yma Dream" by Thomas Meehan
1990 Ann Rowe Auburn 26 Miss Greater Portland Vocal, "Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables
1989 Jane Brochu Augusta 25 Miss Augusta Vocal, "Stormy Weather"
1988 Lisa Kent Gorham 21 Miss Cumberland County Gymnastics / Jazz Dance
1987 Laurie Wathen Fort Fairfield 25 Miss Northern Aroostook Piano, "Symphony No. 9" by Ludwig van Beethoven Non-finalist Talent Award
1986 Victoria Reed Falmouth 26 Miss Windjammer Vocal, "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man"
1985 Mary Margaret Nightingale Fort Fairfield 20 Miss Southern Aroostook Vocal, "The Blue Danube"
1984 Lisa Johnson South Portland 22 Miss Cumberland County Electric Violin
1983 Brenda Theriault Presque Isle 22 Miss Southern Aroostook Vocal, "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey"
1982 Rebecca Beck Brunswick 21 Miss Bangor Classical Vocal, "Adele's Laughing Song" from Die Fledermaus
1981 Kathleen Jarrell Orr's Island 19 Miss Windjammer Vocal Medley, "Swanee", "My Mammy", & "I'm Happy"
1980 Valerie Crooker Brunswick 24 Miss Brunswick Vocal / Dance Previously Miss Maine USA 1979
1979 Jill O'Brien Bangor 22 Miss Bangor Ballet, "Irish Suite"
1978 Linda Carroll Alfred 22 Miss Maine Mall Semi-classical Vocal, "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady
1977 Terry Gilpatrick Lincoln 18 Miss Lincoln Pantomime, "Me and My Shadow"
1976 Susan Wanbaugh Presque Isle 19 Miss Maine Potato Queen Dramatic Monologue from As You Like It
1975 Patricia Cyr Madawaska 18 Vocal, "Cabaret"
1974 Margaret Ann Welch Bangor 22 Miss Greater Bangor Vocal, "Killing Me Softly with His Song"
1973 Carlene Quimby Auburn 20 Miss University of Maine Vocal, "I Cain't Say No" from Oklahoma!
1972 Marilyn Lash Friendship 19 Semi-classical Vocal, "Poor Wand'ring One" from The Pirates of Penzance Non-finalist Talent Award
1971 Allyn Warner Falmouth 21 Miss Greater Portland Semi-classical Vocal, "Mira" from Carnival 4th runner-up Preliminary Talent Award
1970 Karen Johanna Johnson Cumberland Foreside 20 Classical Vocal, "Quando me'n vo'" 2nd runner-up
1969 Kirsten Elizabeth Bell Caribou 18 Miss Caribou Piano, Theme from The Apartment
1968 Brenda Renee Verceles Bangor 19 Miss Bangor Tap Dance, "Step to the Rear" from How Now, Dow Jones
1967 Linda Christine Livanda Cape Elizabeth 19 Miss Cape Elizabeth Original Recitation & Dance, "Dance of the Decades"
1966 Mary Kathryn Gonya Millinocket 20 Miss Millinocket Recitation
1965 Ellen Margaret Fowler Old Orchard Beach 19 Miss Gorham State Teachers' College Vocal / Dance, "Some People"
1964 Ellen Warren Kennebunk 18 Vocal / Dance
1963 Elaine Ann Ouillette Lewiston Miss Lewiston Musical Variety Act
1962 Barbara Jean Orr Portland 19 Miss Livermore Falls Vocal, "I Wanna Be Loved by You"
1961 Dawne Frances Christie Gray 21 Miss Scarborough Piano, "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11" Non-finalist Talent Award
1960 Sally Ann Robinson Enfield 20 Miss Lincoln Monologue / Piano Non-finalist Talent Award
1959 Linda Mills Lewiston 18 Dramatic Reading
1958 Terry Suzanne Tripp Ballet
1957 Carol Ann Bartels Bath Drama / Art
1956 Mary Ellen Sanborn Gardiner Drama
1955 Janice Vaughn Waterville Dramatic Monologue
1954 Mary Ellen St. John Old Town Drama
1953 Karen Diane Thorsell Portland Vocal
1952 Norma Lee Collins Caribou
1951 Beverly Ann Emery Auburn Classical Vocal from The Student Prince
1950 Jane Harragan Millinocket Dramatic Monologue, "The Corn Is Green"
1949 Connie Gingrass Augusta Fencing
1948 Muriel Applebee Enfield
1947 No Maine representative at Miss America pageant[14][15]
1946
1945 Virginia Trask Portland 18 Vocal, "I Should Care"
1944 No Maine representative at Miss America pageant[16]
1943 Eleanor Fournier Westbrook
1942 No Maine representative at Miss America pageant[17][18]
1941
1940 Shirley Edith Houston Augusta
1939 No Maine representative at Miss America pageant[19]
1938 Doris Marie Bergeron Lewiston
1937 Cornelia Campbell South Portland
1936 Edna Smith Portland Miss Portland Multiple Maine representatives

Competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Dolly Stewart Rockland
1935 Edith Lucresa Smith
1934 No national pageant was held[20]
1933 Iva Stewart 19 N/A[21] Top 18
1932 No national pageants were held[20]
1931
1930
1929
1928
19241927 No Maine representative at Miss America pageant[22][23][24][25]
1923 Winona Evelyn Drew[26] Portland Miss Portland N/A[21]
1922
No Maine representative at Miss America pageant[27][28]
1921

Controversies

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In 2015, pageant contestant Marisa Butler attracted controversy for her volunteer role catching and tagging sharks with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Butler was staging bikini shot pictures after dragging sharks onto the beach to be tagged - a practice considered by experts to be harmful. Butler responded to the criticism on Facebook, writing: "I am working towards spreading awareness and changing public opinion about sharks."[29]

References

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  1. ^ "St. Dom's student appears in Florida pageant". Sun Journal. September 7, 2016.
  2. ^ a b LaClaire, Hannah (September 13, 2019). "Brunswick's Carolyn Brady, first African American Miss Maine, will walk across a reinvented Miss America stage". The Times Record.
  3. ^ Chang, Jane (December 2, 2016). "Carolyn Brady '19 places fifth in Miss Maine USA, named Miss Congeniality". The Bowdoin Orient.
  4. ^ Cullen, Amanda (July 3, 2018). "Flags retired at Liberty Fest service". Sun Journal. Miss Maine 2018 Olivia Mayo sang the national anthem...
  5. ^ "Katie Elliott '17 named Miss Maine". Wheaton News. August 23, 2017.
  6. ^ Dave, Tirusha (June 24, 2017). "The Road to Miss Maine – Katie Elliott". Bravura Magazine.
  7. ^ "Miss Maine 2016 is Marybeth Noonan". pageantsnews.com. 24 April 2016. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ Balentine, John (September 2, 2010). "Raymond girl competes in Miss America teen pageant". Keep Me Current.
  9. ^ "Miss Maine 2015 crowned in Portland". WLBZ-TV. Bangor, ME. April 26, 2015. Archived from the original on June 16, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  10. ^ "Turner girl chosen Miss Maine's Outstanding Teen 2013". Sun Journal. June 29, 2013.
  11. ^ Dorr, Summer (July 11, 2013). "Saco resident to represent Maine in beauty pageant". Biddeford Courier. In 2009, while a junior at Thornton Academy, she was crowned Miss Maine's Outstanding Teen.
  12. ^ "Dayton teen crowned Miss Maine". Press Herald. June 20, 2011.
  13. ^ "Betty Morrison: Miss Maine, an author and the 'Book Bandit' all visit Alfred Elementary School". Fosters.com. April 24, 2008. ...discovered that Miss Maine, Tara Allain, a senior at Colby College...
  14. ^ "1947 Candidates". Miss America.
  15. ^ "1946 Candidates". Miss America.
  16. ^ "1944 Candidates". Miss America.
  17. ^ "1942 Candidates". Miss America.
  18. ^ "1941 Candidates". Miss America.
  19. ^ "1939 Candidates". Miss America.
  20. ^ a b "Miss America Timeline: 1901–1950". PBS. Archived from the original on 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
  21. ^ a b Schnitzspahn, Karen (September 8, 1997). "There She Was – Miss Long Branch". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com. ...talent contest that was established in 1935.
  22. ^ "1927 Candidates". Miss America.
  23. ^ "1926 Candidates". Miss America.
  24. ^ "1925 Candidates". Miss America.
  25. ^ "1924 Candidates". Miss America.
  26. ^ "More Beauties". The Daily News. Frederick, Maryland. September 6, 1923. p. 11 – via Newspaper.com.
  27. ^ "1922 Candidates". Miss America.
  28. ^ "1921 Candidates". Miss America.
  29. ^ "Daily Talker: Miss Maine Contestant Controversy". 04 WBZ CBS Boston. 24 July 2015.
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