Miss Nebraska USA

The Miss Nebraska USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Nebraska in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant is directed by Vanbros & Associates, headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas. In 2002, Nebraska joined the Vanbros group of state pageants for the Miss USA and Teen USA system.

Miss Nebraska USA
Formation1952
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersLenexa
Location
Membership
Miss USA
Official language
English
Key people
John M. Vannatta
Jason Vannatta
Jennifer Vannatta-Fisher, State Pageant Director
WebsiteOfficial website

Nebraska is one of the least successful states at Miss USA, having only placed 14 times. They were most successful in the 1950s, placing 6 times, with three runner up placements. Until 2018, their highest placement was in 1955 which was 2nd runner up. Belinda Wright's top 15 placement in 2010 was Nebraska's first semi-final placement since 1980 and first to win Miss Congeniality. In 2018, Sarah Rose Summers became the first Miss Nebraska USA to win Miss USA and becoming the 35th state to have the title of Miss USA for the first time. The most recent placement was Natalie Pieper placing 2nd runner-up in 2022.

In 2020, Megan Swanson became the first Miss Nebraska delegate to ever win the state title. Also, she and her sister Allie Swanson, Miss Nebraska 2019, became the first sisters to hold the statewide Miss USA and Miss America titleholders simultaneously.[1]

Amelia "Mimi" Wood of Omaha was crowned Miss Nebraska USA 2023 on February 26, 2023 at Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center in Omaha. She will represent Nebraska for the title of Miss USA 2023.

Results summary

Placements

  • Miss USA: Sarah Rose Summers (2018)
  • 2nd runners-up: Donna Jo Streever (1955), Natalie Pieper (2022)
  • 3rd runners-up: Shari Lewis (1956), Carolyn McGirr (1957)
  • Top 12: Janice Geiler (1973), Rebecca Staab (1980)
  • Top 15/16/19/20: Berneta Nelson (1953), Margie Winkhoff (1954), Dee Kjeldgaard (1958), Gail Weinstock (1961), Belinda Wright (2010), Amanda Soltero (2014), Erika Etzelmiller (2021)

Nebraska holds a record of 14 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

  • Miss Photogenic: Janice Geiler (1973)
  • Honorable Mention: Stacey Skidmore (2002)
  • Miss Congeniality: Belinda Wright (2010)

Winners

Color key
  •   Declared as Winner
  •   Ended as runner-up
  •   Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
Year Name Hometown Age[lower-alpha 1] Local title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes
2023 Amelia "Mimi" Wood Omaha 23 Miss West Omaha
2022 Natalie Pieper Lincoln 26 Miss Douglas County 2nd runner-up
2021 Erika Etzelmiller Lincoln 23 Miss South Lincoln Top 16 Previously Miss Nebraska Teen USA 2016
2020 Megan Swanson[1] Omaha 26 Miss Millard
  • Previously Miss Nebraska 2014
  • Sister of Allie Swanson, Miss Nebraska 2019
2019 Alexis "Lex" Nicole Najarian Lincoln 23 Miss Capital City Daughter of Peter Najarian
2018 Breanna "Bree" Coffey Valley 24 Miss Valley did not compete
  • Originally first runner-up; assumed the title when Sarah Rose Summers won Miss USA
  • Later competed in Miss Nebraska USA 2020, placed in semifinals
Sarah Rose Summers Omaha 23 Miss Omaha Miss USA 2018
2017 Jasmine Jade Fuelberth Norfolk 20 Miss Norfolk
2016 Sarah Elizabeth Hollins Omaha 25 Miss North Douglas County
2015 Hoang-Kim Cung Grand Island 23 Miss Grand Island Previously National American Miss 2012–2013
2014 Amanda Soltero Columbus 22 Miss East Lincoln Top 20 Previously Miss Nebraska Teen USA 2010
2013 Ellie Lorenzen Omaha 21 Miss Omaha
2012 Amy Marie Spilker Malcolm 21 Miss Malcolm
2011 Haley Jo Herold Omaha 23 Miss Greater Omaha
2010 Belinda Renee Wright[2] Scotia 21 Miss Greeley County Top 15 Miss Congeniality
2009 Meagan Winings Atkinson 22 Miss Sandhills
2008 Micaela Johnson Omaha 23 Miss Douglas County Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Squad Member 2003-2005
2007 Geneice Wilcher[4] Omaha 26 Miss North Omaha
2006 Emily Poeschl[5] Lincoln 21
2005 Jana Murrell Omaha 23
2004 Guerin Austin Omaha 24
2003 Jessica Perea[6] Omaha 22 First Latina to win title[6]
2002 Stacey Skidmore Omaha 19 Honorable Mention
2001 Su Joing Drakeford Bellevue 23 USAF Airman 1995–1999, Miss Teen Omaha 1996, Later Mrs. Maryland 2015
2000 Valerie Cook Omaha 25
1999 WaLynda Lou Sipple Previously Miss Michigan Teen USA 1992
1998 Jennifer Naro
1997 Kimberly Jane Weir Lincoln 21
1996 Kerry Lynn Kemper 24
1995 Chandelle Peacock Omaha
1994 Shawn Wolff
1993 Tish Gade Lincoln
1992 Jeanna Margaret Blom
1991 Ziba Ayeen[7] Native of Afghanistan[7]
1990 Angela Humphrey
1989 Renee Harter
1988 Kellie O'Neil
1987 Amy Anderson Kearney
1986 Ellen Withrow Papillion
1985 Lori Leigh Straight Omaha
1984 Joni Rundall Omaha
1983 Penelope Boynton Lincoln
1982 Lori Lynn Novicki Omaha
1981 Ladonna Hill Seward
1980 Rebecca Staab[8] Ralston 18 Semi-Finalist Played Jessie Matthews on Guiding Light[8]
1979 Rhonda Lundberg McCook
1978 Shari Alyce Reimers
1977 Deb Ridge Hastings
1976 Catherine Fricke
1975 Mary Lee Hoth Omaha
1974 Mary Wolff
1973 Janice Geiler Semi-Finalist Miss Photogenic
1972 Theresa Engels
1971 Lola Butler
1970 Bonnie McElveen Bellevue
1969 Marily Poole
1968 Linda J Dresher
1967 Mary Hoth
1966 Karen Weinfurtner
1965 Constance Kellogg
1964 Georgia Ann Merriam
1963 Sandy Zimmer
1962 No Representative
1961 Gail Weinstock Semi-Finalist
1960 No Representative
1959 Priscilla Eckrish
1958 Dee Kjeldgaard Semi-Finalist
1957 Carolyn McGirr 3rd Runner-Up Finished as 4th runner-up, but succeeded to 3rd runner-up when the 3rd runner-up took the place of the 2nd runner-up
1956 Shari Lewis 3rd Runner-Up
1955 Donna Jo Streever 2nd Runner-Up
1954 Margie Winkhoff Semi-Finalist
1953 Berneta Nelson Semi-Finalist
1952 No representative
  1. Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant

References

  1. "New Miss Nebraska USA crowned". KSNB-TV. January 13, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  2. Coddington, Mark (2006-10-09). "Scotia native overcomes fear to win Miss Nebraska USA". The Grand Island Independent.
  3. Barge, Evelyn (2005-03-31). "Pepperdine beauty-pageant contestants reveal the ins and outs of the pageant system". Pepperdine University Graphic. Archived from the original on 2010-06-14.
  4. Hascall, Kelley (2006-10-09). "Several UNL students compete for Miss Nebraska". Daily Nebraskan. Archived from the original on 2011-05-16.
  5. Hascall, Kelley (2005-10-10). "Crowning Achievements". WOWT. Archived from the original on 2013-02-10.
  6. Baez, Leia (2002-10-11). "UNO student crowned Miss Nebraska". Gateway. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17.
  7. "Duty Could Switch from Contest to Gulf". The Buffalo News. 1991-02-17.
  8. Passalacqua, Connie (1986-05-18). "Staab will reign as soap's sweetest star". Tri City Herald.
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