Miss Alabama

the state pageant affiliated with Miss USA
Beauty pageant competition

The Miss Alabama competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Alabama in the annual Miss America Competition. Alabama has won three Miss America titles: Deidre Downs in 2005, Heather Whitestone (the first deaf woman to win the Miss America crown) in 1995, and Yolande Betbeze in 1951. Betbeze is also known as the contestant who refused to pose in a swimsuit, causing swimsuit sponsor Catalina Swimwear to pull out and ultimately start the Miss USA pageant. Brianna Burrell of Mobile was crowned Miss Alabama 2023 on July 1, 2023 at Samford University's Wright Center in Birmingham, Alabama. She competed for the title of Miss America 2024 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida in January 2024 where she was a Preliminary Evening Gown Award winner.

The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Alabama 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.

Year Name Hometown Age Local Title Miss America Talent Placement at Miss America Special scholarships at Miss America Notes2023Brianna BurrellMobile25Miss Baldwin CountyVocal Preliminary Evening Gown Award2022Lindsay FincherWedowee22Miss University of AlabamaJazz Dance, "Bossa Nova Baby"Jean Bartel Social Impact Initiative 1st runner up 2021Lauren BradfordGulf Shores21Miss Jefferson CountyViolin1st runner upJean Bartel Social Impact Initiative WinnerSouth Dakota University STEM ScholarshipTop Fundraiser 2nd PlaceWomen in Business FinalistPreviously Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen 2017 after Jessica Baeder was crowned Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2018 2019–20 Tiara Pennington Helena 20 Miss University of Alabama Classical Vocal, “Nessun Dorma" from Turandot Top 7 Previously Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen 2016Top 11 at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2017 pageant 2018 Callie Walker Birmingham 20 Miss Tuscaloosa Ballet en Pointe, "Hoe Down" from Rodeo Top 10 CMN Miracle Maker Award 2nd runner upDaughter of Miss Alabama 1985, Angela Tower WalkerPreviously Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen 2012 Tuscaloosa 21 Miss Leeds Area Vocal, "Over the Rainbow" Top 7 Quality of Life Award Winner Previously Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen 2013 2016 Hayley Barber Pelham 22 Miss Shelby County Tap Dance, "Big Noise from Winnetka" Quality of Life Award WinnerSTEM Scholarship Award Ozark 22 Miss Phenix City Jazz Ballet en Pointe, "Enigma Variation" from The Matrix 4th runner up Quality of Life Award 2nd runner up Previously Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen 2007 2014 Caitlin Brunell Tuscaloosa 22Miss Leeds Area Dance, "Let It Go" from Frozen Top 10 Quality of Life Award Winner Daughter of former NFL quarterback, Mark BrunellPreviously Miss Virginia's Outstanding Teen 2007Previously Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2008 2013 Chandler Champion Leeds 20Miss Leeds Area Jazz Ballet en Pointe, "Top Secret"Non finalist Talent AwardOlder sister of Zoe Champion, Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen 2019 2012 Anna Laura Bryan Decatur 22 Miss Hoover Vocal, "Sempre Libera" from La Traviata Top 12 Quality of Life Award Winner Clay 24 Miss Leeds Area Tap Dance, "I Got Rhythm" Top 13 Chosen by fellow contestants as the "Wild Card," earning her a spot in the Top 13 2010 Ashley Davis Dothan 21 Miss West Central Alabama Vocal, "If I Had My Way" Preliminary Swimsuit Award 2009 Liz Cochran Helena 20 Miss Hoover Dance, "He Lives in You" Quality of Life Award Finalist 2008 Amanda Tapley Birmingham 20 Miss Samford University Classical Piano Top 15 Quality of Life Award 2nd runner up Was awarded a "Golden Sash" on Miss America: Countdown to the Crown, earning a spot in the Top 15 at the Miss America 2009 pageant 2007 Jamie Langley Wadley 24 Miss Painted Rock Vocal, "Listen" CMN Miracle Maker Award 2nd runner upQuality of Life Award Finalist 2006 Melinda Toole Birmingham 23 Miss Samford University Vocal, "Time to Say Goodbye" 4th runner up Miss CongenialityQuality of Life Award 2nd runner up 2005 Alexa Jones Andalusia 24 Miss Mobile Ballet en Pointe, "Fuego" 2nd runner up Quality of Life Award 2nd runner up 2004 Shannon Camper Gadsden Miss West Central Alabama Vocal colspan=3 Heather Whitestone Birmingham 21 Miss Cullman Area Ballet en Pointe, "Via Dolorosa" Winner Preliminary Swimsuit AwardPreliminary Talent AwardQuality of Life Award 1st runner up First deaf woman crowned Miss Alabama and Miss America 1993 Kalyn Chapman 1992 Kim Wimmer Mobile 21 Miss Point Mallard Vocal, "Hold On" from The Secret Garden Quality of Life Award Winner 1990 Resha Riggins Trussville 24 Miss Alabama Music Hall of Fame Vocal, "Cry" Non finalist Interview AwardQuality of Life Award Finalist 1989 Julie Coons Birmingham 20 Miss Hope Vocal, "For Once In My Life" 1988 Jenny Jackson Auburn 21 Miss Auburn University Classical Piano, "Warsaw Concerto" 4th runner up 1987 Kym WilliamsBirmingham 22 Miss All American Bowl Vocal, "If We Only Have Love" Assumed title after Hitt resigned Julie Hitt 25 Miss Classic N/A Resigned because she felt she would not be able to fulfill responsibilities of the title 1981 Phoebe Stone Huntsville 22 Miss Eastwood Ballet, "Mame" 1980 Paige Phillips Leeds 17 Miss Leeds Area Double Ventriloquism / Vocal, "Rock a Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody," "Swanee," & "Mame" 1st runner up Preliminary Talent Award 1979 Kathy Pickett Mulga 26 Miss Birmingham Classical Vocal, "Sempre Libera" from La Traviata Non finalist Talent Award 1978 Teresa Cheatham Wellington 20 Miss Point Mallard Semi classical Vocal, "And This Is My Beloved" 1st runner up Preliminary Swimsuit AwardPreliminary Talent Award 1977 Julie Houston Heflin 22 Miss Oak Mountain Banjo, "Beverly Hillbillies Theme" 1976 Denise Davis Russellville 18 Miss Mannequins Popular Vocal Toured with Miss America USO Troupe 1975 Susie VaughnFlorence 21 Miss University of North Alabama Classical Vocal, "Vilja" from The Merry Widow 1974 Pam Long 20 Miss Florence State University Ventriloquism Screenwriter of soap opera Guiding Light 1973 Jane Rice Huntsville 21 Miss Jacksonville State University Vocal, "Tapestry" & "I Will Never Pass This Way Again" 1972 Freita Fuller Opelika 19 Miss Lake Eufala Hula & Tahitian Dance 1971 Ceil Jenkins Birmingham 21 Miss Northeast Alabama Vocal / Dance, "But Alive" from Applause 1970 Suzanne Dennie 20 Popular Vocal, "Alfie" Preliminary Talent Award 1969 Ann Fowler 21 Vocal, "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" from Fiddler on the Roof Previously Alabama's Junior Miss 1966 1968 Dellynne Catching Birmingham 19 Piano Medley, "Doctor Gradus Ad Parnassum," "America the Beautiful," & "This Is My Country" Top 10 Preliminary Swimsuit Award 1967 Becky Alford Birmingham 20 Vocal, "Ain't This a Pretty Night" from Susannah 1966 Angie Grooms Birmingham 21 Folk Vocal & Guitar, "Today" & "If I Had a Hammer" Top 10 1965 Linda Folsom New Brockton 20 Classical Vocal, "Caro Nome" from Rigoletto Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award 1964 Vickie Powers Mobile 19 Classical Vocal, "Habanera" Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award Featured performer on the Miss America 1966 pageant 1963 Judy Short Birmingham 18 Marimba, "Horst Toccata" Top 10 Preliminary Swimsuit AwardPreliminary Talent Award Previously Alabama's Junior Miss 1962 1962 Patricia Bonner Camden 22 Classical Vocal, "O Luce di Quest'Anima" from Linda di Chamounix Non finalist Talent Award1961 Patricia Ellisor Assumed the title when Delores Hodgens resigned in November after competing in Miss America in September. 1961 Delores Hodgens Bessemer 23 Classical Piano, "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12" Top 10 1960 Teresa Rinaldi Birmingham 20 Classical Vocal, "Addio" from La bohème Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award 1959 Betty Lindstrom Birmingham 19 Dramatic Reading, "Miss Quiss" Non finalist Talent Award 1958 Lee Thornberry Birmingham Vocal / Dance, "Honey Bun"' from South Pacific Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award 1957 Anna Stange Birmingham Monologue from Mourning Becomes Electra Non finalist Talent Award 1956 Anne Stuart Ariail Birmingham Vocal / Dance, "Ado Annie" from Oklahoma 2nd runner up Preliminary Talent Award 1955 Patricia Huddleston Clanton 21 Classical Vocal, "Pace, Pace Mio Dio!" from La Forza del Destino Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award 1954 Marilyn Tate Haleyville 21 Ventriloquism / Classical Piano Top 10 1953 Virginia McDavid Birmingham 18 Monologue, "Tara"' from Gone With the Wind 3rd runner up 1952 Gwen Harmon 19 Vocal, "A Heart That's Free" 3rd runner up Preliminary Swimsuit Award 1951 Bettye BursonAssumed title after Jeanne Moody resigned after competing at Miss America. 1951 Jeanne Moody Cherokee 21 Dramatic Skit, "Sorry Wrong Number"Top 10Preliminary Talent Award1950 Yolande Betbeze Mobile 21 Classical Vocal, "Caro Nome" from Rigoletto Winner Preliminary Swimsuit Award Betbeze's refusal to pose in a swimsuit lead to the pull out of swimsuit sponsors Catalina and ultimately the creation of the Miss USA pageant. The Miss Alabama title was not assigned to a runner up after Yolande Betbeze won the title of Miss America. 1949 Freida Roser Birmingham Classical Vocal 1948 Martha Ann Ingram Tarrant Classical Vocal, "Quando me'n vo'" 2nd runner up Multiple Alabama representativesContestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant Marjorie Orr Birmingham Miss Birmingham 1947 Peggy June Elder Gadsden Vocal, "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" 3rd runner up Preliminary Swimsuit Award Previously "Miss Dixie 1947" Peggy June Elder Butler passed away at age 93 on April 30, 2023 at home in Gadsden, Alabama. 1946 Dale Nunnally Preliminary Talent Award Multiple Alabama representativesContestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant Sue Donegan Birmingham Miss Birmingham 1945 Frances Dorn Birmingham Miss BirminghamTap Dance 2nd runner up Preliminary Talent AwardCompeted under local title at Miss America pageant 1944 Betty Jane Rase Vocal Medley, "My Hero" from The Chocolate Soldier & "Lover, Come Back to Me" 4th runner up Preliminary Swimsuit AwardPreliminary Talent Award 1943 Toula Hagestratou Birmingham Miss Birmingham Miss Congeniality 1942 Marie Duncan Birmingham Miss Birmingham Vocal, "I Met Him On Monday" Top 10 Preliminary Swimsuit Award 1941 Virginia McGraw Tap Dance with Rope Jumping Top 15 Preliminary Talent Award 1940 Evelyn Motlow Birmingham Miss Birmingham Vocal Multiple Alabama representativesContestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant Carolyn Foreman Montgomery Miss Montgomery 1939 Florine Holt Birmingham Miss Birmingham Vocal, "Moonglow" & "A Little Bit of Heaven" Top 15 Louise Robertson Montgomery Miss Montgomery 1938 Mildred Oxford Birmingham Miss Birmingham Tap Dance / Toe Ballet Top 15 Patricia McDaniel Montgomery Miss Montgomery 1937 Josephine Beall Samson Miss Birmingham Ingram Starkey Montgomery Miss Montgomery 1936 Tommy Marie Peck Florence Miss Alabama Won a tri state competition held in Tupelo, Mississippi, and was awarded the title of "Miss Alabama" Top 15 Gloria Levinge Birmingham Miss Birmingham Tap Dance 4th runner up Preliminary Talent Award 1935 Adelynn Owen Birmingham 23 Miss Birmingham Recited 2 poems and sang a song in French and English Competed under local title at Miss America pageant 1934No national pageant was held 1933 No Alabama representative at Miss America pageant 1932No national pageants were held 1925 Nellie Kincaid BirminghamMiss Birmingham 1924 Mildred Adams Birmingham 1923 Louise Newman Birmingham 1922 Elise Sparrow 24 Competed under local title at national pageantMarried Boston Red Sox owner, Tom Yawkey, in 1925 and later divorced in 1944 1921 Lois Wilson