Miss U.S. International

Not to be confused with Miss USA, United States representatives at Miss World, Miss Earth USA, Miss United States, or Miss Grand USA.
Miss U.S. International
Formation1960 (1960)
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersWashington D.C.
Location
MembershipMiss International
Official language
English
National Director
Laura Clark
WebsiteMiss U.S. International Official Website

Miss U.S. International is the official United States preliminary to the Miss International Beauty Pageant (officially titled The International Beauty Pageant).[1] The United States has sent a representative to the Miss International pageant since its inception in 1960. The only year a representative was not sent was in 2006.

The current Miss U.S. International is Nicky Kandola of District of Columbia who was crowned on July 6, 2025 and placed Top 11 at Miss International 2025 pageant in Japan in November 2025.

History

During the early 1960s, the United States was represented by a titleholder called 'Miss National Press Photographer'.[2] From 1963 to 1967, the American titleholder sent was called 'Miss American Beauty', and she was crowned few days before the Miss International finals.

The Miss International Beauty Pageant moved to Japan in 1968. From 1968 to 1970, 'Miss Welcome to Long Beach', was invited to compete at Miss International in Japan.[3][4]

From 1971 to 1976, Alfred Patricelli, who was the executive director of the Miss World USA competition, was asked to select an American titleholder to compete at Miss International from contestants at the Miss World USA contest.[5] He organized the Miss International USA pageant only 2 times, 1973 and 1975.[6][7]

From 1977 to 1983, California Beauty Pageant Inc. led by Leonard Stallcup, was the license holder for the American representative to Miss International.[8] They organized Miss California International, and the winner every year represented United States at Miss International as 'Miss American Beauty'.

From 1984 to 1989, the Miss Universe organization was the license holder for the American representative to Miss International, and sent runner-ups of Miss USA to Miss International. In 1987, the American representative's sash was changed back to 'United States'.[9][10] It is unknown who was in charge of selecting the contestants from 1990 to 2006, but, mostly Californian titleholders were sent to Japan.

From 2007 - 2024, Harrison Productions was the license holder for Miss International in the United States.

In 2025, Laura Clark's company adopted the Miss International franchise, in addition to Miss Earth and The Miss Globe franchises. This partnership between Clark and Miss International expanded the opportunities for the national winner through fashion, leadership and service.

Results summary

Placements in Miss International

USA holds a record of 32 placements at Miss International.

  • Miss International: Brucene Smith (Miss International 1974), Katherine Ruth (Miss International 1978), Christie Claridge (Miss International 1982)
  • 1st Runners-up: Linda Taylor (1964), Gail Krielow (1965), Anna Rapagna (1979), Charissa Ewing (1980), Sarie Joubert (1985), Dana Richmond (1988), Amy Holbrook (2004)
  • 2nd Runners-up: Pamela Elfast (1967), Karen MacQuarrie (1968)
  • 3rd Runners-up: Joyce Bryan (1963), Jacqueline Jochims (1971), Patricia Bailey (1975), Susan Carlson (1976)
  • 4th Runners-up: Charlene Lundberg (1960), Carolyn Joyner (1962), Lindsay Bloom (1972), Laura Bobbitt (1977), Lindsay Becker (2015), Kaitryana Leinbach (2016)
  • Top 15: Gayle Kovaly (1969), Randi Blesener (1970), Lisa Schuman (1981), Kimberly Bleier (1983), Cindy Williams (1986), Paula Morrison (1987), Deborah Husti (1989), Shawna Bouwman (1990), Amanda Delgado (2012), Andrea Neu (2013)

Awards

  • Miss International America: Corrin Stellakis (2022), Kenyatta Beaze (2023)
  • Miss Photogenic: Christie Claridge (1982)
  • Miss Mobile Beauty: Aileen Yap (2009)

Titleholders

This is a list of women who have represented the United States at the Miss International pageant.[11]

Color key
  •   Declared as Winner
  •   Ended as Runner-up
  •   Ended as one of the Semi-finalists
Year Representative's Name Age[a] State Represented Hometown Placement at Miss International Special Awards Notes
1960 Charlene Lundberg 19 Illinois Joliet 4th Runner-up
1961 Jo Ann Marie Dyer 22 Ohio Lima
1962 Carolyn Joyner 19 Kansas Freeport 4th Runner-up
1963 Joyce Bryan 20 Florida Miami 3rd Runner-up
1964 Linda Ann Taylor 18 California San Diego 1st Runner-up
1965 Gail Karen Krielow 21 Ohio Richmond Heights 1st Runner-up Miss Ohio USA 1964, Top 15 at Miss USA 1964.
1966 No competition held (Cancelled)
1967 Pamela Elfast 19 New Jersey East Orange 2nd Runner-up
1968 Karen Ann MacQuarrie 20 California Long Beach 2nd Runner-up
1969 Gayle Kovaly 20 California Long Beach Top 15
1970 Randi Susan Blesener 21 California Long Beach Top 15
1971 Jacqueline Lee Jochims 23 Iowa Carroll 3rd Runner-up Miss Iowa USA 1970.
1972 Lindsay Diane Bloom 22 Arizona Scottsdale 4th Runner-up 2nd Runner-up at Miss World USA 1971.
1973 Pia Nancy Canzani 23 Maryland Baltimore
1974 Karen Brucene Smith 23 Texas Port Lavaca Miss International 1974 Miss World USA 1971, Top 7 at Miss World 1971.
1975 Patricia Lynn Bailey 20 Virginia Norfolk 3rd Runner-up
1976 Susan Elizabeth Carlson 21 New York Schenectady 3rd Runner-up Miss New York USA 1973, 1st Runner-up at Miss USA 1973.
1977 Laura Jean Bobbitt 18 California Fresno 4th Runner-up
1978 Katherine Patricia "Kitty" Ruth 18 California Los Angeles Miss International 1978
1979 Anna Maria Rapagna 21 California Burbank 1st Runner-up
1980 Charissa Ann Ewing 18 California Los Angeles 1st Runner-up
1981 Lisa Margaret Schuman 18 California Cypress Top 15
1982 Christie Ellen Claridge 19 California Los Angeles Miss International 1982 Miss Photogenic
1983 Kimberly Anne Bleier 19 California Los Angeles Top 15
1984 Sandra Lee Percival 20 Missouri Sunrise Beach Miss Missouri USA 1984, 3rd Runner-up at Miss USA 1984.
1985 Sarie Nerine Joubert 22 Louisiana Shreveport 1st Runner-up Miss Louisiana USA 1985, 3rd Runner-up at Miss USA 1985.
1986 Cindy Jane Williams 22 Mississippi Hattiesburg Top 15 Miss Mississippi USA 1986, 3rd Runner-up at Miss USA 1986.
1987 Paula Jean Morrison 22 West Virginia Barboursville Top 15 Miss West Virginia USA 1987, Top 11 at Miss USA 1987.
1988 Dana Michelle Richmond 20 Mississippi Madison 1st Runner-up Miss Mississippi USA 1988, 4th Runner-up at Miss USA 1988.
1989 Deborah Lee Husti 21 New Jersey Rockaway Top 15 Miss New Jersey USA 1989, 2nd Runner-up at Miss USA 1989.
1990 Shawna Lea Bouwman 20 California Artesia Top 15
1991 Kimberly Anne Byers 22 California Oxnard
1992 Sandra Lee Allen 22 California Los Angeles
1993 Lynette Jonene MacFee 23 California Pasadena
1994 Karen Kristie Doyle 21 Oklahoma Oklahoma City
1995 Krista Loskota 19 California San Gabriel
1996 Maya Yadira Kashak 18 California Palm Desert
1997 Tanya Lorraine Miller 19 California Barstow
1998 Susan Paez 22 California South Gate
1999 Jennifer Jean Glover 20 California Castro Valley Miss California USA 2001; Miss California 2002.
2000 Kirstin Anne Cook 22 Florida Miami
2001 Eleana Thompson 19 California Lake Elsinore
2002 Mary Elizabeth Jones 21 California Mira Loma
2003 Masielle Otero 23 Florida Miami
2004 Amy Lynne Holbrook 19 California San Diego 1st Runner-up
2005 Anna Ward 24 California Long Beach
2006 Sara Dee Harrigfeld 26 California Palm Springs Did not compete Harrigfeld was disqualified due to overage requirement.
2007 April Strong 19 Illinois Chicago
2008 Kelly Ann Best 21 Michigan Troy Miss Michigan USA 2007, Top 15 at Miss USA 2007.
2009 Aileen Jan Valdehueza-Yap 20 Texas Willis Miss Mobile Beauty
2010 Casandra Nicole Tressler 24 Maryland Oakland Miss Maryland USA 2008.
2011 Kristen Little 22 New Mexico Atlanta, GA
2012 Amanda Renee Delgado 22 California Victorville Top 15
2013 Andrea Michelle Neu 22 Colorado Pueblo Top 15 Miss Earth United States 2014, 1st Runner-up at Miss Earth 2014.
2014 Samantha Brooks 23 California Highland
2015 Lindsay Lauren Becker 24 Minnesota Apple Valley 4th Runner-up 3rd Runner Up at Miss Global 2025, Miss Global USA 2024-2025, 1st Runner Up at Miss U.S. International 2013
2016 Kaitryana Michelle Leinbach 18 North Carolina Charlotte 4th Runner-up
2017 Shanel Kapri James 26 Maryland Fort Meade
2018 Bonnie Lee Walls 24 New York New York City
2019 Ghazal Gill 23 California Fremont
2020 Maritsa Claire Platis 19 South Carolina North Myrtle Beach No competition held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 No competition held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022 Corrin Ashley Stellakis 23 New York Bridgeport Miss International America Miss New York Teen USA 2014; Top 12 at Miss World America 2015; Miss Earth United States 2016, 3rd Runner-up at Miss Earth 2016.
2023 Kenyatta Michelle Beazer 25 Maryland Baltimore Miss International America Top 25 at Miss World America 2019; 1st Runner-up at Miss U.S. International 2021.
2024 Alysa Cook 23 Florida Pace Top 10 at Miss U.S. International 2020, 2021; 1st Runner-up at Miss U.S. International 2023.
2025 Nicky Kandola 27 District of Columbia Washington, D.C. Top 20

By number of states

States Titles Years
California 28 1964, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982,
1983, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999,
2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006,[b] 2012, 2014, 2019[c]
Florida 4 1963, 2000, 2003, 2024
Maryland 1973, 2010, 2017, 2023[d]
New York 3 1976, 2018, 2022
Texas 2 1974, 2009
Illinois 1960, 2007
New Jersey 1967, 1989
Mississippi 1986, 1988
Ohio 1961, 1965
District of Columbia 1 2025
South Carolina 2020
North Carolina 2016[e]
Minnesota 2015
Colorado 2013
New Mexico 2011
Michigan 2008
Oklahoma 1994
West Virginia 1987
Louisiana 1985
Missouri 1984
Virginia 1975
Arizona 1972
Iowa 1971
Kansas 1962
  1. ^ Age when crowned the national title.
  2. ^ Took over or held the title for a brief period of time after the original winner resigned, or before they unable to participate, and thus did not compete at Miss International.
  3. ^ Competed at Miss West Coast
  4. ^ Competed at Miss Northeast
  5. ^ Competed at Miss South Atlantic
  • Miss U.S. International 2022
    Corrin Stellakis
  • Miss U.S. International 2010
    Casandra Tressler
  • Miss International USA 1986
    Cindy Williams

See also

References

  1. ^ "The winner of Miss U.S. International every year will compete at Miss International beauty pageant". missusinternational.com.
  2. ^ "Charlene Lundberg was selected as Miss U.S.A. by the National Press Photographers". oocities.org.
  3. ^ "Mayor of Long Beach and Miss Welcome to Long Beach was invited to attend the 1968 Miss International Beauty Pageant in Tokyo". Independent Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Homegrown American Beauty seeks world crown (Karen MacQuarrie, Miss Welcome to Long Beach for Miss International Beauty Pageant in Tokyo)". Independent Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Japanese Name Patricelli to Head Miss International Beauty Contest". www.newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Miss International USA 1973". www.newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Girl who won pageant here ranked fourth in world test". www.newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Miss California International". 7 June 1979.
  9. ^ "Sarie Joubert selected as 1st RU". www.newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Dana Richmond was selected to represent USA". www.newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "History of the United States representative at Miss International beauty pageant". missusinternational.com.
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