Hawaiian beauties in Miss USA & Miss Universe

Hawaiian beauties in Miss USA & Miss Universe

Hawaiian beauties in Miss USA & Miss Universe

Let us meet my favorite Hawaiian beauties who have represented the islands in Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants. They are of native Hawaiian ancestry and are mixed with different background of settlers and immigrants in Hawaii. For state and national costumes, delegates usually wore Hawaiian-print dresses or depicted traditional hula dancers wearing floral garlands and headpieces.

Elza Kananionapua Edsman won the title of Miss Hawaiian Islands 1952. From Honolulu, she worked as an airline hostess before she won her title and is of Hawaiian, Portuguese and Swedish ancestry. Elza soon represented the Territory of Hawaii in the Miss Universe 1952 pageant held in Long Beach, California, where she finished as 1st runner-up.

Elza Edsman Miss Hawaiian Islands 1952

Elza Edsman as Miss Hawaii in the Miss Universe 1952 pageant

Elza Edsman as Miss Hawaii in the Miss Universe 1952 pageant

Elza Edsman as Miss Hawaii in the Miss Universe 1952 pageant

Elza Edsman as Miss Hawaii in the Miss Universe 1952 pageant

Elza Edsman as Miss Hawaii in the Miss Universe 1952 pageant


Aileen Lauwae Stone won the title of Miss Hawaiian Islands 1953. Of Hawaiian and Portuguese ancestry, she soon represented the Territory of Hawaii in the Miss Universe 1953 pageant held in Long Beach, California.

Aileen Stone Miss Hawaiian Islands 1953

Aileen Stone as Miss Hawaii in the Miss Universe 1953 pageant

Aileen Stone as Miss Hawaii in the Miss Universe 1953 pageant

Aileen Stone as Miss Hawaii in the Miss Universe 1953 pageant

Aileen Stone as Miss Hawaii in the Miss Universe 1953 pageant

Aileen Stone as Miss Hawaii in the Miss Universe 1953 pageant


Macel Leilani Wilson became Hawaii’s representative in Miss USA 1962 pageant (Hawaii gained statehood in 1959). Hailing from Honolulu, she was working as a receptionist at the time. She comes from a multiracial background; her mother is Portuguese descent while her father is mixed Hawaiian, Chinese and English. The exotic, dusky beauty soon won the title of Miss USA 1962. Days later, Macel competed as Miss USA in the Miss Universe 1962 pageant held in Miami, Florida, and was among the Top 15 semi-finalists.

Macel Wilson as Miss Hawaii in the joint Miss Universe and Miss USA 1962 pageants

Macel Wilson as Miss Hawaii in the joint Miss USA 1962 pageant

Macel Wilson as Miss Hawaii in the joint Miss USA 1962 pageant

Macel Wilson Miss USA 1962

Macel Wilson Miss USA 1962

Macel Wilson Miss USA 1962

Macel Wilson at Miss USA in the Miss Universe 1962 pageant

Macel Wilson Miss USA 1962

Macel Wilson Miss USA 1962


Elithe Manuha'aipo Aguiar won the Miss Universe Hawaii 1965 pageant. Before winning the state pageant, she was working as a singer, musician and hula dancer. Born and raised in Kauai, she is of Hawaiian, Chinese and Portuguese ancestry. Elithe soon represented the state of Hawaii in the Miss USA 1965 pageant and was among the Top 15 semi-finalists. After the pageant, Elithe appeared in minor roles in a number of American TV series.

Elithe Aguiar as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1965 pageant

Elithe Aguiar as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1965 pageant

Elithe Aguiar as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1965 pageant


Blanche Leialoha Ma'a won the title of Miss Hawaii USA 1979. Hailing from Oahu, she is of Hawaiian, Japanese and Filipino ancestry. Before winning the state title, she was a business student and has worked as a model and a hula dancer. Leialoha soon represented Hawaii in the Miss USA 1979 pageant. With her exotic looks and vivacious charm, the statuesque beauty was a huge favorite during the pageant, eventually finishing as 2nd runner-up. After the pageant, Leialoha continued her career as a model. Years later, she married character actor and stuntman, Branscombe Richmond. Credited as Lei Maa Richmond, she has played guest roles in a number of American TV series.

Leialoha Maa as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1979 pageant

Leialoha Maa as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1979 pageant

Leialoha Maa as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1979 pageant

Leialoha Maa as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1979 pageant

Leialoha Maa as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1979 pageant

Leialoha Maa as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1979 pageant

Leialoha Maa as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1979 pageant


Leimomi Bacalso won the title of Miss Hawaii USA 1990. Before winning the state title, she was working as a hula dancer and has held several local beauty titles. Hailing from Ewa Beach, she is of Hawaiian and Filipino ancestry. The exotic, dusky beauty soon became Hawaii's delegate in the Miss USA 1990 pageant.

Leimomi Bacalso Miss Hawaii USA 1990

Leimomi Bacalso as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1990 pageant

Leimomi Bacalso as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1990 pageant

Leimomi Bacalso as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1990 pageant

Leimomi Bacalso as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1990 pageant


Kimberly Leilehua Digmon won the title of Miss Hawaii USA 1991. Nicknamed "Kym", she has worked as a high fashion model, both in Hawaii and abroad, before winning the state title. Born and raised in Oahu, she comes from a mixed background; her father is of Hawaiian and English ancestry while her mother is Filipino. Kym became Hawaii's delegate in the Miss USA 1991 pageant. Noted for her stage presence and exotic looks, she became a favorite during the pageant and was among the Top 11 semi-finalists.

Kym Digmon Miss Hawaii USA 1991

Kym Digmon as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1991 pageant

Kym Digmon as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1991 pageant

Kym Digmon as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1991 pageant

Kym Digmon as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1991 pageant

Kym Digmon as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1991 pageant

Kym Digmon as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1991 pageant


Brook Mahealani Lee from Pearl City, won the title of Miss Hawaii USA 1997. Before she won her state title, she worked as a hula dancer and was completing her graduate studies. A multiracial beauty, she is of Hawaiian and Korean descent from her father while her mother is mixed Hawaiian, Portuguese, Chinese, English, Dutch and French. Brook soon represented Hawaii in the Miss USA 1997 pageant where she topped the interview portion with her witty charisma, eventually winning the title. As Miss USA 1997, she soon competed in the Miss Universe 1997 pageant held in Miami, Florida. She again topped the interview portion during the pageant and eventually won the title of Miss Universe 1997, becoming the seventh Miss USA to win the title. After her reign, she became active in local TV hosting back in her native Hawaii and mainland United States.

Brook Lee Miss Hawaii USA 1997

Brook Lee as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1997 pageant

Brook Lee as Miss Hawaii during the Miss USA 1997 pageant

Brook Lee Miss USA 1997

Brook Lee Miss USA 1997

Brook Lee as Miss USA in the Miss Universe 1997 pageant

Brook Lee as Miss USA in the Miss Universe 1997 pageant

Brook Lee as Miss USA in the Miss Universe 1997 pageant

Brook Lee as Miss USA in the Miss Universe 1997 pageant

Brook Lee as Miss USA in the Miss Universe 1997 pageant

Brook Lee Miss Universe 1997

Brook Lee Miss Universe 1997

Brook Lee Miss Universe 1997

Brook Lee Miss Universe 1997

Brook Lee Miss Universe 1997


Chanel Joy Pua'ala'onalani Wise won the Miss Hawaii USA 2007 pageant. She won the pageant on her second attempt (she finished as 3rd runner-up during the Miss Hawaii USA 2005 pageant). Before winning the state pageant, Chanel was pursuing a degree in criminology and has also worked as a model and a hula dancer. Hailing from Honolulu, she is of Hawaiian, Chinese, Portuguese, French, Irish, English and Scottish descent. The stunning multiracial beauty soon represented the state of Hawaii in the Miss USA 2007 pageant. A favorite during the competition, Chanel eventually finished among the Top 10 semi-finalists.

Chanel Wise Miss Hawaii USA 2007

Chanel Wise Miss Hawaii USA 2007

Chanel Wise Miss Hawaii USA 2007

Chanel Wise Miss Hawaii USA 2007

Chanel Wise Miss Hawaii USA 2007

Chanel Wise Miss Hawaii USA 2007


Chelsea Keolani Hardin won the title of Miss Hawaii USA 2016. From Honolulu, she holds a degree in anthropology and geography and was also a volleyball athlete. Chelsea comes from a multiracial background; her mother is mixed Hawaiian, Chinese, Filipino, Portuguese while her father is of Dutch, English, Irish, French and Scandinavian descent. Before winning the state title, she was active as a fitness coach for a non-profit organization. The towering beauty soon represented Hawaii in the Miss USA 2016 pageant and became a huge favorite during the competition, eventually finishing as 1st runner-up. 

Chelsea Hardin Miss Hawaii USA 2016

Chelsea Hardin Miss Hawaii USA 2016

Chelsea Hardin Miss Hawaii USA 2016

Chelsea Hardin Miss Hawaii USA 2016

Chelsea Hardin Miss Hawaii USA 2016

Chelsea Hardin Miss Hawaii USA 2016

Chelsea Hardin Miss Hawaii USA 2016

Lacie Choy won the title of Miss Hawaii USA 2019. Born and raised in Honolulu, she is of Hawaiian, Chinese and German descent. Before winning the state title, she was a pursuing a degree in communications. The stunning multiracial beauty soon represented Hawaii in the Miss USA 2019 pageant and was among the Top 15 semi-finalists.

Lacie Choy Miss Hawaii USA 2019

Lacie Choy Miss Hawaii USA 2019

Lacie Choy Miss Hawaii USA 2019

Lacie Choy Miss Hawaii USA 2019

Lacie Choy Miss Hawaii USA 2019

Lacie Choy Miss Hawaii USA 2019


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