Miss Earth USA

Miss Earth USA
Formation2005 (2005)
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Location
  • United States
MembershipMiss Earth
Official language
English
National Director
Laura Clark (2016-present)
Websitemissearthusa.com

Miss Earth USA (formerly Miss Earth United States) is an annual beauty pageant which selects the United States representative to Miss Earth which is an annual international beauty pageant promoting environmental awareness.[1][2][3]

In January 2016, Carousel Productions, Inc., the organization who owns Miss Earth, announced through their official Facebook fan page that the Miss Earth USA program would be managed by U.S. Earth Productions/Beauty Beyond Borders, Inc., under the leadership of national director Laura Clark. In August 2018, the current organization announced it would be changing its name to Miss Earth USA.[4]

The current Miss Earth USA is Gia Soleil Espinoza of Texas, who won the title on January 3, 2026 at the Rosen Centre Hotel[5] in Orlando, Florida.

History

2001-2004: Ms. America International

From 2001 to 2005 participants were selected by the Ms. America International pageant where the prize was to represent the United States at the Miss Earth Pageant. The very first American delegate for Miss Earth was Abigail Royce[6] of California. She competed in 2001 where she landed as one of the Top 10 semifinalists.[7][8]

2005-2015: Earth Pageant Productions

In 2005, Earth Pageant Productions acquired the rights to run Miss Earth USA, in which the winner would go on to Miss Earth. The pageant adopted the slogan "Continuing the Legacy of Beauty and Responsibility". The pageant focused mainly on promoting environmental causes and the winners were chosen equally on their physical attributes as well as their understanding and knowledge of the issues affecting the Earth.[9][10][11] Miss Teen Earth USA was added in 2008, and was held in conjunction with the Miss Earth USA.

2016-Present: U.S. Earth Productions/Beauty Beyond Borders, Inc.

The US Earth Productions/Beauty Beyond Borders, Inc. is the current organization that owns and has runs Miss Earth USA since 2016. The organization is based in Washington, D.C.[12]

Competition

Pre-pageant events take place over a one-week period and include community service work within the host location. Delegates are scored in the following areas: judges' interview, evening gown, swimwear, a Think Global, Act Local environmental project,[13] runway, photogenic, media interview, and social media presence and engagement. In 2023 the current prize value for the top national titleholder for Miss Earth USA was valued at over $100,000 from prize awards, endorsements, and travel.[14]

State & Regional Competitions

Every year, states hold a preliminary competition to choose their delegate for the Miss Earth USA pageant. Delegates may be appointed state or regional titles if a state pageant is not offered in their area. The state/regional winners hold the title "Miss (State/Region) Earth USA" for the year of their reign.

State contestants are judged equally in the following categories: community service, gown, interview, photogenic, and swimwear.

The U.S. Earth Productions/Beauty Beyond Borders, Inc. organization awards directorships to pageant directors, who in some cases are responsible for more than one state or a region of the United States.

Currently, the Miss Earth USA organization does allow contestants to re-compete at the national pageant in the same division under the previous state title held, or a regional title, if a state title has already been awarded or appointed.

Editions

The following is a list of all Miss Earth USA winners and elemental court during their year of crowning.

Year Host City Miss Earth USA Elemental Courts
Air Water Fire Eco
2026 Orlando, Florida Gia Espinoza
Texas
April Rodriguez
Lone Star
Angel Strong
West Coast
Alanna Lynch
West Virginia
Autumn Fisher
Kentucky
2025 Washington, D.C. Haley Poe[15]
Pennsylvania
Sydney Hella
Colorado
Madison Nero
New York
Ta'ya Hazelwood
Wisconsin
Kiara Landon
Washington
2024 Orlando, Florida Bea Millan-Windorski[16]
Wisconsin
Sofia Terrazas
Texas
Jireh Gerry
California
Sydney Hella
Colorado
Jada Kelly
Mississippi
2023 Danielle Mullins[17]
Kentucky
Shawna Melvin
Maryland
Natalia Aldarondo
Florida
Angel Strong
Nebraska
Gracie Pfaff
Tennessee
2022 Natalia Salmon
Pennsylvania (Dethroned)
Faith Porter
District of Columbia
No replacement, original
placement of Brielle Simmons
Connecticut
Hannah Welborn-Lewis
North Carolina
Emma Loney
Oklahoma
Brielle Simmons
Connecticut
(Assumed)
2021 Marisa Butler
Maine
Alyssa Klinzing
California
Alyssa Magalong
Colorado
Kennedy Thomas
Alabama
C'yana Denby
Maryland
2020 Virtual Pageant Lindsey Coffey
Pennsylvania
Shannon Lynch
District of Columbia
Autumn Adams
Georgia
Leighanna Kingvalsky
Louisiana
Alexandra Curtis
Rhode Island
2019 Las Vegas, Nevada Emanii Davis
Georgia
Libby Hill
Gulf Coast
Mia Jones
Delaware
Francie Evans
South Carolina
Kirstin Bangs
California (Resigned)
Nicolette Templier
New York (Assumed)
2018 Alexandria, Virginia Yashvi Aware
Mid-Atlantic
Kailey Parker
Hawaii
Yvette Vaughn
Texas
Natalia Aldarondo
Puerto Rico
April Maroshick
New York
2017 Andreia Gibau
Massachusetts
Ashley Wade
District of Columbia
Yvette Vaughn
Northwest
Sydney Wharton
Texas
Not awarded
2016 Corrin Stellakis
New York
Mae-Ann Webb
South Carolina
Devin Boyd
Louisiana
Kesha Clark
Southwest
2015 Ontario, California Brittany Ann Payne
California
Cece Campos
Southern California
Maria Manzo
Grand Florida
Maicie Clark
Florida
Elizabeth Tran
Florida
2014 Andrea Neu
Colorado
Eli Reyes
Texas
Candie Herrera Cece Campos
Southern California
Daryanne Lees
Puerto Rico
2013 Honolulu, Hawaii Nicolle Velez
Empire State
Edita Jurisic
Pennsylvania
Eli Reyes
Texas
Lucie Poehere Wilson
Hawaii
Emily Miller
South Dakota
2012 Charlotte, North Carolina Siria Bojorquez
Lone Star State
Illinois California Pennsylvania Missouri
2011 Daytona Beach, Florida Nicole Kelley
Florida
Not awarded

Titleholders

This is a list of women who have represented United States at the Miss Earth pageant:

Color key
  •   Declared as Winner
  •   Ended as runner-up
  •   Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
  •   Ended as special awards winner
Year Represented Miss Earth USA Hometown Age[a] Placement Special Award(s) Note(s)
2001 California Abigail Royce San Diego 25 Top 10 None 1st Runner-up at Miss World USA 2000.
2002 California Casey Marie Burns Long Beach 21 Unplaced None
2003 California Jessica Schilling† Palm Springs 19 Unplaced None
2004 California Stephanie Brownell Riverside 20 Unplaced
1 Special Award
    • Miss Friendship
2005 Montana Amanda Kimmel Billings 21 Top 8 None Miss Montana USA 2005.
2006 South Carolina Amanda Pennekamp Columbia 25 Top 16 None Miss South Carolina USA 2004, 1st Runner-up at Miss USA 2004.
2007 Kansas Lisa Forbes Overland Park 26 Unplaced None Miss Kansas USA 2004.
2008 Nebraska Jana Murrell Omaha 26 Top 16 None Miss Nebraska USA 2005.
2009 Rhode Island Amy Diaz Providence 25 Unplaced None Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 2001; Miss Rhode Island USA 2008, Top 15 at Miss USA 2008.
2010 Missouri Danielle Bounds Kansas City 26 Top 14 None
2011 Florida Nicole Kelley Palm Coast 22 Unplaced None
2012 Texas Siria Bojorquez El Paso 19 Top 8
2 Special Awards
    • Best School Tour Teachers (Group)
    • Miss Friendship (Group)
2013 New York Nicolle Velez New York City 22 Top 16 None
2014 Colorado Andrea Neu[18][19] Pueblo 24 Miss Earth – Air 2014
4 Special Awards
    • Best Resort Wear (Group)
    • Best Swimsuit
    • Best Teacher (Group)
    • Best Evening Gown (Group)
Miss U.S. International 2013, Top 15 at Miss International 2013.
2015 California Brittany Ann Payne Tehachapi 23 Miss Earth – Water 2015
4 Special Awards
    • Charity Givers
    • Best Eco Video and Most Cheerful.
2016 New York Corrin Stellakis Bridgeport 19 Miss Earth – Fire 2016
4 Special Awards
    • Charity Givers
    • Best Eco Video and Most Cheerful.
Originally placed Top 8, later elevated after original Miss Earth-Fire was resigned; Miss New York Teen USA 2014; Top 12 at Miss World America 2015; Miss U.S. International 2021.
South Carolina Mae-Ann Webb Ridge Spring 25 did not compete Originally 1st Runner-up, later took over after original winner was elevated to Miss Earth-Fire.
2017 Massachusetts Andreia Gibau Brockton 22 Top 16
2 Special Awards
    • Best Resort Wear (Group)
    • Best Swimsuit (Group)
Miss New York USA 2020, Top 10 at Miss USA 2020.
2018 Maryland Yashvi Aware Frederick 25 Unplaced None
2019 Georgia Emanii Davis Griffin 25 Miss Earth – Air 2019
3 Special Awards
    • Best Evening Gown (Group)
    • Best Futuristic Filipiniaña
    • Best Designer and Host Lion Legazpi Oriental
Miss Georgia USA 2016, 2nd Runner-up at Miss USA 2016; 3rd Runner-up at Miss World America 2017.
Texas Libby Hill Houston 28 did not compete Originally 1st Runner-up, later took over after original winner won Miss Earth-Air.
2020 Pennsylvania Lindsey Coffey Centerville 28 Miss Earth 2020
5 Special Awards
    • Best Evening Gown (Group)
    • Best Talent in Sing (Group)
    • Best Swimsuit (Group)
    • Best Resort Wear (Group)
    • Best Sportwear (Group)
2021 Maine Marisa Butler Standish 27 Miss Earth – Air 2014
4 Special Awards
    • Best Talent in Sing
    • Best Sportswear
Miss Maine USA 2016; Miss World America 2018, Top 30 at Miss World 2018.
2022 Pennsylvania Natalia Salmon Effort 23 did not compete Later was replaced by 2nd Runner-up for unknown reasons.
Connecticut Brielle Simmons Fort Washington 20 Unplaced
3 Special Awards
    • Best Fauna Outfit (Americas)
    • Beach Wear Competition (Water Group)
    • Long Gown Competition (Water Group)
Originally 2nd Runner-up, later took over after original winner was dethroned.
2023 Kentucky Danielle Mullins[17] Lexington 25 Top 20 None
2024 Wisconsin Bea Millan-Windorski[16] Whitefish Bay 20 Miss Earth – Water 2024
1 Special Award
    • Best Philippine Heritage Attire Award
2025 Pennsylvania Haley Poe[15] Erie 22 Unplaced
2 Special Awards
    • Best in Filipino Terno (Americas)
    • Best in Talent (Eco Group)
Won the title of Miss Earth USA on Season 1 of Pretty Down to Earth on the Queen Beauty Network, making her the first American to win a national pageant title on a reality TV show in the United States.
2026 Texas Gia Espinoza El Paso 21 TBA TBA Competed on Season 1 of Pretty Down to Earth on the Queen Beauty Network in 2025.

Notes:

  • † Now deceased

By number of states

States Titles Years
California 5 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2015
Texas 3 2012, 2019[b], 2026
Pennsylvania 2020, 2022,[b] 2025
New York 2 2013, 2016
South Carolina 2006, 2016[b]
Wisconsin 1 2024
Kentucky 2023
Connecticut 2022
Maine 2021
Georgia 2019
Maryland 2018
Massachusetts 2017
Colorado 2014
Florida 2011
Missouri 2010
Rhode Island 2009
Nebraska 2008
Kansas 2007
Montana 2005
  1. ^ Age when crowned the national title.
  2. ^ a b c Took over or held the title for a brief period of time after the original winner won or elevated to Miss Earth's runner-up, and thus did not compete at Miss Earth.

Additional Miss Earth USA Divisions

The current Miss Earth USA program requires contestants be ages 18–26 as of January 1 of the competition year. U.S. Earth Productions/Beauty Beyond Borders, Inc. offers three additional divisions supporting Miss Earth USA. The winners of the additional divisions for ages 14–18 (Teen) and 21-59 (Mrs.) go on to compete at international competitions. Previously the program had an Elite Miss division for ages 26–38, but it was discontinued in 2022. All delegates are never married (excluding Mrs.), never had children (excluding Mrs.), natural born female, and U.S. citizens.[20] Together, these delegates make up Miss Earth USA system and bring awareness to environmental concerns while celebrating talents in modeling, fashion, and public speaking.[21]

Titleholders

The following is a list of all Miss Earth USA supporting division titleholders.

Supporting Divisions for Miss Earth USA
Edition Teen Miss Earth USA State Mrs. USA State Elite Miss Earth USA State
2026 Mia Navarro  Texas
2025 Jordyn Campion  New Mexico
2024 Alexandria Wolfe  Texas
2023 Tayan Stansfield  Kentucky Ann Pennington  New Jersey
2022 Presley Patrick  Pennsylvania Christine Rich  Delaware
2021 Katia Gerry  California Meredith Pope  Alabama Nalicia Ramdyal  New York
2020 Sally Dorrell  West Virginia
2019 Sydni Terradot  Louisiana Shelby Williams Dixon  North Carolina Celine Pelofi  Florida
2018 Payton Stockman  Gulf Coast Brandi Jarvis Ibos  Mississippi Keyace Sims  United States Gulf Coast
2017 Leslie Jackson  Maryland Division established in 2018[22]
2016 Sarah Levandowski  Texas
2015 Alyssa Klinzing  Kansas Vincenza Carrieri-Russo  Delaware

Notes:

  • 2022: Presley Patrick previously represented Pennsylvania at Teen Miss Earth USA 2021, placing 2nd runner-up.
  • 2022: Christine Rich previously represented Maryland at Mrs. USA Earth 2021 and 2019, placing 2nd and 3rd runner-up and Delaware at Mrs. USA Earth 2018, placing 1st runner-up. Christine was previously Mrs. Delaware America 2013, Mrs. Delaware United States 2015, placing top 15 at Mrs. United States, and Mrs. Delaware Galaxy 2018, placing 2nd runner-up at Mrs. Galaxy International.
  • 2019: Celine Pelofi was previously Ms. United States 2015 representing Florida.
  • 2018: Brandi Jarvis Ibos previously represented Mississippi at Miss Earth United States 2016, placing Top 10.
  • 2018: Payton Stockman previously represented Florida at Teen Miss Earth United States 2017, placing 1st Runner-Up and earned the swim award.
  • 2015: Alyssa Klinzing was previously Miss Kansas Teen USA 2013, placing Top 16 at Miss Teen USA 2013 and later Miss Kansas USA 2019, placing Top 10 at Miss USA 2019.
  • 2015: Vincenza Carrieri-Russo was previously Miss Delaware USA 2008 and Miss Delaware United States 2014, placing 2nd-Runner Up at Miss United States 2014.[23]

References

  1. ^ "Afghanistan: Anti-Pageant Judges". The New York Times. 2003-10-30. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  2. ^ "Miss Earth 2004 beauty pageant". China Daily. Reuters. 2004-10-25. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  3. ^ Enriquez, Amee (2 February 2014). "Philippines: How to make a beauty queen". BBC News. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  4. ^ Miss Earth USA - New name. Same mission. #missearthusa..., retrieved 2019-10-05
  5. ^ "Rosen Centre Hotel- First Class Orlando, FL Hotels- GDS Reservation Codes: Travel Weekly". www.travelweekly.com. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
  6. ^ TJ, Burgonio (12 October 2001). "Beauties Back Out pp25 and 27". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  7. ^ High Beam News, Online (2001-11-08). "Danish law student is Miss Earth". Filipino Reporter. Archived from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2010-01-12.
  8. ^ Palmero, Paul (2005-06-18). "Pageant History". Pageant Almanac. Retrieved 2010-01-12.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ^ Brady, Matt (2008-09-25). "Miss Earth United States checks out Fort Collins' environmental efforts". Fort Collins. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  10. ^ Bruning, Marlee (2009-10-07). ""'Green'tings" from Rhody for latest enviro-queen". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
  11. ^ Sullivan, Jerriann (2009-07-19). "Pageant promotes Earth". Central Florida Future of the University of Central Florida. Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
  12. ^ "Miss Earth United States | New Licensee Named". missearthunitedstates.com. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
  13. ^ "MISS EARTH USA | Go Green". missearthusa.com. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  14. ^ "2023 National Titleholder: Danielle Mullins". Miss Earth USA.
  15. ^ a b Glicklin, Harry (7 July 2025). "Miss Earth champions unite on Good Morning Washington for environmental awareness". WJLA-TV.
  16. ^ a b "Bea Milan-Windorski Miss Earth USA 2024". instagram. 31 December 2023.
  17. ^ a b Powell, Curadhan (2023-01-10). "For first time ever, 2 Kentuckians win 2023's Miss Earth USA titles together". WLKY. Retrieved 2023-01-18.
  18. ^ "Miss Earth 2014 Crown Goes To Miss Philippines". TravelersToday. 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2018-11-12.
  19. ^ "Pinay bags Miss Earth 2014 title". GMA News Online. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 2018-11-12.
  20. ^ "MISS EARTH UNITED STATES | FAQ". missearthusa.com. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
  21. ^ White, Jamila (2016). "National Green Week kickoff!". WJLA-TV. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  22. ^ "MRS. USA EARTH | Meet the Queen". Mrs USA Earth. Archived from the original on December 6, 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
  23. ^ "More About Vincenza Carrieri Russo". Vincenza Carrieri-Russo. Retrieved 2019-10-05.