The Miss Kansas USA pageant is a competition that selects the representative for the state of Kansas in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant is directed by Vanbros and Associates, headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas. In 1992, the state joined the Vanbros group, under the directorship of Miss Kansas 1998 Jennifer Vannatta-Fisher.

Kansas did not place at Miss USA until 1973, the third-to-last state to make their first placement. From then, no delegate from Kansas made the cut until 1991, when Kelli McCarty won the crown in Wichita. McCarty's win made Kansas the only state to host one Miss USA and Miss Teen USA to win in their home state, as Keylee Sue Sanders won Miss Teen USA 1995, which was also held in Wichita. Kansas also had two first runners-up, including Danielle Boatwright, who would later win Survivor: Guatemala in 2005, one second runner-up, one third runner-up, and one fourth runner-up, among others. The most recent placement was Bella Whitlock in 2024, placing Top 20.

Eight former Miss Kansas Teen USAs went on to win the Miss title, and also two Miss Missouri Teen USAs (Missouri is also a Vanbros state).

Madilynn Becker from Herington was crowned Miss Kansas USA 2026 on June 7, 2026, at Polsky Theater in Overland Park. She will represent Kansas at Miss USA 2026.

Gallery of titleholders

Results summary Placements Miss USAs: Kelli McCarty (1991) 1st runners-up: Danielle Boatwright (1996), Lindsay Douglas (2002) 2nd runners-up: Tavia Shackles (1993), Cara Gorges (2007) Top 5/6: Kimberlee Girrens (1992), Tiffany Meyer (2000) Top 10/12: Brenda Kopmeyer (1973), Carol Hovenkamp (1994), Alyssa Klinzing (2019), Elyse Noe (2022) Top 15/16: Bethany Gerber (2010), Gracie Hunt (2021) Top 20: Bella Whitlock (2024), Madilynn Becker (2026)

Kansas holds a record of 15 placements at Miss USA.

Awards Best State Costume: Tavia Shackles (1993) Most Beautiful Eyes: Tavia Shackles (1993) Best in Swimsuit: Danielle Boatwright (1996)

Titleholders

Color key

Year Name HometownAge Local title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes 2026 Madilynn Becker Herington 22 Miss Herington Top 20 Previously Miss Kansas Teen USA 2021 2025 Asia Cymone Smith Wichita 26 Miss East Wichita 2024 Bella Whitlock Leavenworth 19 Miss Leavenworth Top 20 2023 Haley Berger Lawrence 22 Miss Lawrence Daughter of Prathumrat Woramali Berger, Miss Thailand World 1989 2022 Elyse Noe Lawrence 23 Miss Lawrence Top 12 2021 Gracie Hunt Overland Park 22 Miss Kansas City Top 16 Previously Miss Texas International 2018 Daughter of Tavia Shackles, Miss Kansas USA 1993 and Miss Missouri Teen USA 1990 and Kansas City Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt Granddaughter of Lamar Hunt 2020 Hayden Brax Leawood 20 Miss Kansas City Cousin of Hope Driskill, Miss Missouri USA 2011 2019 Alyssa Klinzing Olathe 20 Miss Conway Top 10 Previously Miss Kansas Teen USA 2013 Top 16 finalist at Miss Teen USA 2013 Previously Miss Teen Earth USA 2015 Eligible as a student at Whittier College Later Miss California Earth USA 2020 Finished first runner-up at Miss Earth USA 2021 2018 Melanie Shaner Overland Park 20 Miss Johnson County Previously Miss Kansas Teen USA 2015 2017 Catherine Carmichael Manhattan 25 Miss Lawrence Previously Miss Kansas World 2015 Top 12 at Miss World America 2015 2016 Victoria Wiggins Junction City 24 Miss Milford Lake 2015 Alexis Railsback Shawnee 19 Miss Shawnee 2014 Audrey Banach Kansas City 22 Miss Wildcat 2013 Staci Klinginsmith Lenexa 26 Miss Lenexa 2012 Gentry Miller Kansas City 24 Miss Kansas City Previously Miss Kansas Teen USA 2006 Top 10 finalist at Miss Teen USA 2006 2011 Jaymie Stokes Lenexa 20 Miss Lenexa Previously Miss Kansas Teen USA 2007 Top 10 finalist at Miss Teen USA 2007 2010 Bethany Gerber Winfield 21 Miss Cowley County Top 15, finishing in 13th Place Featured in January 2011 issue of Industrial Engineer about her titleholding role 2009 Courtney Courter Olathe 23 Miss Metro Kansas City 2008 Michelle Gillespie Mission Hills 22 Miss Kansas City 2007 Cara Gorges Clearwater 19 Miss Clearwater 2nd runner-up 2006 Ashley Aull Lansing 20 Miss Leavenworth County 2005 Rachel Saunders Tonganoxie 21 Miss Tonganoxie 2004 Lisa Forbes Overland Park 22 Miss Overland Park Later Miss Earth USA 2007, USA representative to Miss Earth 2007. 2003 Alicia Cabrera Leawood 23 Miss Leawood 2002 Lindsay Douglas Lawrence 23 Miss Lawrence 1st Runner-up 2001 Kristie Kay Knox Hutchinson 25 Miss Wescoe Beach 2000 Tiffany Tenille Meyer 25 Top 5 (4th) Previously Miss Missouri Teen USA 1994 Top 6 at Miss Teen USA 1994 1999 Amanda Carraway Manhattan 21 Miss Manhattan Previously Miss Kansas Teen USA 1996 Mother of Miss Teen USA 2025 Mailyn Marsh 1998 Cammie Morisseau Wichita 18 Miss Lawrence 1997 Kathryn Taylor Overland Park 24 1996 Danielle Boatwright Tonganoxie 20 1st Runner-up Best in SwimsuitPreviously Miss Kansas Teen USA 1992 2nd runner-up at Miss Teen USA 1992 Sports broadcaster and winner of Survivor: Guatemala 1995 Deborah Daulton Salina 18 1994 Carol Hovenkamp Overland Park 19 Top 12 Semi-finalist, finishing in 11th Place 1993 Tavia Shackles Shawnee 21 2nd Runner-up Best State Costume & Most Beautiful Eyes AwardPreviously Miss Missouri Teen USA 1990 Top 12 at Miss Teen USA 1990 Later married Kansas City Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt Mother of Gracie Hunt, Miss Kansas USA 2021 Daughter-in-law of Chiefs, AFL, and MLS founder Lamar Hunt 1992 Kimberlee E. Girrens Wichita 26 Top 6 Finalist, Finishing in 5th Place Previously Miss Kansas Teen USA 1986 Later Mrs. Kansas America 2004 under her married name, Kimberlee Easter 1991 Kelli McCarty Liberal 21 Miss USA 1991 Top 6 finalist at Miss Universe 1991 Starred as Beth Wallace in the NBC show Passions 1990 Rebecca Porter Wichita 1989 Nancy Burris Colby 1988 Cynthia Decker Manhattan 1987 Martina Castle Overland Park 1986 Audra Ockerman Wichita Mother of Claire-Bailey Lee, Miss Kansas Teen USA 2014 1985 Jill Denzin Leawood 21 1984 Elizabeth Therese "Buffy" Johnson Prairie Village 19 1983 Renee Ruch Mission 1982 Stefani Larson Overland Park 1981 Missy Kaser Wichita 1980 Lisa Lynn Boyd Wichita 1979 Linda Shields Lawrence 1978 Mary Bell Wichita 1977 Sherry Brane Wichita 1976 Deborah Vitera Ottawa 1975 Robbin Lea Loomas Overland Park 1974 Lorraine Breckenridge Wichita 1973 Brenda Kopmeyer Overland Park Semi-finalist 1972 Mona Guesnier Great Bend 1971 Nancy Bishop Overland Park 1970 Norma Lou Decker Tecumseh 1969 Molly McGugin Frankfurt 1968 Anne Layton Baldwin City 1967 Regina Wolfe 1966 Pat Ravenscroft Overland Park 1965 Linda Bergsten 1964 Barbara Ford 1963 Diane Victoria Stalker 1962 Linda Light 1961 Dixie Cook 1960 Peggy Patterson 1955–59 colspan="7" 1954 Sue Ravenscroft Liberal 18 1953 colspan="7" 1952 Bette Renick

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