Wikipedia / Miss Indiana
Wikipedia / Miss Indiana
The Miss Indiana competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Indiana in the Miss America Pageant.
Ellise Edwards of Corydon was crowned Miss Indiana 2026 on June 20, 2026, at STAR Bank Performing Arts Center in Zionsville. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2027 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Gallery of past titleholders
Results summary
The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Indiana titleholders at the national Miss America pageants/competitions. The year in parentheses indicates the year of the national competition during which a placement and/or award was garnered, not the year attached to the contestant's state title.
Placements
Miss Americas: Katie Stam (2009)
1st runners-up: Carol Mitchell (1952), Ann Garnier (1953), Barbara Mougin (1978), Nicole Rash (2008)
2nd runners-up: Eileen Smith (1966), Shelli Yoder (1993), Cydney Bridges (2024)
3rd runners-up: Pam Carlberg (1982)
4th runners-up: Tommye Glaze (1961), Kit Field (1969), Rebecca Graham (1973), Tiffany Storm (1995)
Top 5: Anna Howe (1927)
Top 7: Elizabeth Hallal (2023)
Top 10: Mary Haglund (1968), Penny Tichenor (1975), Cyndi Legler (1976), Laurie Broderick (1986), Shani Nielsen (1997), Julianne Hackney (1999), Bryn Chapman (2004)
Top 12: MerrieBeth Cox (2013)
Top 15: Helen Emly (1938), Tangra Riggle (2003), Nicole Pollard (2010), Lydia Tremaine (2019)
Top 20: Allison Hatcher (2002)
Preliminary awards
Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Anita Hursh (1959), Rebecca Graham (1973), Shelli Yoder (1993) (tie), Tiffany Storm (1995), Katie Stam (2009)
Preliminary Talent: Gloria Rupprecht (1958), Tommye Glaze (1961), Eileen Smith (1966), Mary Haglund (1968), Laurie Broderick (1986), Shani Nielsen (1997), Tangra Riggle (2003), Lydia Tremaine (2019), Elizabeth Hallal (2023)
Non-finalist awards
Non-finalist Talent: Kathleen Burke (1962), Pat Patterson (1972), Sheila Stephen (1988), Sarah Wiley (2005), Gabrielle Reed (2011), Audra Casterline (2015)
Other awards
Miss Congeniality: Debbie May (1971), Cydney Bridges (2024)
Albert A. Marks Jr. Interview Award: Kelly Lloyd (2000)
Bernie Wayne Talent Award: Tiffany Storm (1995), Shani Nielsen (1997)
Evening Dress Award: Thelma Blossom (1922)
Intercity Roller Chair Parade Award: Thelma Blossom (1922)
Neat as a Pin Award: Pat Patterson (1972) (tie)
Professional Beauty Award Third Prize: Sydney Nelson (1922)
Quality of Life Award Finalists: Betsy Uschkrat (2007), Katie Stam (2009)
Winners
Year | Name | Hometown | Age | Local Title | Miss America Talent | Placement at Miss America | Special scholarships at Miss America | Notes |
Ellise Edwards | 22 | Miss Harvest Homecoming | Lyrical Dance | TBD | TBD | |||
Kinley Shoemaker | 20 | Miss Metropolitan | Vocal | Previously Miss Indiana Teen USA 2023 | ||||
Kalyn Melham | 23 | Miss Southern Heartland | Vocal, "Don't Forget Me" | |||||
Cydney Bridges | 22 | Miss Fort Wayne | Vocal, "I'll Be There" | 2nd Runner-Up | Miss Congeniality | |||
Elizabeth Hallal | 21 | Miss Southern Heartland | Musical Theater Vocal "Defying Gravity" | Top 7 | Preliminary Talent Award | |||
Braxton Hiser | 24 | Miss West Central Indiana | Vocal | |||||
2019–20 | Tiarra Taylor | 21 | Miss Indiana State University | |||||
Lydia Tremaine | 20 | Miss Fort Wayne | Vocal, "That's Life" | Top 15 | Preliminary Talent Award | Later 2nd runner-up at Miss Indiana USA 2021 | ||
Haley Jordan Begay | 19 | Miss Metropolitan | Vocal, "Hallelujah" | Later crowned Miss Indiana USA 2023 | ||||
Brianna DeCamp | 22 | Miss Limberlost | Tap Dance | Previously Miss Indiana's Outstanding Teen 2011 | ||||
Morgan Jackson | 21 | Miss Harvest Homecoming | Lyrical Ballet, "It Is Well with My Soul" by Bill Gaither | Daughter of Miss New Mexico 1984, Trina CollinsPreviously Miss Indiana's Outstanding Teen 2007Top 10 at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2008 pageantContestant at National Sweetheart 2014 pageant | ||||
Audra Casterline | 23 | Miss Hoosier Heartland | Vocal, "Over the Rainbow" | Non-finalist Talent Award | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2012 pageant | |||
Terrin Thomas | 21 | Miss Indiana University | Vocal, "I'm Afraid This Must Be Love" | Arrested and charged with public intoxication, disorderly conduct and resisting law enforcement in December 2014Charges were dropped as of May 2015 | ||||
MerrieBeth Cox | 22 | Miss Duneland | Baton Twirling, "Sparkling Diamonds" | Top 12 | Eligible as a student at Purdue UniversityPreviously Miss Illinois' Outstanding Teen 2007Purdue University's 27th Golden Girl | |||
Jackie Jerlecki | 22 | Miss Duneland | Vocal, "Take Me to the World" from Evening Primrose | |||||
22 | Miss Southern Heartland | Vocal, "You'll Never Walk Alone" from Carousel | Non-finalist Talent Award | |||||
Nicole Pollard | 23 | Miss Duneland | Broadway Vocal, "And This Is My Beloved" | Top 15 | Previously Indiana's Junior Miss 2004 | |||
Megan Meadors | 22 | Miss Pride of Indiana | Vocal | colspan=3 | ||||
Contestant at National Sweetheart 2005 pageantCheerleader for the Indianapolis Colts | ||||||||
22 | Miss Duneland | Vocal, "Via Dolorosa" | Winner | Preliminary Swimsuit AwardQuality of Life Award Finalist | Received a "Golden Sash" and automatic Top 15 placement at Miss America 2009 pageant on Miss America: Countdown to the Crown | |||
Nicole Rash | 23 | Miss Ball State University | Vocal, "Bandito" | 1st runner-up | Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2006 pageantLater Ms. Missouri 2012 and Ms. America 2012Later Mrs. America 2018 (under married name, Nicole Cook)Top 6 at Mrs. World 2018 pageant | |||
Betsy Uschkrat | 24 | Miss Indiana University | Classical Vocal, "Quando me'n vo'" | Quality of Life Award Finalist | ||||
Susan Guilkey | 22 | Miss North Central | Vocal, "I, Don Quixote" from Man of La Mancha | Later married Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith | ||||
Sarah Wiley | 24 | Miss Wabash Valley | Vocal, "What Kind of Fool Am I?" | Non-finalist Talent Award | Top 10 (2002) and contestant (2003) at National Sweetheart pageants | |||
Bryn Chapman | 21 | Miss South Central | Vocal, "Home" from Phantom | Top 10 | 3rd runner-up at National Sweetheart 2002 pageant as Miss Kentucky | |||
Tangra Riggle | 21 | Miss North Central | Vocal, "God Bless America" | Top 15 | Preliminary Talent Award | |||
Allison Hatcher | 24 | Classical Piano, "Prelude in G Minor" | Top 20 | |||||
Betsy Bobel | 23 | Miss Duneland | Gymnastics, "In the Mood" | Sister of Miss Indiana USA 2006, Bridget Bobel | ||||
22 | Miss North Central | Jazz Dance, "Jump, Jive an' Wail" | Albert A. Marks Jr. Interview Award | Triple Crown Winner
|
2nd runner-up at National Sweetheart 1998 pageant
Julianne Hackney | 20 | Miss Northwest Territory | Vocal, "My Man" | Top 10 | Top 10 at National Sweetheart 1997 pageant | |||
Sara Engerman | 19 | Miss Limberlost | Tap Dance, "Shout And Feel It" | |||||
Shani Nielsen | 24 | Miss Harvest Homecoming | Vocal, "In His Eyes" from Jekyll & Hyde | Top 10 | Bernie Wayne Talent AwardPreliminary Talent Award | |||
Becky Gray | 23 | Miss North Central | Piano | |||||
Tiffany Storm | 24 | Miss Capital City | Dramatic Vocal, "Papa, Can You Hear Me?" | 4th runner-up | Bernie Wayne Talent AwardPreliminary Swimsuit Award | |||
Dayna Brewer | 22 | Miss Capital City | Vocal, "When I Look At You" from The Scarlet Pimpernel | |||||
24 | Miss Elkhart | Vocal, "This Is the Moment" | 2nd runner-up | Preliminary Swimsuit Award (tie) | Ran for United States House of Representatives as the Democratic candidate in 2012 and 2016 | |||
Kari Hipsher | 23 | Miss Huntington | Ballet en Pointe | |||||
Brenda Bassett | 21 | Miss Kokomo | Character Ballet en Pointe | |||||
Lisa Williamson | 26 | Miss Hoosier Hills | Classical Vocal, "The Doll Song" from The Tales of Hoffmann | |||||
Joni McMechan | 21 | Miss Central Indiana | Semi-classical Vocal Medley | |||||
Sheila Stephen | 23 | Miss Hoosier Hills | Country Vocal, "Only You" | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||||
Susan Sailor | 20 | Miss Elkhart | Piano | |||||
Laurie Broderick | 21 | Miss Elkhart | Dance / Twirl | Top 10 | Preliminary Talent Award | |||
Cynthia Yantis | 23 | Miss Fort Wayne | Popular Vocal, "City Lights" | |||||
Teri Schultz | 21 | Miss Hoosier Hills | Ballet, "Sylvia" | |||||
Ilona Conway | 25 | Popular Vocal, "Mister Melody" | ||||||
Pam Carlberg | 21 | Miss Plymouth | Accordion Medley, "Sabre Dance" & "Ritual Fire Dance" | 3rd runner-up | ||||
Teresa (Teri) Karessa Kardatzke | 19 | Miss Anderson | Semi-classical Vocal, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" | Teresa (Teri) Kardatzke Estes died in Benton, Kansas at age 62 on July 13, 2023. | ||||
Rickee Farrell | 18 | Miss North Central | Acrobatic Dance, "Sweet Charity" | |||||
Terry Kaiser | 22 | Miss Plymouth | Modern Dance, "Symphony No. 8" by Franz Schubert | |||||
Barbara Mougin | 24 | Miss Plymouth | Modern Dance, "Theme from Summer of '42" | 1st runner-up | ||||
Tamara Trittschuh | 21 | Miss Monroe County | Piano, "Rhapsodies, Op. 79" by Johannes Brahms | |||||
Cyndi Legler | 21 | Miss Mid-Central | Classical Ballet, "Dawn" from Coppélia | Top 10 | Contestant at National Sweetheart 1974 pageant | |||
Penny Tichenor | 21 | Miss Evansville Freedom Festival | Vocal, "Maybe This Time" from Cabaret | Top 10 | ||||
Karen Rogers | 22 | Miss Indiana Central College | Popular Vocal, "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" | |||||
23 | Miss South Central | Gymnastics Dance | 4th runner-up | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | ||||
Pat Patterson | 22 | Miss Gary | Vocal, "My Funny Valentine" | Special Talent AwardNeat as a Pin Award (tie) | First African-American Miss IndianaPerformed as a recording artist under the name "Kellee Patterson" | |||
21 | Miss Indianapolis | Semi-classical Vocal, "The Impossible Dream" | Miss Congeniality | |||||
Jill Jackson | 18 | Miss Anderson | Vocal / Dance, "Much More" from The Fantasticks | |||||
Kit Field | 21 | Miss Indianapolis | Vocal, "Why Was I Born?" | 4th runner-up | Featured performer on Miss America 1969 telecast | |||
Mary Haglund | 19 | Miss Butler University | Figure Skating, "Swan Lake" & "The Shadow of Your Smile" | Top 10 | Preliminary Talent Award | A Wisconsin native, Mary qualified by attending college studies at Butler University in Indianapolis. | ||
Jane Ann Rutledge | 19 | Miss Indiana University | Piano medley of works by George Gershwin | |||||
Eileen Smith | 18 | Miss Indianapolis | Vocal Medley, "The Sound of Music" & "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" | 2nd runner-up | Preliminary Talent Award | |||
Sandra Miller | 20 | Miss Bedford | Popular Vocal | |||||
Marsha Pinkstaff | Miss Butler University | Dramatic Reading | ||||||
Julia Flaningan | 20 | Popular Vocal | ||||||
Kathleen Burke | 18 | Miss Indiana State Teachers College | Musical Monologue & Fashion Show | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||||
Tommye Glaze | 21 | Miss Plymouth | Classical Vocal, "Una Voce Poco Fa" from The Barber of Seville | 4th runner-up | Preliminary Talent Award | |||
Barbara Jean Kummer | 20 | Miss Valparaiso University | Impersonations of Television Personalities | |||||
Anita Hursh | Miss Goshen | Piano, "Polonaise" by Frédéric Chopin | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | |||||
Gloria Rupprecht | Miss Valparaiso University | Vocal / Comedy Skit, "My Hero" | Preliminary Talent Award | |||||
Mary McNulty | 22 | Miss Fort Wayne | Soft Shoe Dance, "Singin' in the Rain" | |||||
Carolyn Turner | Miss Indianapolis | Chalk Talk & Poetry | ||||||
Sue Eaton | Art/Photo Display & Hula | |||||||
Violet Wratich | Miss East Chicago | Vocal | ||||||
Ann Garnier | Miss Indianapolis | Classical Vocal, "Il Bacio" by Luigi Arditi | 1st runner-up | |||||
Carol Mitchell | Miss Rochester | Chalk Talk & Marionette Exhibition | 1st runner-up | Carol Mitchell Popp Bennett died at age 96 on June 27, 2026, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. | ||||
Pat Berry | Miss Monticello | Vocal, "I'm Falling In Love With Someone" from Naughty Marietta | ||||||
Patricia Lee Cunningham | Water Ballet | Originally finished as the 1st runner-up but assumed the title when Suter was disqualified | ||||||
Fay Louise Suter | 18 | Miss Fort Wayne | Baton Twirling | N/A | Disqualified for having competed in two local pageants that same year | |||
Patti Grubbs | Vocal, "When You Are Away" | |||||||
Beverly Dawn Trenary | 18 | Vocal, "I'll Close My Eyes" | ||||||
Lois Chitwood | Miss Indiana University | Piano & Speech | ||||||
Betty Lockyear | Vocal, "Indian Love Call" | |||||||
No Indiana representative at Miss America pageant | ||||||||
Alice Ullery | Modeling | |||||||
Carolyn Akin | Tap Dance | |||||||
No Indiana representative at Miss America pageant | ||||||||
Rosemary White | Miss Indianapolis | |||||||
Helen Emly | Miss Letts | Top 15 | ||||||
No Indiana representative at Miss America pageant | ||||||||
1934 | No national pageant was held | |||||||
Mary Frances Lininger | N/A | Chose to get married and thus did not compete at Miss America 1933 pageant | ||||||
1932 | No national pageants were held | |||||||
1931 | ||||||||
1930 | ||||||||
1929 | ||||||||
1928 | ||||||||
Anna May Owens | Miss Gary | |||||||
Anna Howe | Miss Hammond | Top 5 | ||||||
Hilda Koch | Miss South Bend | |||||||
Vera Haspal | Miss Terre Haute | |||||||
Wanda Marie Sobczak | 20 | Won the inaugural Miss Indiana pageant that took place at Gay Mills Ballroom in Miller, Indiana | ||||||
No Indiana representative at Miss America pageant | ||||||||
Sydney Nelson | Professional Beauty Award Third Prize | Nelson lived and worked in New York City at time of pageant but cited as being from Indianapolis (therefore credited as a "Miss Indiana" titleholder).Appeared in the Broadway productions of The Passing Show of 1922 and The Whirl of New York | ||||||
Thelma Blossom | 20 | Miss Indianapolis | Evening Dress AwardIntercity Roller Chair Parade Award | |||||
References
External links