The Miss Montana USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Montana in the Miss USA pageant. From 1994 to 2007, it was directed by Carol Hirata and the Carlton Group, based in Bellvue, Colorado. In 2012, it was taken by Pageants NW Productions based in Puyallup, Washington until 2021. Since 2021, the pageant is based in Great Falls, Montana under directed by Lime Light Enterprises.

Miss Montana USA
Formation1952
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersGreat Falls
Location
Membership
Miss USA
Official language
English
Websitemissmontanausa.com

Sharon D. Tietjen placed in the Top 15 in 1958 and having the longest streak failing to place in the finals ever since. Miss Montana USA 2005 Amanda Kimmel was chosen to represent the United States in the 2005 Miss Earth pageant. Although she did not place at Miss USA, Kimmel finished in the Top 8 at Miss Earth and was later selected to participate in Survivor: China, Survivor: Micronesia and Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.

The current Miss Montana USA is Shelby Dangerfield of Billings and was crowned on June 16, 2024, at The Petro Theater on the Montana State University-Billings campus in Billings. Dangerfield will represent Montana at Miss USA 2024.

Results summary

Placements

  • Top 10: Valerie Jackson (1952)
  • Top 15/20: Dawn Oney (1954), Sharon D. Tietjen (1958)

Montana holds a record of 3 placements at Miss USA.

Awards

  • Miss Congeniality: Robbin English (1980), Meredith McCannel (2002), Stephanie Trudeau (2007)

Winners

Color key
  • Declared as Winner
  • Ended as runner-up
  • Ended as one of the finalists or semi-finalists
Year Name Hometown Age1 Local title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes
2024 Shelby Dangerfield Billings 30 Miss Billings
2023 Madyson Rigg Kalispell 26 Miss Glacier
2022 Heather Lee O'Keefe Bozeman 24 Expected to become the longest reigning titleholder at 1 year, 7 months and 25 days
2021 Jami Forseth Huntley 23
2020 Merissa Underwood Bozeman 27
2019 Grace Zitzer Dillon 27
2018 Dani Walker Billings 27
2017 Brooke Bezanson Missoula 19
2016 Sibahn Doxey Frenchtown 22
2015 Tahnee Peppenger Great Falls 26
2014 Kadie Latimer Kalispell 23
2013 Kacie West[citation needed] Kalispell 23
2012 Autumn Muller Harlowton 25
2011 Brittany Wiser Bozeman 23
2010 Elizabeth Anne Anseth Billings 19
2009 Misti Vogt Kalispell 23
2008 Tori Wanty Shelby 21
2007 Stephanie Trudeau Saint Ignatius 20 Miss Congeniality
2006 Jill McLain Havre 21
2005 Amanda Kimmel Billings 20
2004 Molly Flynn Townsend 22
2003 Megan Monroe Missoula 22
2002 Meredith McCannel Billings 20 Miss Congeniality Miss Congeniality at National Sweetheart 2005 & Miss Congeniality at Miss Earth USA 2006
2001 CaCe Hardy Kalispell 18
2000 Brandi Bjorklund Bonner
1999 Michon Zink
1998 Reno Wittman
1997 Christin Didier Lewistown 24 Honorable Mention
1996 Tanya Pogatchnik 21
1995 Angela Janich
1994 Kelly Brown
1993 Kristen Anderson Columbia Falls
1992 Joy Estrada
1991 Joann Kayleen Jorgensen Helena 22
1990 Kimberlee Burger
1989 Tammy Reiter Billings
1988 Kimberly Torp Missoula
1987 Constance Colla Great Falls
1986 Laurie Ryan Belgrade
1985 Julie Knox Columbus
1984 Kristi Ogren Frenchtown
1983 Barbara Bowman Great Falls
1982 Perri Stevenson Bozeman
1981 Cathi Jo Locati Billings
1980 Robbin English Great Falls Miss Congeniality
1979 Jurrette Sindelar Billings
1978 Susan Riplett Billings
1977 Theresa Rose Bajt Billings
1976 Teresa Jane Klaus Great Falls
1975 Suzanne DeMier Great Falls
1974 Carole Aalseth Billings
1973 Jeri Joy Shandorf[3] Missoula
1972 Mitriann Popovich Butte
1971 Rebecca Thomas Billings
1970 Moreen Ann Murphy Helena
1969 Christina Jovin Missoula
1968 Kerry Barker Billings
1967 Stevie Lahti Wolf Creek
1966 Carol Marie Boetcher Great Falls
1965 Patricia Bradford
1961–1964 Did Not Compete
1960 Joanne Lane
1959 Bar-beth Smith
1958 Sharon D. Tietjen Semi-finalist (Top 15)
1955–1957 Did Not Compete
1954 Dawn Oney Semi-finalist (Top 20)
1953 Billie Jean Tyrrell
1952 Valerie Jackson Semi-finalist (Top 10)
1951 Patricia McGinty

1 Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant

References

  1. ^ "Dani Walker, Miss Montana USA Contestant". WELCOME TO THE PAGEANT BUZZ. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  2. ^ Strickler, Lee (April 30, 2011). "Brains and Beauty: You Can Have Both?". Bozeman Magazine. Bozeman, MT. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  3. ^ "Joy at Pageant". The Independent Record. Helena, Montana USA. May 5, 1973. p. 5. Retrieved May 18, 2013.