Missouri, United States currently has 26 Miss USA placements including the coronation of Shandi Ren Finnessey in 2004. The most recent one was in 2022 when Mikala McGhee finished in the Top 16.
Finnessey is the first and still the only Miss USA from Missouri. She was born in Florissant, St. Louis County, Missouri to Patrick Finnesseey and Linda Finnessey.
On June 1, 2004, Shandi represented the U.S. at Miss Universe 2004 and competed against 79 other candidates at the Centro de Exposiciones y Convenciones Mitad del Mundo (CEMEXPO) in Quito, Ecuador. She was runner-up to Jennifer Hawkins of Australia.
On July 11, 2015, Shandi married Ben Higgins. On June 9, 2024, she turned 46.
On June 15, 2024, Ashleigh Lorene Bedwell of Kansas City, Missouri won Miss Missouri USA 2024 at Polsky Theater in Overland Park, Johnson County, Missouri. She competed against 26 other candidates.
Runner-up to Bedwell was Shae Addison Smith, who represented Route 66. The respective second, third and fourth runners-up were Francesca Mirabella DeStefane of Warson Woods, St. Louis County, Olivia Henson of Springfield, Greene County, Missouri and Jessica Janorschke of Westport, Kansas City.
On August 4, 2024, Bedwell represented Missouri at Miss USA 2024 and competed against 50 other candidates at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was unplaced.
Miss Missouri USA 2025
On May 11, 2025, Bedwell will crown her successor at The Mansion Theater in Branson, Missouri. It is the 74th 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.
There are 21 women competing for the Miss Missouri USA 2025 title. If facial beauty is the only criterion, these will be my Top 5 candidates:
CONAN Daily 