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Wikipedia / Miss Wisconsin

The Miss Wisconsin competition is the pageant, held annually in New Berlin, that selects the representative for the U.S. state of Wisconsin in the annual Miss America pageant.

Wisconsin has won the Miss America title three times: 1973, 2012, and 2023.

On September 17, 2024, the state pageant announced that the Miss Wisconsin pageant (as well as the Miss Wisconsin's Teen competition) will be held in New Berlin, Wisconsin. This will mark the first time that Waukesha County will host the annual state pageants. Miss Wisconsin moved to Oshkosh in 1963 after four years being held in Kenosha.

Jordenne Demiree Butler of Onalaska was crowned Miss Wisconsin on June 20, 2026, at the West Performing Arts Center in New Berlin after besting 30 other statewide candidates.

On Saturday, June 20, 2026, outgoing Miss Wisconsin 2025, Willow Ybre Newell crowned Jordenne Demiree Butler in New Berlin, who competed with the appointed title of Miss River City. She was Miss Wisconsin's Teen 2015 making her the fourth state teen titleholder to advance to the Miss Wisconsin title. The dancer also has the distinction of being the oldest woman, at age 27, to be crowned Miss Wisconsin, and the first to win the state crown with an appointed local title since Jeanne "Jeannie" Eleanor Huston was appointed Miss La Crosse when she was also appointed Miss Wisconsin in 1952, the year when the Wisconsin Junior Chamber of Commerce did not sponsor and organize a Miss Wisconsin contest.

Butler, who likely is the very last woman born in the twentieth century to be named Miss Wisconsin, will now advance to the 2026 Miss America competition to select Miss America 2027 on September 6, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Meghan Marie Coffey DeMore (Miss Wisconsin 2006), who became state pageant executive director earlier in 2026, made history as the first former Miss Wisconsin to become state executive director, after several years as co-executive director and operations manager.

Results summary

The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Wisconsin 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: Terry Meeuwsen (1973), Laura Kaeppeler (2012), Grace Stanke (2023)

  • 1st runners-up: Mary Alice Fox (1960), Joan Mary Engh (1963), Judith Hieke (1974)

  • 2nd runners-up: Barbara Burk Baugh (1968), Tina Marie Sauerhammer (2004)

  • 3rd runners-up: N/A

  • 4th runners-up: Sharon Mae Singstock (1966)

  • Top 8: Christina Anna Thompson (2008)

  • Top 10: Keungsuk Kim (1982), Tania Elizabeth Ziegler (1994), Mary-Louise Kurey (2000)

  • Top 11: Mandi Jo Genord (2025)

  • Top 12: Paula Mae Kuiper (2014)

  • Top 15: Clara Ethel Koehler (1924), Bette Anne Miller (1941), Phyllis Ann Kessler (1949), Tianna Marie Vanderhei (2019)

  • Top 16: Antoine (Toni) Lunde (1946)

  • Top 18: Marie Marguerite Huebner (1933)

Awards

Preliminary awards

Non-finalist awards

  • Non-finalist Interview: Nicole Jean Locy (1998)

  • Non-finalist Talent: Lynn Byron Holden (1957), Marilyn Jean Sembell (1976), Gail Marie Soller (1983), Maria Kim (1988), Tricia Ann Luedtke (1991), Stephanie Klett (1993), Joya Josephine Zamora (2001)

Other awards

  • Miss Congeniality: N/A

  • Bernie Wayne Performing Arts Award: Mary-Louise Kurey (2000)

  • Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship: Carol Ann Schmitt (1975)

  • Quality of Life Award Finalists: Laura Margaret Herriot (2002), Molly Jean McGrath (2005)

  • Special Education Award: Carol Ann Schmitt (1975)

  • Special Scholarship Award: Barbara Jean Bonville (1964)

  • STEM Scholarship 2nd runner-up: Jennifer Marie Schmidt (2022)

  • AHA Go Red for Women Leadership Award Regional Winner: Mandi Jo Genord (2025)

Winners

Notes

References