Tall Queens Since 1947

The history of crowning Queens of Tall Clubs dates back to 1947 when the California Tip Toppers— “Earths First Tall Club” —crowned their queen Miss Tip Topper.  As more clubs were formed and united the title evolved to Queen of Height, Miss Tall America, Miss Tall USA, Miss Tall North America, Miss Tall Universe, and finally to Miss Tall International®.  Hundreds of tall women have represented their clubs in pageants over the years. See the Gallery includes images of most of the title holders.

​Shelley Sage is Miss Tall International ®2023

Prior to her elevation to Miss Tall International® (Miss TI), Shelley was thrilled to represent the Portland Skyliners Tall Club as Miss Tall Portland.  In addition to wearing the crown proudly, Shelley has served her club in several other roles during her 30-year membership. One of Shelley’s most memorable events was the Starlight Parade in her hometown of Portland where she was actually married to her now former husband right on the float as it proceeded through the parade route.  

When Shelley is not travelling, and making appearances, she is working as a Worker Compensation Account Executive for Hub International.  In her spare time, Shelley enjoys water aerobics, dancing, and fitness.  She is an avid home remodeler and enjoys painting and actually hanging wallpaper.   She is very active in community support groups, supporting local actors and artists and is a member of Toastmasters International.  In a recent interview Shelley noted that one of her biggest interests is Tall Clubs International and the Portland Skyliners Tall Club.  

Finding the Tall Clubs was such an important and impactful part of Shelley’s life.  She remembers attending Grant High School and learning about TCI/Skyliners when she was 14 years old.  She couldn’t wait until she was old enough to join.  She had gained most of her height in her teen years and was still growing.  Her parents were not tall and were not fully tuned into the challenges she was experiencing.

Shelley’s platform, while she holds the Miss TI title, is to encourage dialogue around tall teen concerns and create more awareness.  It’s still a need, today, despite the growing number of tall teens and social media.  Club members often express there is nothing like physically standing eye to eye with tall peers; sharing experiences, not feeling like your head and shoulders above the rest, and not having to answer questions such as “how tall are you?”, “how’s the air up there” or “do you play basketball”?  to name a few.  

For more information, or to arrange an appearance or interview with Miss Tall International®2023, please e-mail Sheryl Lutz at sheryl@sheryllutz.com 

Past Miss Tall International® Winners

MISS TIP TOPPER OF 1947
1947 Grace Tattu California Tip Toppers

QUEEN OF HEIGHT
1948 Marie Van Leuven Tall Girls’ Club of Chicago
1949 Helen Lukacs Tall Girls’ Club of Chicago
1950 Adrienne Hatch Tall Texans of Dallas
1951 Betty Lou Glavanic California Tip Toppers
1952 Sonia Smevik California Tip Toppers
1953 Ruth Murphy Boston High Hubbers
1954 Joan Van Paramount Tall Club of Chicago
1955 Ramona Chalecki Tall Girls’ Club of Chicago
1956 Frances Chadwick California Tip Toppers

MISS TALL AMERICA
1957 Marianne Feagan California Tip Toppers
1958 Shirley Thaxton High Cincinnatians
1959 Martine Whitford Los Angeles Higher Ups
1960 Connie Adams Atlanta Sky-Hi Club

MISS TALL USA
1961 Joyce Nilsson Tall Girls’ Club of Chicago
1962 Kathy Tiefenbach Tip Toppers Club of Detroit
1963 Carol Dettman Milwaukee Toppers, LTD
1964 Kathleen Wiswall Timberline Club of Denver

MISS TALL NORTH AMERICA
1965 Suzanne Baughman Portland Skyliners
1966 Adria Easton Timberline Club of Denver

MISS TALL UNIVERSE
1967 Sherry Youmans Timberline Club of Denver
1968 Carol Neefe San Fernando Valley Tip Toppers
1969 Linda Sue Frantz Toledo Tip Toppers
1970 Pamela Bissinger San Fernando Valley Tip Toppers
1971 Elaine McLendon Tall Texans of Dallas
1972 Tara Sheldon Tip Toppers of Washington, D.C.
1973 Beverly Horne Atlanta Sky-Hi Club

​MISS TALL INTERNATIONAL®
1974 Gail Frantz Tall Texans of Dallas
1975 Leslie Valstad Golden Gate Tip Toppers
1976 Antoinette Mals High Cincinnatians
1977 Jeannie Connell Florida Skyliners of Miami
1978 Roxanne Pasquarella Florida Skyliners of Miami
1979 Carol Glasgow Tower Club of Philadelphia
1980 Kathy Hindman  Atlanta Sky-Hi Club
1981 Patricia Meier Golden Gate Tip Toppers
1982 Susan L. Kennedy Towering Texans of Houston
1983 Cynthia Lou Smith Tip Toppers of Washington, D.C.
1984 Anna Mary Rowen Atlanta Sky-Hi Club
1985 Trish Burda Towering Texans of Houston
1986 Rochelle Yuga Towering Texans of Houston
1987 Doreen Christian Golden Gate Tip Toppers
1988 Susan LaPierre Tower Club of Philadelphia
1989 Carolyn Coyne Paramount Tall Club of Chicago
1990 Jane Phillips Towering Texans of Houston
1990 Roberta Holler Saint Louis Tip Toppers
1991 Rose Carnduff Toronto Towers Tall Club
1992 Jan Bielefeldt Tall Texans of Dallas
1993 Jill Viglione Golden Gate Tip Toppers
1994 Carol Hudson Towering Texans of Houston
1995 Kira Anthofer Central California Coast Tall Club
1996 Norma Forrest Tall Club of Toronto
1997 Rissa Dodson California Tip Toppers Club
1998 Suzanne Stavast California Tip Toppers Club
1999 Janet Hughes Towering Texans of Houston
2000 Jerelyn R. Shields Timberline Tall Club of Denver
2001 Karen Harper Towering Texans of Houston
2001 Amy Storm Tall Texans of Dallas
2002 Kristen A. Carlson Boston Beanstalks
2003 Joan E. Jacobs Boston Beanstalks
2004 Nancy L. Jacoby Sarasota Tall Sunsations
2005 Lisa Lightner Baltimore Tall Club
2006 Annette Chionilos Boston Beanstalks
2007 Jane Baldwin Portland Skyliners
2008 Billie Jean Morrison San Francisco Tip Toppers
2009 Holli Jennings Portland Skyliners
2010 Joy Dawson Tall Club of Washington DC
2011 Talisha Tolliver Tall Club of Diamond Valley Lake
2012 Jenny Kosiec New Orleans Tall Club
2013 Valerie Ahrens Paramount Tall Club of Chicago
2014 Hannah Eko Tall Club of New York City
2015 Erica Kathleen Hand Portland Skyliners 
2016 Lauren Bath Sea to Sky Peaks
2018 Sheryl Kay Lutz Portland Skyliners
2019 Susan W. Hopkins Tall Club of Orange County  
2021 Donna Stocker Sea 2 Sky Peaks
2022 Mary Elemen Central Arizona Tall Society
2023 Shelley Sage Portland Skyliners