Miss Colorado USA is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state of Colorado in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by its winner.[1] The pageant is directed by Future Productions.

Miss Colorado USA
Formation1952
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersSavage
Location
MembershipMiss USA
Official language
English
Key people
Denise Wallace
Craig Heitkamp
WebsiteOfficial website

Colorado's most successful placements were in 1963 and 2010, when Rhea Looney and Jessica Hartman, respectively, placed as the third runner-up. Colorado's most recent placement was in 2012, when Marybel Gonzalez placed in the Top 10.

Jessi Kalambayi of Denver was crowned Miss Colorado USA on June 30, 2024 at Union Colony Civic Center in Greeley. She will represent Colorado at Miss USA 2024.

Results summary

Placements

  • 3rd Runner-Up: Rhea Looney (1963), Jessica Hartman (2010)
  • Top 10: Debbie James (1989), Tiani Jones (2000), Marybel Gonzalez (2012)
  • Top 15/16/20: Jeanie Carroll (1953), Dorothy Jane Bewley (1955), Karen Keeler (1956), Diane Lee Gardner (1959), Penny Jo James (1962), Susan Hawkins (1969)

Colorado holds a record of 11 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

  • Miss Congeniality: Diane Knaub (1971), Crystal Grove (1998)
  • Miss Photogenic: Katee Doland (2001), Susan Hawkins (1969)

Winners

Color key
  •   Winner
  •   Runner-Up
  •   Semifinalist
Year Name Hometown Age[a] Local title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes
2024 Jessi Kalambayi Denver 26 Miss Denver Top 10
2023 Arianna Lemus Gunnison 27 Miss Gunnison
2022 Alexis Glover Colorado Springs 23 Miss Colorado Springs
2021 Olivia Lorenzo Fort Collins 20 Miss Fort Collins
2020 Emily DeMure Boulder 21
2019 Madison Dorenkamp Lamar 25
2018 Chloe Brown Grand Junction 22
  • Previously Miss Colorado Teen USA 2013
2017 Sabrina Janssen Denver 22
2016 Caley-Rae Pavillard Castle Pines 22
2015 Talyah Polee Denver 26
2014 Eleanna Livaditis Centennial 25
2013 Amanda Wiley Littleton 25
2012 Marybel Gonzalez Denver 24 Top 10
2011 Blair Griffith Lakewood 22
2010 Jessica Hartman Pueblo 19 3rd Runner-Up
2009 Patrice Williams Colorado Springs 22
2008 Beckie Hughes [2][3] Grand Junction 21
2007 Keena Bonella 21
2006 Jacqueline Madera Denver 26
2005 Lauren Cisneros Castle Rock 23
2004 Janel Haw Aurora 26
2003 Erin MacGregor[4] Vail 26
2002 Keely Gaston Morrison 24
  • Previously Miss Colorado 1998
2001 Katee Doland Arvada 20 Miss Photogenic
  • Previously Miss Colorado Teen USA 1998
  • Later Miss Colorado 2003
  • Former Denver Broncos cheerleader
2000 Tiani Jones Aurora 23 Top 10
1999 Susan Manuello Boulder
1998 Michelle Stanley Littleton
  • Previously Miss Colorado 1996
1997 Damien Munoz Westminster
1996 Suesan Rajabi Englewood
1995 Emily Weeks Denver
1994 Kimberly Veldhuizen
1993 Janna Durbin Golden
  • Previously Miss Colorado Teen USA 1989
1992 Laura Dewild Denver
1991 Melanie Ness Pueblo
1990 Michelle Harrison Conifer
1989 Debbie James Denver 21 Top 10
  • Previously Miss Colorado Teen USA 1985
1988 Nicola Svaldi Aurora
1987 Polly Kuska Northglenn
1986 Cheryl Rohleder Denver
1985 Lynnette Jessen
  • Previously Miss Colorado 1981
1984 Michelle Anderson
1983 Lisa Gay Trujillo
1982 Dusty Hutton Longmont
1981 Shannon Davidson Boulder
1980 Shelley Marks Littleton
1979 Jene Nelson Pueblo
1978 Linda Potestio
1977 Mary Anne Genzel Denver
1976 Patricia Sweany Lamar
1975 Amy Long Lakewood
1974 Connie Larsen Denver
1973 Lenita Mosley
1972 Patricia Cadigan Lakeland
1971 Diane Knaub Denver Miss Congeniality
1970 Linda Hicklin Greeley
1969 Susan Hawkins Colorado Springs Top 15 Miss Photogenic
1968 Ann Bell Littleton
1967 Kim Kelly
1966 Rosemary Barnwell
1965 Cathy McPherson
Did not compete at Miss USA 1964
1963 Rhea Looney 3rd Runner-Up
1962 Penny James Top 16
Did not compete at Miss USA 1961
1960 Karen Eickermann
1959 Dianne Gardner Top 15
1958 Devona Hubka
1957 Mary Clapham
1956 Karen Keeler Top 15
1955 Dorothy Bewley Top 15
1954 Lorna Batterson
1953 Jeanie Carroll Top 20
1952 Joan Linn

Notes

  1. ^ Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant

References

  1. ^ "Will Miss Colorado Teen USA hail from Eagle County?". Vail Daily. 2007-10-24.
  2. ^ "Owner of Pinque wins Miss Colorado USA crown". The Daily Sentinel. 2007-10-30.
  3. ^ Stina Sieg (31 October 2007). "Businesswoman named Miss Colorado". The Post Independent. Glenwood Springs and Garfield County, CO, USA: Swift Communications, Inc.
  4. ^ Wyrick, Randy (2002-11-27). "Beauty that extends to the soul". Archived from the original on 2012-03-08.