Since 1921, when the Miss America pageant began, a number of sorority women have worn the Miss America crown. One even crowned a chapter sister as her successor. In 1960, outgoing Miss America Mary Ann Mobley crowned Lynda Lee Mead. Both were initiated into the Tau Chapter of Chi Omega at the University of Mississippi.
According to A History of Delta Gamma (7th edition), Miss America 1969 Judi Ford, “returned to school at the end of her reign to be pledged and initiated by the Iota chapter at the University of Illinois.”
Among the Miss Americas who belong to sororities/women’s fraternities are:
Miss America 1922 and 1923 (the only woman to serve twice), Mary Catherine Campbell (Townley), Pi Beta Phi (Ohio State University), Miss Ohio
Miss America 1943, Jean Bartel, Kappa Kappa Gamma (University California – Los Angeles), Miss California
Miss America 1947, Barbara Jo Walker (Hummel), Alpha Gamma Delta (Memphis State University), Miss Tennessee
Miss America 1953, Neva Jane Langley, Alpha Delta Pi (Florida Southern College), Miss Georgia
1954, Evelyn Ay, Delta Gamma (University of Pennsylvania), Miss Pennsylvania – This was the first Miss America competition to be televised.
Miss America 1958, Marilyn Van Derbur, Pi Beta Phi (University of Colorado), Miss Colorado
Miss America 1959, Mary Ann Mobley, Chi Omega (University of Mississippi), Miss Mississippi
Miss America 1960, Lynda Lee Mead, Chi Omega (University of Mississippi), Miss Mississippi
Miss America 1963, Jacquelyn Mayer, Pi Beta Phi (Northwestern University), Miss Ohio
Miss America 1964, Donna Axum, Delta Delta Delta (University of Arkansas), Miss Arkansas
Miss America 1967, Jane Anne Jayroe, Alpha Chi Omega (Oklahoma City University), Miss Oklahoma
Miss America 1969, Judith Anne Ford, Delta Gamma (University of Illinois), Miss Illinois
Miss America 1971, Phyllis Ann George, Zeta Tau Alpha (University of North Texas), Miss Texas
Miss America 1972, Laurie Lea Schaefer, Alpha Xi Delta (Ohio University), Miss Ohio
Miss America 1983, Debra Maffett, Kappa Delta (Sam Houston State University), Miss California
Miss America 1984, Suzette Charles, Alpha Kappa Alpha (Honorary Member), Miss New Jersey
Miss America 1986, Susan Akin, Pi Beta Phi (University of Mississippi), Miss Mississippi
Miss America 1989, Gretchen Carlson, Kappa Kappa Gamma (Stanford University), Miss Minnesota
Miss America 1990, Debbye Turner, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Miss Missouri
Miss America 1991, Marjorie Judith Vincent, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Miss Illinois
Miss America 1993, Leanza Cornett, Delta Delta Delta (Jacksonville University), Miss Florida
Miss America 1994, Kimberly Clarice Aiken, Delta Sigma Theta (New York City-wide chapter), Miss South Carolina
Miss America 1995, Heather Whitestone, Alpha Omicron Pi pledge (Jacksonville State University), Miss Alabama (Her busy pageant schedule prevented her from having time to commit to the sorority. She was not initiated. She spoke at an Alpha Omicron Pi convention and said she enjoyed her short sorority experience.)
Miss America 2004, Ericka Dunlap, Delta Sigma Theta (University of Central Florida), Miss Florida
Miss America 2005, Deidre Downs, Alpha Chi Omega (University of Virginia), Miss Alabama
Miss America 2013, Mallory Hytes Hagan, Pi Beta Phi (Auburn University), Miss New York
Miss America 2014, Nina Davuluri, Sigma Kappa, (Michigan State University, affiliated at University of Michigan), Miss New York
Miss America 2017, Savvy Shields, Kappa Kappa Gamma, (University of Arkansas), Miss Arkansas
Miss America 2018, Cara Mund, Kappa Delta, (Brown University), Miss North Dakota
Miss America 2020, Camille Schrier, Kappa Delta, (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University), Miss Virginia
At least two other Miss Americas were once members of NPC groups, but are no longer in good standing. Another fun tidbit is that National Panhellenic Conference Chairman, Chi Omega Elizabeth Dyer, served as a Miss America judge in 1964.
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Miss USA and Miss Universe
(The sorority women who are competing in Miss USA 2018.)
Miss Universe, Miss USA 1956, Carol Morris, Kappa Alpha Theta, Miss Iowa USA (second Miss USA to win Miss Universe)
Miss USA 1958, Eurlyne Howell (later Arlene Howell), Zeta Tau Alpha, Miss Louisiana USA
Miss Universe, Miss USA 1967, Sylvia Hitchcock, Chi Omega, Miss Alabama USA
Miss Universe, Miss USA 1980, Shawn Weatherly, Delta Delta Delta, Miss South Carolina USA
Miss USA 1982, Terri Utley [Amos-Britt], Alpha Sigma Tau, Miss Arkansas USA
Miss USA 1983, Julie Hayek, Delta Delta Delta, Miss California USA
Miss USA 1988, Courtney Gibbs, Pi Beta Phi, Miss Texas USA
Miss USA 1991, Kelli McCarty, Gamma Phi Beta, Miss Kansas USA
Miss USA 1994, Frances Louise “Lu” Parker, Alpha Delta Pi, Miss South Carolina USA
Miss USA 1996, Ali Landry, Kappa Delta, Miss Louisiana USA
Miss USA 2003, Susie Castillo, Kappa Delta, Miss Massachusetts USA
Miss USA 2008, Crystle Stewart, Delta Sigma Theta, Miss Texas USA
Miss USA 2015, Olivia Jordan, Alpha Phi, Miss Oklahoma USA
Miss USA 2016, Deshauna Barber, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Miss District of Columbia
Miss USA 2018, Sarah Rose Summers, Zeta Tau Alpha, Miss Nebraska 2018
