The Miss Missouri USA 2023 coronation night will take place at The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts in Branson, Taney County, Missouri, United States on May 21, 2023. It is the 72nd edition of the state-level beauty pageant that selects Missouri’s candidate for Miss USA, which selects the Miss Universe candidate of the U.S.

Currently, Missouri has 26 Miss USA placements including the coronation of Shandi Finnessey in 2004 and the second runner-up finishes of Carolyn Carlew in 1952, Sandra Lee Marlin in 1963 and Melanie Breedlove in 1998. The most recent one was in 2022 when Mikala McGhee finished in the Top 16.

Representing St. Louis, McGhee was 28 when she was crowned Miss Missouri USA 2022 at The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts in Branson on May 1, 2022. The respective first, second, third and fourth runners-up were Autumn Black of Kansas City, Victoria Owen of Jackson County, Sydney Wilhelm of Webster Groves and Adrienne Burfield of Montauk.

There are 20 women competing for the Miss Missouri USA 2023 crown. If facial beauty is the only criterion, these will be my Top 5 candidates:

#5. Destiny Davis (Honey Bee)

#4. Rachel Ringgenberg (Gateway City)

#3. Autumn Black (Kansas City)

#2. Sydney Wilhelm (Webster Groves)

#1. Olivia Henson (Springfield)