Miss Arkansas

For the state pageant affiliated with Miss USA, see Miss Arkansas USA.

The Miss Arkansas competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Arkansas in the Miss America pageant. Arkansas has won the Miss America title three times (1964, 1982, 2017).

Miss Arkansas

Formation	1932
Headquarters	Little Rock
Location	Arkansas
Membership	Miss America
Official language	English
Key people	Lacy Glover (executive director)
Website	missarkansas.org

Kennedy Holland of Greenwood was crowned Miss Arkansas 2025 on June 14, 2025, at Robinson Center Auditorium in Little Rock. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2026.

Gallery of past titleholders

• 
  Eudora Mosby,
  Miss Arkansas 2005
• 
  Amber Bennett,
  Miss Arkansas 2006
• 
  Sarah Slocum,
  Miss Arkansas 2009
• 
  Alyse Eady,
  Miss Arkansas 2010
• 
  Savvy Shields,
  Miss Arkansas 2016 and Miss America 2017

Results summary

The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Arkansas 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: Donna Axum (1964), Elizabeth Ward (1982), Savvy Shields (2017)
• 1st runners-up: Rebecca McCall (1946), Frances Anderson (1962), Karen Carlson (1965), Alyse Eady (2011)
• 2nd runners-up: Paula Montgomery (1996), Ashton Campbell (2015)
• 3rd runners-up: Mary Jennings (1951), Charlotte Simmen (1952), Lacy Fleming (2005)
• 4th runners-up: Lencola Sullivan (1981)
• Top 10: Dorris Love (1943), Sally Miller (1959), Donna Connelly (1971), Mary Stuart (1983), Julie Russell (1987), Nicole Bethmann (1994), Erin Wheatley (1999), Brandy Rhodes (2000), Jessie Ward (2001), Eudora Mosby (2006), Cori Keller (2024)
• Top 12: Ashlen Batson (2009)
• Top 15: Barbara Brothers (1949), Sarah Slocum (2010), Amy Crain (2014), Loren McDaniel (2016)
• Top 16: Katie Bailey (2008)

Awards

Preliminary awards

• Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Rebecca McCall (1946), Mary Jennings (1951), Charlotte Simmen (1952), Frances Anderson (1962), Donna Axum (1964), Sharon Evans (1968), Paula Roach (1976), Bunnie Holbert (1978), Lencola Sullivan (1981), Elizabeth Ward (1982), Lauren Davidson (2003)
• Preliminary Talent: Barbara Banks (1956), Savvy Shields (2017)

Non-finalist awards

• Non-finalist Talent: Marilyn Morgan (1972), Joyce McCormack (1977), Bunnie Holbert (1978), Regina Hopper (1984), Lisa Stevens (1985), Patti Thorn (1989), Beth Anne Rankin (1995)
• Non-finalist Interview: Whitney Kirk (2004)

Other awards

• Miss Congeniality: Sharon Evans (1968) (tie), Rhonda Pope (1975) (tie), Sloane Roberts (2013)
• America's Choice: Sarah Slocum (2010)
• Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship: Christi Taunton (1986)
• Charles & Theresa Brown Scholarship: Ashton Campbell (2015)
• Quality of Life Award Winners: Claudia Raffo (2019)
• Quality of Life Award Finalists: Kristen Glover (2012)
• STEM Scholarship Award Finalists: Darynne Dahlem (2020)

Winners

•   Declared as winner
•   Ended as a runner-up
•   Ended as a finalist or semi-finalist

Year	Name	Hometown	Age	Local Title	Miss America Talent	Placement at Miss America	Special scholarships at Miss America	Notes
2025	Kennedy Holland	Greenwood	20	Miss Metro	Vocal	TBA	TBA
2024	Camille Cathey	Wynne	22	Miss White River	Vocal			Previously Miss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen 2018
2023	Cori Keller[1]	Stuttgart	25	Miss Metro	Tap Dance	Top 11
2022	Ebony Mitchell[2]	Harrison	25	Miss Dogwood	Dance			Preliminary Red Carpet, Talent, and On Stage Question Winner at Miss Arkansas 2022
2021	Whitney Williams[3]	Conway	23	Miss University of Arkansas	Baton Twirling, "Conga" by Miami Sound Machine
2019–20[a]	Darynne Dahlem[4][5]	Greenwood	22	Miss Apple Blossom	Vocal, "Somewhere" from West Side Story		STEM Scholarship Award Finalist
2018	Claudia Raffo[6]	Jonesboro	22	Miss Historic Batesville	Jazz Dance, "That's Life"		Quality of Life Award[7]
2017	Maggie Benton[8]		22	Miss Greater Jonesboro	Vocal, "The Music of the Night"
2016	Savannah Skidmore[9]	Calico Rock	21	Miss University of Arkansas	Vocal	Did not compete; originally first runner-up, later assumed the title after Shields won Miss America 2017[10]
								Later Miss Arkansas USA 2019[11] Top 5 at Miss USA 2019 pageant[12]
	Savvy Shields[10]	Fayetteville	21	Miss Heart of the Ozarks	Jazz Dance, "They Just Keep Moving the Line"	Winner[9]	Preliminary Talent Award	Previously Miss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen 2009[13]
2015	Loren McDaniel	Van Buren	22	Miss Northwest Arkansas	Vocal, "Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables	Top 15
2014	Ashton Campbell[14]	Hindsville	20	Miss Ouachita River	Vocal, "Via Dolorosa"	2nd runner-up[15]	Charles & Theresa Brown Scholarship[16]
2013	Amy Crain	Hot Springs	23	Miss Diamond Lakes	Contemporary Clogging, "Game Time"	Top 15		4th runner-up at National Sweetheart 2010 pageant[citation needed]
2012	Sloane Roberts[17]	Rison	19	Miss Heart of the Ozarks	A cappella Tap Dance		Miss Congeniality	Previously Miss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen 2008[18] 2nd runner-up at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2008 pageant[19]
2011	Kristen Glover	Stuttgart	22	Miss Ouachita Baptist University	Tap Dance, "Piano Sonata No. 11"		Quality of Life Award Finalist
2010	Alyse Eady[20]	Fort Smith	22	Miss South Central Arkansas	Ventriloquism / Vocal, "I Want to be a Cowboy's Sweetheart"	1st runner-up[21]		Previously Miss Teen Arkansas 2004[22]
2009	Sarah Slocum	Sheridan	23	Miss Ouachita River	Vocal, "The Prayer"	Top 15	America's Choice
2008	Ashlen Batson	Newark	21	Miss Spirit of Arkansas	Flute, Medley from Carmen	Top 12
2007	Katie Bailey	Conway	25	Miss South Arkansas	Vocal, "Feeling Good"	Top 16
2006	Amber Bennett[citation needed]	Carlisle	23	Miss Central Arkansas	Vocal, "Come Rain or Come Shine"
2005	Eudora Mosby	Hazen	23	Miss Central Arkansas	Vocal, "Dream In Color"	Top 10
2004	Lacy Fleming	Hampton	22	Miss Ouachita Baptist University	Vocal, "Last Dance"	3rd runner-up
2003	Whitney Kirk	Cabot	22	Miss Three Rivers	Vocal / Dance, "All That Jazz"		Non-finalist Interview Award	Contestant at National Sweetheart 2000 pageant
2002	Lauren Davidson	El Dorado	20	Miss White River	Vocal, "It's Time"		Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
2001	Jessie Ward	Prescott	21	Miss Texarkana	Tap Dance, Michael Jackson Medley	Top 10		Current executive director of the Miss Arkansas organization[23]
2000	Sara Harris	Forrest City	20	Miss Delta	Vocal, "Unchained Melody"
1999	Brandy Rhodes	Hot Springs	22	Miss Lake Dardanelle	Original Tap Dance, "American Rhapsody"	Top 10
1998	Erin Wheatley	Little Rock	22	Miss White River	Vocal / Tap Dance, "I Got Rhythm"	Top 10
1997	Stacy Freeman	Sheridan	22	Miss White River	Tap Dance, "Sing, Sing, Sing"			Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 1992
1996	Melonie McGarrah	Rogers	22		Vocal, "I Will Always Love You"
1995	Paula Montgomery	Cabot	22	Miss Greater Little Rock	Vocal, "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man"	2nd runner-up		Previously Miss Arkansas Teen USA 1991 Mother of Miss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen 2017, Aubrey Reed[24]
1994	Beth Anne Rankin	Magnolia	23	Miss Diamond Lakes	Piano		Non-finalist Talent Award
1993	Nicole Bethmann	Rogers	24	Miss Diamond Lakes	Vocal, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"	Top 10
1992	Shannon Boy	Alma	21	Miss Diamond Lakes	Flute, Theme from Star Wars
1991	Heather Hunnicutt	Fayetteville	22	Miss Northwest Arkansas	Vocal, "Born To Be Blue"			Daughter of Claudette Smith, Miss Arkansas 1960[citation needed]
1990	Karissa Rushing	Benton	24	Miss White River	Vocal, "With a Song In My Heart"
1989	Marci Lewallen	Dardanelle	22	Miss Arkansas Valley	Vocal / Banjo, "Boogie Woogie Banjo Blues"
1988	Patti Thorn	Hot Springs	23	Miss Diamond Lakes	Vocal, "Love Is Where You Find It"		Non-finalist Talent Award
1987	Carole Lawson	Paragould	21	Miss University of Arkansas	Flute / Piccolo, Medley from Carmen			Previously National Sweetheart 1986
1986	Julie Russell	Fort Smith	22	Miss Lake Dardanelle	Classical Piano with Narration	Top 10
1985	Christi Taunton	Camden	20	Miss Camden	Popular Vocal, "Remembering"		Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship
1984	Lisa Stevens	Arkadelphia	22	Miss Ouachita Baptist University	Flute, "Sabre Dance"		Non-finalist Talent Award
1983	Regina Hopper	Springdale	24	Miss Northwest Arkansas	Popular Vocal, "You're Gonna Hear From Me"		Non-finalist Talent Award	Elected to the Miss America Board of Directors[citation needed]
1982	Mary Stuart	Little Rock	20	Miss White River	Vocal / Broadway Jazz Dance, "The Birth of the Blues"	Top 10		Later cast as Frannie Hughes on As the World Turns from 1990 to 1993[citation needed]
1981	Micki Petrus	Hazen		Miss University of Central Arkansas		Did not compete; originally second runner-up, later assumed the title after Ward won Miss America 1982
	Grace Elizabeth Ward	Russellville	20	Miss White River	Vocal, "After You've Gone"	Winner[25]	Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award	Previously National Sweetheart 1980[25] Infamously had short-lived affair with President Bill Clinton in 1998[26][27]
1980	Lencola Sullivan	Morrilton	22	Miss White River	Blues Vocal, "St. Louis Blues"	4th runner-up	Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award	First African-American contestant to place as a runner-up at a Miss America pageant[citation needed]
1979	Janet Holman	North Little Rock	22	Miss University of Arkansas	Vocal, "Somewhere"
1978	Naylene Vuurens	Searcy	20	Miss Diamond Lakes	Piano, "Etude in G Minor"
1977	Bunnie Holbert	Stuttgart	20	Miss White River	Vocal, "Feelings"		Non-finalist Talent Award Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award
1976	Joyce McCormack	Little Rock	21		Ballet en Pointe, "Polonaise"		Non-finalist Talent Award
1975	Paula Roach	Jonesboro	20	Miss Jonesboro	Piano, Theme from Summer of '42		Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award
1974	Rhonda Pope	Hot Springs	21	Miss Hot Springs	Vocal Medley, "Friends" & "With a Little Help from My Friends"		Miss Congeniality (tie)
1973	Becky Hume	Jonesboro	23	Miss Osceola	Free Floor Exercise & Balance Beam Routine
1972	Debbye Hazelwood	Magnolia	20	Miss Southern State College	Piano, Warsaw Concerto
1971	Marilyn Morgan	Clarksville	20	Miss Clarksville	Popular Vocal, "Something"		Non-finalist Talent Award
1970	Donna Connelly	Hope	19	Miss State College of Arkansas	Vocal Medley, "Who Will Buy" from Oliver! & "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing"	Top 10
1969	Marilyn Allen	North Little Rock	20	Miss North Little Rock	Acrobatic Ballet, Theme from Exodus
1968	Helen Gennings	Batesville	20	Miss Ouachita Baptist University	Popular Vocal, "What the World Needs Now Is Love" & "Love Makes the World Go Round"
1967	Sharon Evans	North Little Rock	20	Miss Ouachita Baptist University	Vocal / Dance, "Mame" from Mame		Miss Congeniality (tie) Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award
1966	Mary Craig	Batesville	18	Miss Batesville	Vocal / Dancing
1965	Nita Vanhook	Newport	20	Miss Newport		Did not compete; originally second runner-up, later assumed the title after Oglesby resigned
	Rhonda Oglesby	Pine Bluff	19	Miss University of Arkansas	Popular Vocal			Resigned after holding the title for three months[28][29]
1964	Karen Carlson	Fayetteville	20	Miss University of Arkansas	Vocal, "As Long As He Needs Me" from Oliver!	1st runner-up		Ex-wife of David Soul[citation needed]
1963	Pam Jackson	North Little Rock		Miss North Little Rock		Did not compete; originally first runner-up, later assumed the title after Axum won Miss America 1964
	Donna Axum	El Dorado	21	Miss El Dorado	Vocal Medley, "Quando me'n vo'" & "I Love Paris"	Winner[30]	Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award
1962	Edye Addington	Texarkana	19	Miss Arkansas State Teachers' College	Vocal Medley, "When I Fall In Love" & "This Can't Be Love"
1961	Frances Anderson	Pine Bluff	19	Miss Pine Bluff	Vocal, "I Enjoy Being a Girl"	1st runner-up	Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award
1960	Claudette Smith	Star City	18	Miss Pine Bluff	Vocal			Mother of Heather Hunnicut, Miss Arkansas 1991[citation needed]
1959	Suzanne Jackson	North Little Rock	19	Miss University of Arkansas	Vocal Medley from The King and I
1958	Sally Miller	Pine Bluff		Miss Pine Bluff	Classical Vocal, "Caro Nome" from Rigoletto	Top 10
1957	Suzanne Scudder	Hot Springs		Miss University of Arkansas	Vocal
1956	Barbara Banks	Little Rock			Interpretive Ballet, Slaughter on Tenth Avenue		Preliminary Talent Award
1955	Charlene Bowers	Helena			Vocal, "I Want To Be Evil"
1954	Sarah Martin	Little Rock			Classical Vocal
1953	Helen Reed	Fayetteville			Tap Dance
1952	Bonnie Nicksic	Hot Springs			Vocal / Dance, "Life Upon the Wicked Stage" from Show Boat
1951	Charlotte Simmen	Little Rock			Vocal & Art Exhibition	3rd runner-up	Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award
1950	Mary Jennings	Hot Springs			Classical Vocal, "Un Bel Di" from Madame Butterfly	3rd runner-up	Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award	Was a featured soprano with the New York City Opera Judged the Miss America 1989 and 1991 pageants[citation needed]
1949	Barbara Brothers	Little Rock			Painting Display & Poetry Recitation, "Old Black Joe" & "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy"	Top 15
1948	Van Louis McDaniel	Forrest City			Monologue, "Spartan Parents"
1947	Pam Camp	Little Rock			Sketching
1946	Rebecca McCall	Blytheville			Vocal, "Put the Blame on Mame"	1st runner-up	Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award
1945	Leslie Hampton	Lake Village			Vocal, "My Man"
1944	Mineola Graham	Brinkley
1943	Dorris Love	Jonesboro			Dramatic Reading, "Letter to a Soldier"	Top 10
1942	No Arkansas representative at Miss America pageant[31]
1941	Ferol Amelia Dumas	Magnolia
1940	Betty Benson	Forrest City
1939	Jean Thompson	Helena
1938	Lorene Bailey	Jonesboro			Piano, "Dinah"
1937	No Arkansas representative at Miss America pageant[32][33][34]
1936
1935
1934	No national pageant was held[35]
1933	Vivian Ferguson		20			N/A		Disqualified for being married
1932	Nina Ruth Hudson	Harrison	14			No national pageant was held[35]
1931	No national pageants were held[35]
1930
1929
1928
1927	No Arkansas representative at Miss America pageant[36][37][38][39][40][41][42]
1926
1925
1924
1923
1922
1921

Notes

1. Titleholder extended to a second full year in 2020 after state and national pageants postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic