Jill McLain

Biography

The Miss Montana USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Montana in the Miss USA pageant. From 1994 to 2007, it was directed by Carol Hirata and the Carlton Group, based in Bellvue, Colorado. In 2012, it was taken by Pageants NW Productions based in Puyallup, Washington until 2021. From 2021 through early 2025 (prior to the 2025 contest), the pageant was based in Great Falls, Montana under organization by Lime Light Enterprises, with its State Director being Lisa Pierce. Since early 2025, the directorship has been vacant. Miss Montana USA 2005 Amanda Kimmel was chosen to represent the United States in the 2005 Miss Earth pageant. Although she did not place at Miss USA, Kimmel finished in the Top 8 at Miss Earth and was later selected to participate in Survivor: China, Survivor: Micronesia and Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. Lisbeth Fernández of Miami, FL was appointed Miss Montana USA on July 30th, 2026 after the open casting call from Thomas Brodeur, the new owner of the national pageant. She later represented Montana at Miss USA 2026, finishing in the top 20, ending a 68-year placement drought for the state.

== Gallery of winners ==

== Results summary ==

=== Placements === Top 10: Valerie Jackson (1952) Top 15/20: Dawn Oney (1954), Sharon D. Tietjen (1958), Lisbeth Fernández (2026) Montana holds a record of 4 placements at Miss USA.

=== Awards === Miss Congeniality: Robbin English (1980), Meredith McCannel (2002), Stephanie Trudeau (2007)

== Winners == Color key

1 Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant

== References ==