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Miss Delaware

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For the state pageant affiliated with Miss USA, see Miss Delaware USA.
Miss Delaware
Formation1933; 91 years ago (1933)
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersDover
Location
Membership
Miss America
Official language
English
Co-Executive Director
Amanda Debus Kuhl
Co-Executive Director & President
Sue Kuhling
WebsiteOfficial website
Jamie Ginn, Miss Delaware 2006

The Miss Delaware competition is the pageant that selects the representative of Delaware in the Miss America pageant. The event takes place annually in the month of June and has previously been held in Rehoboth Beach at Convention Hall, in the state capital of Dover, Delaware at the Dover Downs Hotel and Casino, and in Milton at the Milton Theatre. Miss Delaware serves as the official hostess to the state of Delaware.

Nova Gaffney of Milford was crowned Miss Delaware 2024 on June 22, 2024, at the Independence School in Newark. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2025.

Results summary

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The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Delaware 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

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Awards

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Preliminary awards

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Non-finalist awards

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  • Non-finalist Talent: Robin Jane Whemper (1962), Elaine Campanelli (1976), Sandra Louise Aiken (1978), Lisa Marie Munzert (1991), Jennifer Lin Kaczmarczyk (1994), Alison White (1998), Rebecca Bledsoe (2006), Maria Cahill (2012), Rebecca Jackson (2014), Brooke Mitchell (2016)
  • Non-finalist Interview: Alyssa Murray (2013)

Other awards

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  • Miss Congeniality: Paula Kusmer (1972)
  • Equity and Justice Finalist: Sophie Phillips (2022)
  • George Cavalier Talent Award: Anne Marie Jarka (1988)
  • Bernie Wayne Scholarship for the Performing Arts: Junnie Cross (2001)
  • Bert Parks Talent Award: Michelle Harris (1996), Junnie Cross (2001)
  • Quality of Life Award 1st runners-up: Kayla Martell (2011), Brittany Lewis (2015)
  • Quality of Life Award Finalists: Junnie Cross (2001), Linda Kurtz (2005), Alyssa Murray (2012)
  • Forever Miss Americas Scholarship: Grace Otley (2023)

Winners

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  •   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
2024 Nova Gaffney Milford 24 Miss Southern Delaware Ballet TBA TBA
2023 Emily Beale Ocean View 27 Miss Ocean View Tap Dance
2022 Grace Otley Hockessin 22 Miss Dover Violin, "Smooth Criminal" Forever Miss Americas Scholarship Previously Miss Delaware's Outstanding Teen 2014
2021 Sophie Phillips[1] Bear 25 Miss Milford Piano, "Good Golly, Miss Molly" Equity and Justice Finalist
2019–20 Hillary May[2] Mount Vernon, IN 23 Miss Hockessin Vocal, "I Could Have Danced All Night" 2020 competition was postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19 pandemic
2018 Joanna Wicks[3] Wilmington 24 Miss Wilmington Speed Painting, "Confident"
2017 Chelsea Bruce[4] Manasquan, NJ[5] 21 Miss Newark Contemporary Dance Eligible as a student at the University of Delaware[4]
2016 Amanda Debus[6][7] Middletown 23 Miss First State Contemporary Ballet, "Fight Song" Previously Miss Delaware's Outstanding Teen 2008[7]

Previously Miss Delaware Teen USA 2011[citation needed]

3rd runner-up at Miss Delaware USA 2018 pageant[8]

1st runner-up at Miss Delaware USA 2019 pageant[8]
2015 Brooke Mitchell[9] Selbyville 19 Miss Milford Tap Dance/Baton Twirling, "Uptown Funk" Non-finalist Talent Award Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014 pageant[citation needed]
2014 Brittany Lewis Brigantine, NJ 23 Miss Wilmington Jazz Dance Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up Originally first runner-up, assumed title when Longacre was dethroned[10]
Amanda Longacre Bear 24 Miss Pike Creek Vocal Unable to compete; dethroned due to her not meeting the Miss America Organization's age requirement[10]
2013 Rebecca Jackson Kennett Square, PA 21 Miss Dover Vocal, "Think of Me" from The Phantom of the Opera Non-finalist Talent Award
2012 Alyssa Murray Selbyville 20 Miss Coastal Bay Jazz Dance, "River Deep – Mountain High" Non-finalist Interview Award

Quality of Life Award Finalist 		4th runner-up at Miss Delaware USA 2015 competition[8]

1st runner-up at Miss Delaware USA 2018 competition[8]
2011 Maria Cahill[11] Newark 20 Miss Rehoboth Beach Irish Dance, "Lord of the Dance" Non-finalist Talent Award
2010 Kayla Martell Milford 21 Miss Kent County Contemporary Ballet en Pointe, "The Way You Make Me Feel" Top 10 Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up Voted into the Top 15 as a "People's Choice" by public voting[citation needed]

First contestant with alopecia areata to compete in Miss America pageant[citation needed]
2009 Heather Lehman Magnolia 20 Miss Diamond State Classical Vocal, "Adele's Laughing Song" from Die Fledermaus
2008 Galen Giaccone[12] Wyoming 20 Miss Diamond State Piano, "El Cumbanchero" by Rafael Hernández Marín Top 15 Preliminary Talent Award
2007 Brittany Dempsey Dover 20 Miss Capital Jazz Dance, "Rhythm of the Night" Previously Delaware's Junior Miss 2005
2006 Jamie Ginn Wilmington 25 Miss Brandywine Dance, "Dancin' Fool" from Copacabana 4th runner-up at National Sweetheart 2005 pageant as Miss New Jersey[citation needed]
2005 Rebecca Bledsoe Middletown 22 Miss Central Delaware Classical Vocal, "Una Voce Poco Fa" from The Barber of Seville Non-finalist Talent Award
2004 Linda Kurtz Dover 21 Miss Dover Ballet, "Man of La Mancha" Quality of Life Award Finalist Contestant at National Sweetheart 2003 pageant[citation needed]
2003 Erin Elizabeth Williams Lincoln 20 Miss Eastern Shore Classical Vocal, "Time to Say Goodbye"
2002 Shoha Parekh Newark 24 Miss Greenville Bharatnatyam Style Dance Appeared in the movie, Annapolis[13]
2001 Erin Cooper Camden 22 Miss Hockessin Lyrical Ballet, "Book of Days"
2000 Junnie Cross Dover 22 Miss Hockessin Vocal, "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" from The Phantom of the Opera Bert Parks Talent Award

Bernie Wayne Scholarship for the Performing Arts Award

Preliminary Talent Award

Quality of Life Award Finalist
1999 Kama Boland Hockessin 22 Miss Diamond State Piano, "Jerry Lee Lewis Medley"
1998 Jody Kelly Dover 22 Miss Hockessin Flute, "Shenandoah" and "Dueling Banjos"
1997 Alison White Millsboro 18 Miss Millsboro Classical Vocal, "Poor Wand'ring One" from The Pirates of Penzance Non-finalist Talent Award
1996 Aimee Michelle Voshell Felton 18 Miss Dover Ballet en Pointe "Return to Innocence" Mother to Miss Delaware's Outstanding Teen 2022, Brynn String
1995 Michelle Harris Newark 24 Miss Brandywine Vocal, "I Will Always Love You" Bert Parks Talent Award
1994 Letitia Lee Pusey Millsboro 23 Miss Sussex County Lyrical Tap Dance
1993 Jennifer Lin Kaczmarczyk Hockessin 20 Miss Brandywine Popular Vocal, "This Is the Moment" Non-finalist Talent Award
1992 Kathleen Ann Slavin Dagsboro 25 Miss Sussex County Vocal, "My Man"
1991 Beth Ann Jones Wilmington 22 Miss Brandywine Vocal Medley
1990 Lisa Marie Munzert New Castle 20 Dance / Twirling, "They're Playing Our Song" Non-finalist Talent Award
1989 Robin Lee Coutant Millsboro 21 Miss University Vocal, "Think of Me"
1988 Laura Kathleen Ludwig Lewes 21 Miss Sussex County Popular Vocal, "Happy Days Are Here Again"
1987 Anne Marie Jarka Newark 21 Miss University Vocal / Piano, "Almost Over You" George Cavalier Talent Award
1986 Lori Ann Scott Wilmington 23 Miss Wilmington Popular Vocal, "Love Is Spreading All Over"
1985 Lisa Anne Patrick Newark 24 Miss Newark Character Ballet en Pointe
1984 Nancy Lynn Ball Rehoboth Beach 24 Miss Cape Henlopen Jazz Ballet en Pointe
1983 Tammy Renee Copeland Newark 21 Miss Greater Wilmington Vocal, "Cry Me a River"
1982 Nancy Ellen Farley Elsmere 21 Miss New Castle Comedy Monologue, "Report of the Nominating Committee"
1981 Jodi Meade Graham[14] Wilmington 19 Miss Brandywine College Vocal, "Can You Read My Mind" Daughter of Miss Pennsylvania 1956, Lorna Ringler Graham,[14] and grand-niece of Miss America 1924, Ruth Malcomson[15]
1980 Andra Lee Dickerson Newark 21 Miss Newark Piano / Vocal
1979 Ann Lorraine Harrington Milford 22 Miss Milford Magic Act
1978 Janice Anne Albro Claymont 25 Miss Brandywine Hundred Piano Medley, "The Entertainer" & "Maple Leaf Rag" Preliminary Swimsuit Award
1977 Sandra Louise Aiken Seaford 21 Miss Seaford Classical Vocal, "Quando me'n vo'" Non-finalist Talent Award
1976 Debora Rica Lipford Newark 21 Miss Newark Dramatic Interpretation, "It Was a Good Time" from Ryan's Daughter Top 10 First African-American contestant to reach the top 10 at Miss America pageant[16]
1975 Elaine Campanelli Ocean View 20 Miss Ocean View Fire Baton Routine Non-finalist Talent Award
1974 Kathleen Attanasi Rehoboth Beach 22 Miss Rehoboth Beach Harp Medley, "Harmonious Blacksmith" & "Close To You"
1973 Jackie LaGuardia Milford 19 Miss Sussex West Vocal from Irma La Douce
1972 Catherine Lawton[17] Clayton 20 Miss University Motors Banjo, "Banjo Memories" Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award
1971 Paula Kusmer Wilmington 19 Miss Goldey-Beacom College Dramatic reading from The Diary of Anne Frank Miss Congeniality
1970 Linda Sue Hitchens Seaford 20 Miss Nylon Capital Vocal / Dance, "Give My Regards to Broadway"
1969 Margo Ewing Wilmington 19 Miss Talleyville Vocal, "My Mother's Wedding Day" Served as a Delaware state senator[18]
1968 Gayle Freeman 19 Miss Brandywine College Vocal & Guitar, "Times They Are a-Changin'"
1967 Susan Alice Levens Dover 18 Miss Wesley College Vocal, "Who Will Buy" from Oliver!
1966 Mary Lee Mancini Wilmington 19 Miss Greater Wilmington Ballet / Sketch
1965 Kathleen Grandell 18 Miss Brandywine Multi-lingual Monologue
1964 Anita Gail Eubank 20 Popular Vocal & Dance
1963 Diane Beverly Isaacs Greenwood Miss Greenwood Piano & Popular Vocal Previously married to current United States Senator, Tom Carper[19]
1962 Alice Richards Watts Lewes 19 Miss Harrington Pantomime, "Seventeen"
1961 Robin Jane Whempner Wilmington 18 Miss Newark Vocal & Dance, "That's What Makes Paris Paree" from April in Paris Non-finalist Talent Award
1960 Deborah Dunkenfield Benoit 21 Composite Expression of Special Training
1959 Ester Olney Newark 18 Vocal
1958 Nancy M. Williams Wilmington Dance to musical selections from Gone With the Wind
1957 Kathleen Ann D'Attillio Piano
1956 Janice Olson Newark
1955 Joanne Sakowski Wilmington Vocal
1954 Barbara Woodall Claymont Piano
1953 Lois Anne Alava Wilmington Piano, "Concerto in A Minor" Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award
1952 Helen Blackwell Wilmington Classical Vocal Later, competed in Miss USA 1955 as Miss Delaware USA
1951 Suzanne Parrott Dover Piano
1950 Lorna Edwardson Classical Vocal, "Un Bel Di" from Madame Butterfly
1949 No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant
1948
1947
1946
1945
1944 Jacquelyn Vasseur Wilmington
1943 Mona Crawford
1942 Dorothy McGovern
1941 Verona Smith[20] Bridgeville
1940 Peggy Insolo Wilmington Piano Top 15
1939 No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant[21][22]
1938
1937 Nickey Harriet Harrington
1936 Lillian Shamers Wilmington
1935
No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant[23]
1934
No national pageant was held[24]
1933 Victoria A. George Wilmington 18 N/A[25]
1932
No national pageants were held[24]
1931
1930
1929
1928
1927
No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant[26][27][28][29]
1926
1925
1924
1923 Ruth Agnes Brady[30] Wilmington Miss Wilmington N/A[25] Competed under local title at national pageant
1922 A. Adele Senft[31]
1921
No Delaware representative at Miss America pageant[32]
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References

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  1. ^ Neiburg, Jeff. "New Miss Delaware crowned during Friday night event in Milton". The News Journal. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  2. ^ Bies, Jessica (June 16, 2019). "Hillary May named Miss Delaware 2019". Delaware Online.
  3. ^ Vaccaro, Shelby (June 17, 2018). "Miss Wilmington gets promotion to Miss Delaware on a platform of domestic violence awareness". WDEL News.
  4. ^ a b "Miss Newark named Miss Delaware 2017". Delaware State News. June 16, 2017.
  5. ^ "Miss Delaware pageant to be held June 16 at Cape High in Lewes". Cape Gazette. June 12, 2017.
  6. ^ "Amanda Debus Is Miss Delaware 2016". Delaware Today. 14 June 2016.
  7. ^ a b Bittle, Matt (June 12, 2016). "Middletown's Debus 'in such disbelief' after Miss Delaware win". Delaware State News.
  8. ^ a b c d "Miss Delaware USA & Teen USA pageant results". Pageant Update.
  9. ^ Howard, Arshon (June 13, 2015). "Brooke Mitchell crowned Miss Delaware 2015". Delaware State News. Dover, DE: Independent Newsmedia. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Dethroned Miss Delaware Amanda Longacre Files $3 Million Lawsuit". ABC News. 2014-07-17.
  11. ^ "Maria Cahill crowned Miss Delaware". Beaumont Enterprise. June 12, 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ "U of D student crowned Miss Delaware". WDel. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
  13. ^ "Annapois (2006) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb". IMDb.
  14. ^ a b "Bringing People Together". Arlington Heights Daily Herald. Arlington Heights, Illinois. September 12, 1981. p. 2. Jodi Graham, Miss Delaware, is the third generation of her family to compete in the Miss America pageant. Her aunt, Ruth Malcomson Schaubel, was the third Miss America in 1924. Her mother, Lorna Ringler Graham, competed in the 1956 pageant as Miss Pennsylvania.
  15. ^ St. George, Donna (May 28, 1988). "Ruth M. Schaubel, Miss America 1924". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Miss America : Review". 2015-07-04. Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  17. ^ "Beauty Strums Way to Crown". The News Journal. June 26, 1972.
  18. ^ "At 75, Miss Delaware Pageant is More Than a Beauty Contest". 2 June 2016.
  19. ^ Bowden, John (December 14, 2017). "Dem senator denies report claiming he lied about abusing his wife". The Hill.
  20. ^ "Miss Delaware to Give Atlantic City Beauties Run for U. S. Honors". Wilmington, Delaware: The Morning News. September 4, 1941.
  21. ^ "1938 Candidates". Miss America. 5 July 2018.
  22. ^ "1939 Candidates". Miss America. 28 June 2018.
  23. ^ "1935 Candidates". Miss America. 5 July 2018.
  24. ^ a b "Miss America Timeline: 1901–1950". PBS. Archived from the original on 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  25. ^ a b Schnitzspahn, Karen (September 8, 1997). "There She Was – Miss Long Branch". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com. ...talent contest that was established in 1935.
  26. ^ "1927 Candidates". Miss America. 28 June 2018.
  27. ^ "1926 Candidates". Miss America. 28 June 2018.
  28. ^ "1925 Candidates". Miss America. 28 June 2018.
  29. ^ "1924 Candidates". Miss America. 28 June 2018.
  30. ^ "Beauties". Times Herald. Olean, New York. September 5, 1923. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Girls Enter Beauty Contest". The Glasgow Courier. Glasgow, Montana. September 8, 1922. p. 1.
  32. ^ "1921 Candidates". Miss America. 28 June 2018.
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