The Miss Arizona Teen USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Arizona in the Miss Teen USA pageant and the title held by that winner.

Miss Arizona Teen USA
Formation1983
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersPhoenix
Location
Membership
Miss Teen USA
Official language
English
Key people
Britt Boyse (state pageant director)
WebsiteOfficial website
Alexa Zellars, Miss Arizona Teen USA 2012
Ashley Stainton, Miss Arizona Teen USA 2008
Tiffany Martin, Miss Arizona Teen USA 2007

The first Arizona Teen to place at Miss Teen USA was Jeri-Lynn Beatty who made the top 12 in 1990.[1] Three more Arizona teens have gone on to win the Miss Arizona USA title, including Danielle Demski, one of only two to place in the top five or six at Miss Teen USA.[2] Demski later built a career as a television presenter.

The current Miss Arizona Teen USA is MayaDenise Gaskin of Phoenix and was crowned in Gilbert on May 30, 2022. Gaskin will represent Arizona at Miss Teen USA 2022.

Miss Teen USA Placement Summary

Placements

  • 2nd Runner-up: Rachel McLaen (2024)
  • Top 5/6: Courtney Hamilton (1996), Danielle Demski[2] (1999)
  • Top 10/12: Jeri-Lynn Beatty (1990), Emerald Zellers (2006)
  • Top 15/16: Ashley Stainton (2008), Savannah Wix (2014), Neda Danilovic (2015), Karly Riggs (2017), Molly Schwanz (2020), MayaDenise Gaskin (2022)

Arizona holds a record of 10 placements at Miss Teen USA.

Awards

  • Best State Costume: Julie Hodges (1987)
  • Miss Photogenic: Kristi Vanney (1986)

Winners

  •   Declared as Winner
  •   Ended as runner-up
  •   Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
Year Name Hometown Age1 Placement at Miss Teen USA Special awards at Miss Teen USA Notes
2024 Rachel Mclaen Queen Creek 19 2nd Runner-up
2023 Peyton Stuewe Phoenix 18
2022 MayaDenise Gaskin Phoenix 18 Top 16
2021 McKenzi Lindhag Peoria 16
2020 Molly Schwanz Scottsdale 18 Top 16
2019 Jordan Waller Phoenix 18
2018 Macy Kathryn Deak Phoenix 15
2017 Karlina "Karly" Riggs Scottsdale 17 Top 15
2016 Tristany Hightower Paradise Valley 16
2015 Neda Danilovic Phoenix 16 Top 15
2014 Savannah Wix Paradise Valley 17 Top 15 Later Miss Arizona USA 2019[citation needed]
2013 Olivia Argue Paradise Valley 17 Sister of Miss Arizona Teen 2011 - Molly Argue
2012 Alexa Zellers Scottsdale 17 Sister of Miss Arizona Teen USA 2006 - Emerald Zellers
2011 Molly Argue Paradise Valley 18 Sister of Miss Arizona Teen 2013 - Olivia Argue
2010 Tori Vance Ahwatukee 17
2009 Whitney Nelson[3] Ahwatukee 18
2008 Ashley Stainton Ahwatukee 17 Top 15
2007 Tiffany Martin Phoenix 18
2006 Emerald Zellers[4] Scottsdale 15 Top 10 Sister of Miss Arizona Teen USA 2012- Alexa Zellers
2005 Elisa Soto Mesa 16
2004 Allie Gilliland Glendale 17
2003 Natalia Benenson Phoenix 18
2002 Lynsie Ann Shackelford Mesa 17
2001 Eva Marie St. Arnauld[5] Mesa 18
2000 Sarah Wilkins Gilbert 18
1999 Danielle Demski[2] Chandler[2] 18[2] Top 5[2] Later Miss Arizona USA 2004 and top 15 at Miss USA 2004
1998 Kristy Kay Stover Phoenix 18
1997 Julie Gulbrandsen Gilbert 18
1996 Courtney Hamilton Chandler 16 Top 6
1995 Brandy Leigh Campbell Tucson
1994 Mistie Kline Phoenix
1993 Dannielle Normandin Phoenix
1992 Heather Keckler Chandler 17 Later Miss Arizona USA 2000
1991 Christine Ciulla[6] Phoenix 17[6]
1990 Jeri-Lynn Beatty[1] Glendale[1] 19[1] Semi-finalist[1]
1989 Leann Elston Tucson 17 Originally Shannon Marketic was crowned Miss Arizona Teen USA 1989. It was later determined that there had been an auditing mistake and that Marketic was the first runner-up and Elston the winner.[7] Marketic went on to win the Miss USA title in 1992.[8]
1988 Kristen Peterson Tucson
1987 Julie Hodges[9] Glendale[9] 17[9] Best State Costume
1986 Kristi Vanney Tempe Miss Photogenic
1985 Vanessa Steffens[10] Scottsdale[10] 15[10]
1984 Shawn Andrews[11] Mesa
1983 Kris Keim Scottsdale 17 Later Miss Arizona USA 1988

1 Age at the time of the Miss Teen USA pageant

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Jackson, Bob (27 July 1990). "Miss Arizona Teen USA ends in Top 12 in national contest". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Beard, Betty (28 August 1999). "Chandler's fair ladies fare well". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Three LDS teens compete in pageant". Deseret News. August 3, 2009. Archived from the original on June 22, 2018.
  4. ^ Hoffman, Michelle (12 August 2006). "Scottsdale teen to compete for U.S. pageant title". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  5. ^ Collom, Lindsey (17 August 2001). "Miss Arizona Teen USA ready to be... in the spotlight". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  6. ^ a b Nelson, Jeff (17 June 1991). "Pageant win revises college plans". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Rightful teen queen receives crown after a month". The Arizona Republic. 11 May 1989.
  8. ^ Bates, Michael (9 February 1992). "Miss USA had quit pageants after error". The San Bernardino County Sun.
  9. ^ a b c Arizona Daily Star (20 April 1987). "Glendale teen wins pageant; Tucsonan is 3rd runner-up". The Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  10. ^ a b c Campbell, Cynthia (2 January 1985). "Model Student: Teen adds beauty pageant to busy schedule". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  11. ^ "Mountain View senior is Miss Arizona Teen USA". The Arizona Republic. 29 February 1984.