The Miss Louisiana competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Louisiana in the Miss America pageant. Although no delegate from Louisiana has ever won the Miss America title, five have placed 1st runner-up. As of 2026, Louisiana is the lone member of the Confederacy during the Civil War which has not produced a Miss America.
The pageant is held in June at the W. L. Jack Howard Theatre, named for the late Mayor W. L. "Jack" Howard and located in downtown Monroe adjacent to the Civic Center. The 2026 pageant was the 63rd held in Monroe.
Shelby Bordelon of Sunshine was crowned Miss Louisiana 2026 on June 20, 2026, and placed first runner-up at Miss America 2027 in West Palm Beach, Florida on September 6, 2026.
Contents
Results summary
The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Louisiana 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
1st runners-up: Patricia Brant (1988), Erika Schwarz (1997), Faith Jenkins (2001), Jennifer Dupont (2005), Shelby Bordelon (2027)
2nd runners-up: Holli' Conway (2019)
3rd runners-up: Marguerite McClelland (1946), Debra (Debbie) Ward (1974), Katherine Putnam (2010), April Nelson (2016)
4th runners-up: Libby Lovejoy (1975), Linnea Fayard (1991)
Top 7: Laryssa Bonacquisti (2018)
Top 10: Barbara Barker (1953), Lynda Ferguson (1966), Genevieve Del Gallo (1968), Debby Robert (1973), Phyllis Kelly (1979), Valerie Brosset (1989), Christi Page (1992), Mette Boving (1998), Hope Anderson (2012)
Top 15: Louise Moore (1924), Justine Ker (2017)
Top 16: Gertrude Rissie Miller (1937)
Top 18: Marjorie Hagler (1933)
Awards
Preliminary Evening Gown: Shelby Bordelon (2027)
Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Valerie Brosset (1989), Stacy King (1990), Christi Page (1992), Faith Jenkins (2001), Jennifer Dupont (2005), Laryssa Bonacquisti (2018)
Preliminary Talent: Debby Robert (1973), Debra (Debbie) Anne Ward (1974), Patricia Brant (1988), Julie Lawrence (2000), Faith Jenkins (2001), April Nelson (2016), Laryssa Bonacquisti (2018), Holli' Conway (2019)
Non-finalist Talent: Bobbie Chachere (1957), Cherie Martin (1965), Myrrah McCully (1980), Bobbie Candler (1983), Miriam Gauthier (1984), Amanda Mainord (1987), Stacy King (1990), Karmyn Tyler (1996), Julie Lawrence (2000), Jaden Leach (2014), Meagan Crews (2020), Gracie Reichman (2023)
Non-finalist Interview: Lacey Sanchez (2015)
Miss Congeniality: N/A
Miss America Scholar Award: Julie Lawrence (2000)
Children's Miracle Network (CMN) Miracle Maker Award: Katherine Putnam (2010), Hope Anderson (2012)
CMN Miracle Maker Award 2nd runners-up: Lacey Sanchez (2015)
Quality of Life Award Winners: Faith Jenkins (2001)
Quality of Life Award 1st runners-up: Heather Dupree (1999)
Quality of Life Award 2nd runners-up: Erika Schwarz (1997)
STEM Scholarship 1st runner-up: Julia Claire Williams (2022)
Show Me Your Shoes Winner: Gabrelle McLeod (2026)