Miss Texas USA


The Miss Texas USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Texas in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. This pageant is part of the Miss Universe Organization, owned by William Morris Endeavor.
The pageant is currently held in Houston. It has previously been hosted by El Paso, San Antonio, South Padre Island, Lubbock and Laredo. It was televised from 1971 to 2009.
Taylor Kessler of Houston was crowned Miss Texas USA 2020 on September 1, 2019 at Hilton Post Oak Hotel in Houston. She will represent Texas for the title of Miss USA 2020 on the summer of 2020.

Background

Unlike the rest of Miss and Teen state pageants in the Miss USA system have annually scheduled at the same time, this Miss and Teen pageants in Texas are held separately in different months, the Miss pageant goes first and is held on first Sunday of September every year. Those events have affected from the regular September schedule such as the 2018 pageant was held in January 2018 due to Hurricane Harvey devastated the pageant's host city, Houston; the second will be the 2021 pageant to be held in January 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Nine Miss Texas USA titleholders have won the Miss USA title, including Chelsi Smith, has been crowned Miss Universe. In the 1980s Texas won the Miss USA title five consecutive years from 1985 to 1989, a streak known as the "Texas Aces". Prior to this no state had ever won the Miss USA pageant more than two times in succession. Past state directors have included Richard Guy and Rex Holt, "GuyRex" and Al and Gail Clark of "The Crystal Group".
Contestants enter by winning local pageants or may choose to compete "at large" with an assigned title. In 2001 a record number of former Miss Texas Teen USA winners, six, competed for the Miss Texas USA 2002 title.

Texas Aces

Prior to the 1980s, no other state had won more than two Miss USA pageants in succession. The five Texan Miss USA winners were all coached by "GuyRex", Richard Guy and Rex Holt, who held the Texas franchise from 1975. The term was first used in 1988 after Gibbs became their fourth consecutive titleholder, with Guy referring to the four queens as "four aces in a deck of cards", with their fifth titleholder, Kim Tomes as the "wildcard". The following year Gretchen Polhemus became the fifth and final "ace". The term is still in use.
As well as directing the Texas pageant, GuyRex also acquired the Miss California USA franchise in 1986. In 1988, Diana Magaña of California placed first runner-up to Gibbs, the fourth ace. The two had both undergone extensive preparation by GuyRex, and even lived together prior to the pageant.
The five Aces were:

Results summary

Placements

Texas holds a record of 53 placements at Miss USA, being placed first overall.

Awards

;---Color key
YearNameHometownLocal TitleAgePlacement at Miss USASpecial awards at Miss USANotes
2021TBDTBDTBDTBDTBDTBD
2020Taylor KesslerHoustonMiss Lone Star23TBDTBDPreviously Miss Grand USA 2017
2019Alayah BenavidezSan AntonioMiss San Antonio23Previously Miss United States 2016
2018Logan LesterHoustonMiss Harris County23Top 15Shortest reigning Miss Texas USA
2017Nancy GonzalezFreeportMiss Kemah27
2016Daniella RodriguezLaredoMiss Central Webb County19
  • Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 2013
  • Married to Carlos Correa
    • 2015Ylianna GuerraMcAllenMiss Tropics of Texas221st runner-up
    2014Lauren GuzmanLaredoMiss Central Laredo24Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 2008
    2013Alexandria "Ali" NugentDallasMiss North Texas194th runner-upFan Vote WinnerNiece of rock musician Ted Nugent
    2012Brittany BookerFriendswoodMiss Houston21Top 10
    2011Ana RodriguezLaredoMiss Central Laredo243rd runner-up
    2010Kelsey MooreEl PasoMiss El Paso19
    2009Brooke DanielsTomballMiss Harris County22Top 10
    2008Crystle StewartMissouri CityMiss Fort Bend County26Miss USA 2008Top 10 at Miss Universe 2008
    2007Magen EllisTylerMiss Houston19Top 10Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 2004
    2006Lauren LanningFriendswoodMiss Houston22Top 10
    2005Tyler WillisLubbockMiss Central Plains25Top 15Miss Photogenic
    2004Stephanie GuerreroLake JacksonMiss Houston23Top 15
    2003Nicole O'BrianFriendswoodMiss Bay Area202nd runner-up
  • Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 2000
  • *1st Runner-up & Best in Swimsuit at Miss Teen USA 2000
  • Contestant on The Amazing Race 5
    • 2002Kasi KellyBridgeportMiss DFW20Semi-finalist
    2001Kandace KruegerAustinMiss Austin24Miss USA 20012nd runner-up at Miss Universe 2001
    2000Heather OgilvieHoustonMiss Southeast Texas22
    1999Carissa BlairHoustonMiss Southeast Texas23Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 1992
    1998Holly MillsSan AntonioMiss San Antonio22Top 5
    1997Amanda LittleWylieMiss Metroplex20Top 6
    1996Kara WilliamsHoustonMiss Harris County23Top 10Previously Miss Texas Teen USA 1991
    1995Chelsi Smith†Deer ParkMiss Galveston County21Miss USA 1995Miss Congeniality and Best in Swimsuit
  • Miss Universe 1995
  • First biracial Miss Texas USA
    • 1994Christine FriedelEl PasoMiss El Paso22Top 6
    1993Angie SiskHoustonMiss Fort Bend County21Top 12
    1992Katie YoungFort WorthMiss Fort Worth19Top 11
    1991Chris BogardTomballMiss North Harris County23
    1990Stephanie KuehneMissouri CityMiss Houston22Top 12Miss Wonderland 1989
    1989Gretchen PolhemusFort WorthMiss Fort Worth23Miss USA 1989
  • 2nd runner-up at Miss Universe 1989
  • Mother of Miss Utah USA 2017, Baylee Jensen
    • 1988Courtney GibbsFort WorthMiss Metroplex21Miss USA 1988Top 10 at Miss Universe 1988
    1987Michelle RoyerKellerMiss Keller21Miss USA 19872nd runner-up at Miss Universe 1987
    1986Christiane "Christy" FichtnerDallasMiss Dallas County23Miss USA 19861st runner-up at Miss Universe 1986
    1985Laura Martinez HerringEl PasoMiss El Paso County21Miss USA 1985
  • Top 10 at Miss Universe 1985
  • First Hispanic Miss Texas USA
    • 1984Laura ShawBurlesonMiss Burleson19Top 10Miss Photogenic
    1983Lisa AllredFort WorthMiss Fort Worth201st runner-upMiss PhotogenicMiss World USA 1983 & 6th runner-up at Miss World 1983
    1982Luann CaugheyAbileneMiss Abilene231st runner-upMiss World USA 1982 & 4th runner-up at Miss World 1982
    1981Diana DurnfordEl PasoMiss Sun City21Top 12
    1980Barbara BuckleyMidlandTop 12
    1979Anne HinnantHoustonMiss Harris CountyTop 12
    1978Barbara HoranDallas2nd runner-upBest State Costume
    1977Kimberly TomesHouston21Miss USA 1977Best State CostumeTop 12 at Miss Universe 1977, Miss Texas World 1974 and 1st runner up at Miss World USA 1974.
    1976Candace Gray†El PasoTop 12Died in a scuba diving accident in 1981
    1975Aundie EversEl Paso4th runner-up
    1974Debra CroninMcDade
    1973Lavonne McConnellFort Worth19Top 12Best State Costume
    1972Susan PetersAustinMiss Photogenic
    1971Brenda BoxAmarillo1st runner-up
    1970Diane SwendemanSan AntonioTop 15Miss Congeniality
    1969Sandy DrewesDallasTop 15
    1968Jeannie WilsonDallas
    1967Bonnie RobinsonHoustonTop 15
    1966Dorothy PickensEdinburgTop 15
    1965Phillis JohnsonHoustonTop 15
    1964Diane BallounHouston1st runner-up
    1963Cheryl WilburnHouston-
    1962Jackie WilliamsWaxahachieMiss Lake WhitneyTop 15
    1961Sheila WadeDallasMiss Lake Whitney
    1960Pat CloudHouston
    1959Carelgean DouglasHouston1st runner-up
    1958Linda DaughertyHoustonTop 15
    1957Gloria HuntHoustonTop 15
    1956Jo DodsonHouston4th runner-up
    1955Mary DaughtersHoustonTop 15
    1954Betty LeeHouston3rd runner-up
    1953Joan BradshawHouston17Top 15
    1952Charlene McClaryHouston