In the early 1980s the guys realized that other fraternities had signature annual events on the campus, a program that they took pride in sponsoring each year.  But Gamma Phi did not have that event.  For several years the chapter hosted a boxing match, but that just didn't seem to represent the chapter and the university.  Brother Greg Urbanski is credited with pursuing the idea of having a pageant like other universities.  He took the idea to the dean of students Dr. Light and she put him in contact with a member of the vocal faculty that had the same vision. 

The men of Pi Kappa Phi, along with Mrs. Betty Caldwell Rogers, saw a need to have a pageant at USA. The Miss University of South Alabama Pageant was started by Gamma Phi chapter in 1984 and it serves as one of our PUSH America fund raising events. This is a scholarship pageant and is a preliminary pageant for Miss Alabama and Miss USA. We got a letter a few years ago from Donald Trump’s organization demanding that we do not refer to our pageant as the “Miss USA Pageant” since he owns the rights to that name.

Betty Caldwell Rogers was instrumental in starting the pageant and served as Executive Director for many years. She really had a passion for running the best preliminary pageant in the state. Ever since the early years, our pageant has been regarded as one of the best preliminary pageants in Alabama.  Click HERE to read about our recent recognition as one of the best.

The program was very popular in the eighties when hair was big and sequins were cool. The program used to take place to packed crowds on Friday and Saturday Nights at the Saenger Theatre in downtown Mobile. Friday afternoon a closed swimsuit contest was judged. Friday evening all the girls would perform talent. Saturday night the top 10 would be announced and they would perform talent and swimsuit.

Originally the pageant took place in January.  One year the Saenger was damaged when the pipes froze and burst.  The pageant was moved to St. Paul's Auditorium and then to the USA Wright Complex. Sometime in the early 1990s the pageant was moved to October in order to meet state pageant regulations and to give more time for our winner to prepare for the Miss Alabama Pageant each June. In recent years the program has been moved to one saturday night in the USA Mitchell Center.

The pageant celebrated its 25th year in 2007. Pageant winners compete in the Miss Alabama Pageant in Birmingham.  Pictures of previous winners are displayed in the University Student Center.   Here are some of the program covers from previous years.

Miss University of South Alabama Winners

1984 Miss Debra Ann Gilbert
1985 Miss Pamela Deane
1986 Miss Donna Leigh Robinson
1987 Miss Mary Millette
1988 Miss Donna Stallone
1989 Miss Kimberly Dawn Suddath
1990 Miss Susan Renea Harrell
1991 Miss Kalyn Evel Chapman
1992 Miss Lori Marlene Burkhead
1993 Miss Julie Lyn Hatcher
1994 Miss Johanna Sellers
1995 Miss Amy McKnight
1996 Miss Myra Barginear
1997 Miss Tiffany Thronson
1998 Miss Tiffany Brown
1999 Miss Jennifer Hicks
2000 Miss Lauren Zoghby
2001 Miss Tia Brown
2002 Miss Julia Kaye Janasky
2003 Miss Britni Morgan Leslie
2004 Miss Anna Reynolds
2005 Miss Erica Syklawer
2006 Miss Melissa Engin
2007 Miss Jessica Juanita McCray
2008
2009
2010
2011