The Miss California USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state California in the Miss USA pageant. It is directed by K2 Productions. At the beginning K2 Productions was directed by former Miss Teen USA 1995 Keylee Sue Sandersand Keith Lewis. However K2 Productions is now directed by Keith and former Miss New Mexico Teen USA 1988 and Miss New Mexico USA 1994 Jill Vasquez Foley. Jill was in the Top 10 at Miss Teen USA 1988. Prior to K2 Productions the Miss California USA Pageant was produced by Carolee Munger.Prior to Ms. Munger Guyrex Productions held the franchise for a number of years and produced successful televised pageants with over 100 participants. Before Guyrex the pageant was produced by Dr. Leanord Stallcup who took over the directorship after Faye Smith successfully led the way through the 70's and 80's.
California has produced a Miss USA every decade (except the 2000s) and is ranked second highest in terms of placements. Miss California USA 2006, Tamiko Nash, who was 1st runner up at Miss USA 2006, would have had the opportunity to replace the current Miss USA, Tara Elizabeth Conner, had Conner been dethroned, however, it was announced by the organization on December 19, 2006 that Conner would retain the crown.
Only one Miss California USA was a former Miss California Teen USA, Shauna Gambill, who won the national Miss Teen USA crown in 1994. As Miss California USA in 1998, Gambill placed 1st runner-up to Shawnae Jebbia of Massachusetts, in what is widely considered by pageant fans to be one of the closest-fought pageants in recent years. Two Miss California USAs have also competed in the Miss America pageant.
