#miss teen usa

Congratulations to Miss Kansas USA 2015 Alexis Railsback and Miss Kansas Teen USA 2015 Melanie Shaner!  In a rare occurence, both Alexis and Melanie competed together at Miss Kansas Teen USA last year, placing in the top 16.  Alexis is the fourth Miss Kansas USA winner in the past four years to have Teen experience; she was also 4RU in Miss KS Teen USA 2013.   Alexis is from Shawnee and Melanie is from Overland Park.  

Alexis Railsback & Melanie Shaner.  Photo by Laurel Austin.

Three of this year’s top five were also runners-up last year.  Alexis’ first runner-up was Rachel Morris who was fourth runner-up in last year’s pageant.  Second runner-up was Victoria Wiggins, 1RU last year and third runner-up was Miss Kansas Teen USA 2008 Jessie Colonna, 3RU last year.  Rachel Santschi, the only newcomer in the top five, placed fourth runner-up.  Miss Kansas Teen USA 2009 Alexis Rewalt placed in the semi-finals for the third year and also won Miss Congeniality.

The Teen top five was dominated by “M"s!  As well as Melanie, first runner-up was Makenzie Deines, second runner-up was Maggie Marx and third runner-up was Madison Moore.  Fourth runner-up went to Lily Anderson.  Madison was the only other contestant in the top five with past experience, she was 2RU last year.

Full results:

Miss Kansas USA 2015 - Alexis Railsback(SF KS TUSA 14, 4RU 13)
1RU: Rachel Morris (4RU 14)
2RU: Victoria Wiggins (1RU 14, SF MO USA 13, SF MO USA 12, 4RU OK TUSA 08, T12 OK TUSA 07) 
3RU: Jessie Colonna (2RU 14, NF CA USA 13, Miss Kansas Teen USA 2008)
4RU: Rachel Santschi

Semi-finalists:
Taylor Austin (NF AR TUSA 13, NF 12)
Fatoumata Bayo
Catherine Carmichael (SF 14, SF KS TUSA 09)
Lindsay Cunningham (NF 14)
Kandice Johnson (NF 14)
Julia Jones
Alexis Rewalt(SF 14, SF 13, Miss Kansas Teen USA 2009, 2RU 08)
Tobie Roberts  (4RU KS TUSA 14, NF 13)
Meghan Saravanja
Kendall Schoenekase (4RU KS TUSA 11)
Madeline Winkler

Congeniality: Alexis Rewalt
Photogenic: Meghan Saravanja

Interview: Kendall Schoenekase
Swimsuit: Victoria Wiggins
Gown: Alexis Railsback

Alexis Railsback, Rachel Morris, Victoria Wiggins, Jessie Colonna, Rachel Santschi

Miss Kansas Teen USA 2015 - Melanie Shaner(SF 14)
1RU: Makenzie Deines
2RU: Maggie Marx
3RU: Madison Moore (2RU 14, SF 13)
4RU: Lily Anderson

Semi-finalists:
Alexandra Adkins (NF 14, SF 13, SF 12) 
Hailey Colborn 
Erin Fisher 
Susan Forgie (SF 14) 
Stephanie Hamilton 
Bridget Molitor 
Alexis Rinne 
Madison Schoenekase
Ashlynn Stuart 
Danielle Thoele (SF 14) 
Makennah Whightsil

Congeniality: Madison Schoenekase
Photogenic: Melanie Shaner

Interview: Lily Anderson
Swimsuit: Melanie Shaner
Gown: Madison Moore

Melanie Shaner, Makenzie Deines, Maggie Marx, Madison Moore, Lily Anderson

Miss Delaware USA 2015 is Renee Bull and Miss Delaware Teen USA 2015 is Sierra Wright!  

Renee placed 2RU in last year’s pageant and also has MAO experience, placing 1RU in 2012 and top 10 in 2013.   She is only the third titleholder from Middletown (following Ashlee Greenwell in 2006 & Kate Banaszak in 2009).   Renee will be the first African-American to represent Delaware at Miss USA.  The first to win Miss Delaware USA was Renee Smith in the early 1980’s. She was forced to resign when it was discovered she wasn’t actually from Delaware!

Sierra is from Wilmington and was a semi-finalist last year, one of only two returning SFs in the competition.

In the Miss division, first runner-up went to newcomer Alexandra Vorontsova, the only newbie in the top five.  Second runner-up, improving one spot on her 2014 placement, was Jennifer Lilley.  Last year’s 1RU Emily Wareheim placed third runner-up and fourth runner-up went to Miss Delaware 2012 Alyssa Murray, who was a semi-finalist in Miss DE USA last year.   Renee was 1RU to Alyssa at Miss Delaware!  Both special awards went to the top five: Renee won the Miss Photogenic award and Alyssa won Miss Congeniality.

In Teen, Drew Sanclemente placed first runner-up, second runner-up went  to Gabrielle Jones, third runner-up was Paige HalesandRebecca Wood placed fourth runner-up.  Drew was a non-finalist back in 2011 when she was 14 and had not competed since!

Full results:

Miss Delaware USA 2015 - Renee Bull (2RU 14)
1RU: Alexandra Vorontsova
2RU: Jennifer Lilley (3RU 14, SF 12)
3RU: Emily Wareheim (1RU 14, 2RU MD TUSA 12)
4RU: Alyssa Murray (SF 14, NF 12, NF DE TUSA 08, Miss Delaware 2012)

Semi-finalists:
Brooke Burghardt 
Emily Drake (SF 14, 3RU 13, SF DE TUSA 05)
Brandi Knox
Amanda Mahadan (NF 14, SF 13)
Danielle Mignogna
Cimone Philpotts 
Kassady Sever  (2RU DE TUSA 14)
Joanna Wicks (SF MD TUSA 12)

Congeniality: Alyssa Murray
Photogenic: Renee Bull

Renee Bull, Alexandra Vorontsova, Jennifer Lilley, Emily Wareheim, Alyssa Murray

Miss Delaware Teen USA 2015 - Sierra Wright(SF 14)
1RU: Drew Sanclemente (NF 11)
2RU: Gabrielle Jones 
3RU: Paige Hales 
4RU: Rebecca Wood

Semi-finalists:
EmaLeigh Baker 
Jade Iliopoulos 
Elizabeth Pruneda 
Kayla Radford  (SF 14, NF 13)
Cierra Smith 

Congeniality: Hayley Bender 
Photogenic: Kayla Radford

Sierra Wright, Drew Sanclemente, Gabrielle Jones, Paige Hales, Rebecca Wood

Update! Congratulations to Chloe Kembel, Miss Texas Teen USA 2015! Click her name to view her profile, and there’s more coverage on my Facebook page. 

Miss Texas Teen USA 2015 will be crowned Sunday afternoon. Kellie Stewart, who earned only Texas’ second placement since 2004 at Miss Teen USA last year, will crown her successor.

Sheridan Donevant, Miss Texas’ Outstanding Teen 2013, will be the first TX OT to compete at Miss Texas Teen USA.  The only returning runner-up is 2014 first runner-up Lanie McAlpin.  Returning semi-finalists are Rachel Gitomer (14), Ashley Harris (13 & 14), Allison Higginbotham (13 & 14), Madison Lester (14, sister of Miss runner-up Logan Lester), Katherine O'Connor (13 & 14), Sealy Sikes (14) and Yvonne Zerda (12).

Sheridan Donevant, Lanie McAlpin, Rachel Gitomer
Ashley Harris, Allison Higginbotham, Madison Lester
Katherine O'Connor, Sealy Sikes, Yvonne Zerda

TEEN CONTESTANTS (96)
Sarah Appleman
Caitlin Ashworth
McKayla Balero
Marisa Barrera
Alexandra Benker
Victoria Borrego
Dasha Brotherton (NF 14)
Bree Burge
Elaine Carlin
Fabiola Chavez (NF 14)
Kailyn Cole
Madeline Corbett
Morgan Cox
Aileen Diaz
Leah Doherty
Sheridan Donevant (Miss Texas’ Outstanding Teen 2013)
Lyra Durr
Priscilla Elizondo
Savy Escobar
Sai Flores
Brenna Flynn
Danielle Foreman (NF 14)
Chandler Foreman
Bridget Frank
Pamela Garcia
Amanda Garza
Sheanne Geis (NF 14)
Rachel Gitomer (SF 14)
Dallas Goldammer
Triana Gonzalez
Jennifer Gonzalez
Tulasi Gopalan
Mallory Goucher
Faith Green
Vielka Gutierrez
Ashley Harris (SF 14, SF 13)
Karlie Hay
Allison Higginbotham (SF 14, SF 13)
Victoria Hinojosa
Taylor Houston
Nyla Iglehart
Brayden Johnson
Danielle Joseph
Chloe Kembel
Taylor Kessler
Sarah Koehne
Lysette Lara
Livia Lavender
Madison Lester (SF 14)
Kirby Lindley (NF 14)
Emily Lites (NF 14, NF 13)
Kelsey Long (NF 14)
Lanie McAlpin (1RU 14)
Maddison McCarson (NF 14)
Thekla McCarty
Chaudoin McGilbert
Diana Melim
Kyndra Miller
Morgan Millican (NF 14)
Shoncraya Mills
Natalie Moody
Brianna Morales
Simone Mulroy
McKenzie Murphy
Devon Nalley
Mary Nance
Imani Nichols
Katherine O'Connor (SF 14, SF 13, NF 12)
Brooke O'Quinn
Sabrina Osorio
Brylee Powers
Emily Rainey
Jonali Reyes
Aubrey Roberts
Anastasia Ruiz
Kennedy Runaas
Emmalie Saljoughi (NF 14)
Mariela Sanchez
Sealy Sikes (SF 14)
Shelby Smith
NaTonya Solomon
Mia Sosa
Taylor Teel
Rebekah Terrance
Tatianna Valentine
Adriana Velez
Cary Villarreal (NF 14)
Taylor Walls
Elizabeth Wells
Rebekah Wessels
Nicole Wiley-Brown
Jillian Williams
Andrea Yarritu
Julia Zavodny
Yvonne Zerda (SF 12, NF 11)
Cristina Ziegler

Update! Congratulations to Renee Bull, the new Miss Delaware USA 2015 and Sierra Wright, Miss Delaware Teen USA 2015! Click their names to view their profiles, and there’s more coverage on my Facebook page.  

Miss Delaware USA and Teen USA 2015 will be crowned on Sunday.  There are three returning runners-up from last year, first runner-up Emily Wareheim, a past RU in Maryland Teen as well; second runner-up Renee Bull and third runner-up Jennifer Lilley.  Alyssa Murray, a semi-finalist last year and Miss Delaware 2012, is back, as are two other 2014 semi-finalists.  Last year’s Teen 2RU Kassady Sever is competing in the Miss division this year.

In Teen there are no returning runners-up and only two returning semi-finalists: Kayla Radfordand Sierra Wright.  

2014 Miss top five (2015 contestants in bold) - Jennifer Lilley(3RU),Emily Wareheim(1RU), Kelsey Miller,Renee Bull (3RU), Crystal Rush (4RU)

MISS CONTESTANTS (39)
Barbara Barnhart
Shameka Brown
Renee Bull (2RU 14)
Brooke Burghardt
Olivia Combs
Emily Drake (SF 14, 3RU 13, SF DE TUSA 05)
Destiny Drummond
Brianna Fedorkowicz
Ivana Flores
Jasmine Ford
Kathryn Franklin
Erika Gibbs
Jeanette Halliburton
Rae'Ven Heard
Sarah Heil
Jade Holzinger
Brandi Knox
Jennifer Lilley (3RU 14, SF 12)
Amanda Mahadan (NF 14, SF 13)
Christen Martinelli
Vanessa McKenzie
Danielle Mignogna
Alyssa Murray (SF 14, NF 12, Miss Delaware 2012, NF DE TUSA 08)
Kimberly Nurse (NF 14)
Cimone Philpotts
Zulekha Pitts
Paulina Renda
Kaitlin Repella (SF 14, NF DE TUSA 11)
Erika Romanowski
Kassady Sever (2RU DE TUSA 14)
NaTeka Shelton
Deja Smith
Olivia Spencer
Jill Swartzentruber
JaShonna Thomas (NF DE TUSA 11)
Alexandra Vorontsova
Emily Wareheim (1RU 14, 2RU MD TUSA 12)
Joanna Wicks (SF MD TUSA 12)
Samantha Wierzbicki

TEEN CONTESTANTS (25)
EmaLeigh Baker
Hayley Bender
Rebecca Bristow
Cheylan Davenport
Jynequa Drummond
Darion Gregg
Paige Hales
Jade Iliopoulos
Avona Jones
Gabrielle Jones
Haylee Kessler
Kylie Kidd
A-briah Lane
Ashley Lawrence
Victoria McNeil
Alexis Nacchio
Elizabeth Pruneda
Kayla Radford (SF 14, NF 13)
Rebecca Rittenhouse
Drew Sanclemente (NF 11)
Cierra Smith
Skylar West
Rebecca Wood
Sierra Wright (SF 14)
Lawton Young

Update! Congratulations to Renee Bull, the new Miss Virginia USA 2015 and Ann Kutyna, Miss Virginia Teen USA 2015! Click their names to view their profiles, and there’s more coverage on my Facebook page.  

Miss Virginia USA and Teen USA 2015 will be crowned on Sunday afternoon.  The Miss competition this year is really interesting with past runners-up from five different states competing (two from Virginia last year - Laura Puleo and Kiara Williams, plus Ohio, Maryland, Missouri & North Carolina) as well as past Teen runners-up from Virginia and Maryland.  One of those runners-up is Miss Missouri Teen USA 2007 Lauren Petersen who was 1RU in MO last year.  Former Miss Virginia 2013 Desiree Williams adds to the list of MAO contestants competing in USA this year, her first time competing in the system.  Quite randomly there are a couple of contestants who last competed in 2010 and 2011 and have not returned since.  Over a third of contestants have competed in another state previously.

Two of my favourite runners-up from last year are both out now - Maggie Lawson got married in September and Dominique Lee aged out.

Three of the last four Virginia winners had previously competed in a different state, and there is a good chance of that trend continuing this year!  Blondes also have history on their side, as VA hasn’t crowned a brunette since 2009.

2014 Miss top five (2015 contestants in bold) - Kiara Williams(4RU),Laura Puleo(2RU), Arielle Rosmarino, Maggie Lawson (1RU), Dominique Lee (3RU)

In Teen there are two runners-up from 2014, Cameron Smith who was 1st runner-up and Davina Seoparson who placed 2nd runner-up.  Last year’s third runner-up Kinser Crutchfield was a semi-finalist in Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2015 earlier in the year. 

2014 semi-finalist Katie-An Bradley is competing, as is 2013 semi-finalist Alexis Ramsey who is back in Virginia after placing in the top 15 at Miss North Carolina Teen USA last year.

Six of the last eight Miss Virginia Teen USA winners were competing for the first time.

2014 Teen top five (2015 contestants in bold) - Kinser Crutchfield (3RU), Cameron Smith(1RU) Olivia Fletcher,Davina Seoparson (2RU), Ashley Vollrath (3RU)

MISS CONTESTANTS (25)
Kristen Adams (SF DC USA 14, SF VA USA 13)
Alexandra Albertine
Erika Baldwin (NF 14)
Kristie Barlow (2RU MD USA 11)
Tamar Cecki
Lehanna Craft (NF OH USA 14, SF OH USA 12, SF 10, 2RU 09)
Terri Arcelia Darden (NF FL USA 10)
Meghan Dowell
Sidney Durham (NF 14)
Brianna Epting
Megan Greber (NF 14, NF 12, 4RU VA TUSA 11, 3RU 10)
Hallie Hovey-Murray (NF VA TUSA 13)
Jamie Hughes
Jessica Kennedy (NF FL USA 12, NF 11)
Cameryn Mann (SF MD USA 13, SF 12, SF 10)
Brittinay Nicolette (SF MD USA 11, 2RU MD TUSA 10, 3RU MD TUSA 09, T17 MD TUSA 08)
Meah Ollis (SF TN TUSA 14)
Lauren Petersen (1RU MO USA 14, SF MO USA 13, SF MO USA 12, SF MO USA 11, Miss Missouri Teen USA 2007)
Laura Puleo (2RU 14, T10 NC USA 13, 2RU NC USA 12)
Malissa Sibly (SF 11)
Ariel Sorensen
Delesia Watson (SF 11)
Candace White (NF 14)
Desiree Williams (Miss Virginia 2013)
Kiara Williams (4RU 14)

TEEN CONTESTANTS (19)
Katie-An Bradley (SF 14, NF 12)
Morgan Cook
Alexandra Crawford
Alexis Crosen
Caitlyn Harman
Corinne Hilton
Ashton Kennedy
Carson Kirk
Ann Kutnya
Shiana Miller
Kaylee Olivas
Monica Osborne
Alexis Ramsey (T15 NC TUSA 14, SF 13)
Brittany Reiglsperger
Davina Seoparsan (2RU 14)
Cameron Smith (1RU 14, NF 13)
Madison VanDyke
Shoshana Warshavsky
Monay Wells

Update! Congratulations to Bridget Wilmes , the new Miss Oregon USA 2015 and Kenna Sloy, Miss Oregon Teen USA 2015! Click their names to view their profiles, and there’s more coverage on my Facebook page.  

Miss Oregon USA & Teen USA 2015 will be crowned tomorrow afternoon.  Contestant lists have been posted, but no photographs.

In the Miss division, the group has shrunk to 12 contestants, compared to 20 last year.  This is one of the lowest numbers of any state this year.  2014 second runner-up Kayla Bowker is back, as is 2014 Washington third runner-up and 2013 Oregon second runner-up Tarah Land.  Kayla Knock, a Teen semi-finalist in Colorado in 2013 & 2014 is competing in Oregon and in the Miss division for the first time.  

After a period from 2010-2012 where three newcomers won in a row the last two winners have had an extensive history in the pageant, so it will be interesting to see what happens for the 2015 title.

Kayla Bowker & Tarah Land (photos from last year)

In contrast, Teen numbers have improved from 9 to 16.  Three of last year’s runners-up are competing, first runner-up Kenna Sloy (who was also 3RU in 2013), second runner-up Manju Bangalore and third runner-up Kaylee Davidson.  One non-finalist from last year is also back, which means that almost half of last year’s contestants have returned.  A semi-finalist from 2013 is also competing.

Kenna Sloy, Manju Bangalore, Kaylee Davidson (photos from last year)

2014 Teen top five (2015 contestants in bold) - Manju Bangalore (2RU), Kaylee Davidson (3RU), Alexandra Perry, Kenna Sloy (1RU), Brooke Eide (4RU)

MISS CONTESTANTS (12) 
Kayla Bowker (2RU 14)
Emma Hammel
Kayla Knock (SF CO TUSA 14, SF 13)
Tarah Land (3RU WA USA 14, 2RU OR USA 13)
Jori Messner
Jessica Painter
Rachel Sou
Sally Spencer
Zoe Spritzer
Olivia Ann Wetzel (NF 14)
Bridget Wilmes (NF 14)
Kristin Wirfs

TEEN CONTESTANTS (16)
Manju Bangalore (2RU 14)
Kaylee Davidson (3RU 14)
Prescilla Delarosa (NF 14)
Cloie Glenn
Iyanna Irving
Elise Knowles
Kendra Land
Casee Lantz
Juliette Liggins
Kelsey Panek
Julia Pearson (SF OR TUSA 13)
Kenna Sloy (1RU 14, 3RU 13)
Shelby Tiller
Mariah Vettrus
Bridgett Wallace
Isabelle Winkler

Update! Congratulations to Jessica Scheu, the new Miss Minnesota USA 2015 and Hayden Hammond, Miss Minnesota Teen USA 2015! Click their names to view their profiles, and there’s more coverage on my Facebook page.  

Miss Minnesota USA 2014 Haley O'Brien and Miss MN Teen USA Catherine Stanley will crown their successors on Sunday night!  I hope that Catherine returns to compete at Miss Minnesota USA before too long, following in Haley’s footsteps.  There are almost 30 contestants in Miss and 64 in Teen, their highest number of Teen contestants since 2008.

In the Miss division there three runners-up from last year competing, first runner-up Jessica Scheu, second runner-up Kayla Casciano and fourth runner-up Vanessa VonBehren.  Vanessa is one of two former Teens competing this year, as Hannah Corbett (2011) is returning for the first time.  Wynona Jane Schewe (who is on the roster simply as “Jane Schewe” this year) was third runner-up in both 2013 and 2012.  

2014 Miss top five (2015 contestants in bold) - Brittany Dyshaw (3RU), Jessica Scheu(1RU), Haley O'Brien,Kayla Casciano(2RU), Vanessa VonBehren (4RU)

2013 Miss top five (2015 contestants in bold) -Wynona Jane Schewe (3RU), Brianne Anderson (2RU), Danielle Hooper (W), Kristina Ferdig (1RU), Lindsay Becker (4RU)

In the Teen competition three of last year’s runners-up are competing.  Brigitta Zosel was first runner-up, Anna Korger second runner-up and Hayden Hammond was fourth runner-up.  Dasia Mestad, a semi-finalist last year and first runner-up in 2013 is also back.  There are a number of other semi-finalists and non-finalists competing.

2014 Teen top five (2015 contestants in bold) - Madison Johnson (3RU), Anna Korger(2RU), Catherine Stanley,Brigitta Zozel(1RU),Hayden Hammond(4RU)

MISS CONTESTANTS (32)
Alexis Adu-Bobi
Ubbah Ali
Laura Bakken
Amy Bohlen
Savannah Brennan
Kayla Casciano (2RU 14)
Baylie Blark
Hannah Corbett (Miss Minnesota Teen USA 2011)
Kristin Dight
Nettie DuVall
Emily Ferrell
Shelby Franklin
Emily Fredericks
Chloe Gunderson
Bridget Jacobs
Ashley Johnson (NF 14, NF 11, 2RU MN TUSA 10, 1RU MN TUSA 09)
Katie Landen
Lexy Lentz (NF MN TUSA 14)
Megan Micklos (NF 14)
Rebekah Nelson
Samantha Olson
Mary Petersen (SF 13)
Samantha Phillipi
Rebecca Rieland
Jessica Scheu (1RU 14, SF 12, 2RU MN TUSA 11, SF MN TUSA 09, SF MN TUSA 08)
Jane Schewe (3RU 13, 3RU 12)
Darbie Smith (SF MN TUSA 12)
Traci Stork (NF 14)
Katie Stout (SF 14)
Vanessa VonBehren (4RU 14, Miss Minnesota Teen USA 2007)
Alexandra West (SF 14)
Alexis Willcox

TEEN CONTESTANTS (64)
Shyanne Baynes
Michelle Bergh (SF 14)
Topanga Brown
Alayna Buggs
Ashley Buhr
Jacqueline Burriss
Anna Bushen
Annabelle Chaplinski (NF 14)
Savannah Cordle
Jenna Doyle
Nicole Doyle (NF 14)
Virginia DuQuette (NF 14)
Caley Emmers
Deanna Fixell
Taylor Fondie
Carly Goodhart
Violet Grabovska
Tegan Gruhot
Sophie Gunderson
Hayden Hammond (4RU 14)
Rachel Harris
Gabriella Hawkins
Elizabeth Hemauer
MacKenzie Hyatt
Betsy Jasper
Ashley Jeranek
Nyssa Jorenby
Kristina Kallio
Madeline Karlen
Kaitlyn Kidder
Jolayne Killeen
Samantha Knutson
Anna Korger (2RU 14)
Madison Larus
Breonna Lee
Sady Ly (NF 13)
Alana Martinson
Dasia Mestad (SF 14, 1RU 13)
Katrina Olson
Lillian Olson
Camila Payan
Ashley Perala
Isabel Peters
Haley Polin
Emily Lyn Powers
Sophie Primozich
Katie Rapley
Olivia Rasmussen
Ayla Richardson (NF 14)
Carissa Riemers
Elizabeth Rono
Ashlyn Rosenberg
Andrea Rustad (NF 14)
Kala Schmidt (SF 14)
Brianna Smith
Melanie Stoddard
Josephine Terry (NF 14)
Mikala Thom
Cyala Thomas
Tinesha Torgstad
Karina Twedt
Heather Weber
Leah Westmoreland
Brigitta Zosel (1RU 14)