# Nicole Johnson (Miss California USA)
**Nicole Michele Johnson** is an American former pageant titleholder who won Miss California USA 2010 and placed as a Top 10 semi-finalist at [Miss USA](https://www.edgepedia.org/miss-usa) 2010. She is also known publicly as the wife of Olympic swimmer [Michael Phelps](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-phelps), whom she married in 2016, and she now serves as president of the Michael Phelps Foundation.[1](https://www.pageantupdate.info/almanac/miss-usa-2010/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4935544/bio/) • [3](https://www.documentarytube.com/blog/who-is-michael-phelps-wife-all-about-nicole-johnson-phelps/) She should not be confused with Nicole Johnson, Miss America 1999, a diabetes advocate from Virginia who is a different person.[4](https://prabook.com/web/nicole.johnson/2102354)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Nicole Michele Johnson[1](https://www.pageantupdate.info/almanac/miss-usa-2010/) |
| State title | Miss California USA 2010, crowned November 22, 2009 at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort in Rancho Mirage[5](https://archive.vcstar.com/news/miss-california-ready-to-reign-ep-370336648-350330471.html) |
| Earlier state results | 1st runner-up at Miss California USA 2007; Top 15 in 2008[6](https://www.pageantupdate.info/state-results/california/) |
| Miss USA 2010 | Top 10 semi-finalist at the 59th Miss USA pageant in Las Vegas, May 16, 2010, competing as a 24-year-old from Westlake Village[1](https://www.pageantupdate.info/almanac/miss-usa-2010/) |
| Marriage | Married to Michael Phelps since June 13, 2016; four children[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4935544/bio/) |
| Education | Westlake High School class of 2003; University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism, graduated with honors[7](https://wmlifestyle.com/Back_Issues/2021/WML_AUGUST_SEPT_2021.pdf) |
| Current role | President of the Michael Phelps Foundation[3](https://www.documentarytube.com/blog/who-is-michael-phelps-wife-all-about-nicole-johnson-phelps/) |
## Pageant career
Johnson competed at Miss California USA three times before winning. At the 2007 pageant, won by [Meagan Tandy](https://www.edgepedia.org/meagan-tandy), she finished as first runner-up, with Raquel Beezley second runner-up.[8](https://www.pageantplanet.com/event/miss-california-usa-miss-california-teen-usa-2007) She placed in the Top 15 in 2008, then won the 2010 title on November 22, 2009 in Rancho Mirage.[6](https://www.pageantupdate.info/state-results/california/) • [5](https://archive.vcstar.com/news/miss-california-ready-to-reign-ep-370336648-350330471.html) In her winning year, Nana Meriwether was first runner-up and Nia Sanchez second runner-up; both later held the Miss USA title.[6](https://www.pageantupdate.info/state-results/california/)
At the Miss USA 2010 pageant, held at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on May 16, 2010, Johnson was one of the Top 10 semi-finalists; Rima Fakih of Michigan won the title.[1](https://www.pageantupdate.info/almanac/miss-usa-2010/) • [9](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/miss-michigan-usa-crowned-miss-usa-2010-during-live-nbc-telecast-93903784.html) She transferred her state crown to [Alyssa Campanella](https://www.edgepedia.org/alyssa-campanella) in 2011, an event Phelps attended.[10](https://www.ibtimes.com/who-nicole-johnson-michael-phelps-fiancee-6-facts-she-cheers-usa-2016-rio-olympics-2398824)
## Education and early work
Johnson grew up in [Westlake Village, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/westlake-village-california), and graduated from Westlake High School in 2003, where she was on the dance team and later a cheerleader.[7](https://wmlifestyle.com/Back_Issues/2021/WML_AUGUST_SEPT_2021.pdf) She earned her place at the [University of Southern California](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-southern-california)'s Annenberg School of Communication and [Journalism](https://www.edgepedia.org/journalism) and graduated with honors, then began a career in marketing.[7](https://wmlifestyle.com/Back_Issues/2021/WML_AUGUST_SEPT_2021.pdf) • [11](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/international-sports/who-is-michael-phelps-wife-inside-nicole-johnsons-life-and-their-family-story/articleshow/124398832.cms) Around the time she met Phelps, she worked at ESPN, where she escorted athletes on the red carpet at the 2007 ESPY Awards and was assigned to Phelps.[11](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/international-sports/who-is-michael-phelps-wife-inside-nicole-johnsons-life-and-their-family-story/articleshow/124398832.cms)
## Relationship with Michael Phelps
Johnson and Phelps met at the 2007 ESPY Awards and dated on and off for roughly eight years, with breakups along the way; TIME reported the couple began dating in 2009 and broke up in 2012 before reuniting.[11](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/international-sports/who-is-michael-phelps-wife-inside-nicole-johnsons-life-and-their-family-story/articleshow/124398832.cms) • [12](https://time.com/3717812/michael-phelps-engaged/) Phelps announced their engagement on Instagram in February 2015.[12](https://time.com/3717812/michael-phelps-engaged/) Their son Boomer was born in 2016, and reports surfaced that the two had officially married in June 2016; they held a beachside ceremony in [Cabo San Lucas](https://www.edgepedia.org/cabo-san-lucas), Mexico, that October.[13](https://time.com/4551346/michael-phelps-wedding-photo/) IMDb records the marriage date as June 13, 2016, and lists four children: Boomer Robert, Beckett Richard, Maverick Nicholas, and Nico Michael Phelps.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4935544/bio/) Johnson appeared with Boomer in the bleachers at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where the infant's Instagram following drew wide attention.[14](https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/q-and-a/a63435/nicole-johnson-olympics-interview/)
## Later work
The Michael Phelps Foundation lists Johnson as its president, working alongside her husband on programs involving water safety, mental wellness, healthy living, and youth development.[3](https://www.documentarytube.com/blog/who-is-michael-phelps-wife-all-about-nicole-johnson-phelps/) She has also appeared in lifestyle and fashion media, including a 2021 cover story in Westlake Malibu Lifestyle and features in EXOTIC Fashion Magazine.[7](https://wmlifestyle.com/Back_Issues/2021/WML_AUGUST_SEPT_2021.pdf) • [15](https://www.califashionweek.com/post/from-miss-california-usa-to-michael-phelps-wife-nicole-johnson-in-exotic-fashionmagazine)
## References
1. [Miss USA 2010 Almanac, Pageant Update](https://www.pageantupdate.info/almanac/miss-usa-2010/)
2. [Nicole Phelps Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4935544/bio/)
3. [Who Is Michael Phelps' Wife? All About Nicole Johnson Phelps, DocumentaryTube](https://www.documentarytube.com/blog/who-is-michael-phelps-wife-all-about-nicole-johnson-phelps/)
4. [Nicole Johnson (Miss America 1999) profile, Prabook](https://prabook.com/web/nicole.johnson/2102354)
5. [Miss California ready to reign, Ventura County Star](https://archive.vcstar.com/news/miss-california-ready-to-reign-ep-370336648-350330471.html)
6. [Miss California USA and Miss California Teen USA results, Pageant Update](https://www.pageantupdate.info/state-results/california/)
7. [Nicole Phelps cover story, Westlake Malibu Lifestyle, August/September 2021](https://wmlifestyle.com/Back_Issues/2021/WML_AUGUST_SEPT_2021.pdf)
8. [Miss California USA & Miss California Teen USA 2007, Pageant Planet](https://www.pageantplanet.com/event/miss-california-usa-miss-california-teen-usa-2007)
9. [Miss Michigan USA Crowned MISS USA 2010, PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/miss-michigan-usa-crowned-miss-usa-2010-during-live-nbc-telecast-93903784.html)
10. [Who Is Nicole Johnson, Michael Phelps' Fiancée? 6 Facts, International Business Times](https://www.ibtimes.com/who-nicole-johnson-michael-phelps-fiancee-6-facts-she-cheers-usa-2016-rio-olympics-2398824)
11. [Who is Michael Phelps' wife? Inside Nicole Johnson's life and their family story, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/international-sports/who-is-michael-phelps-wife-inside-nicole-johnsons-life-and-their-family-story/articleshow/124398832.cms)
12. [Michael Phelps Just Got Engaged to Former Miss California USA, TIME](https://time.com/3717812/michael-phelps-engaged/)
13. [Michael Phelps and Nicole Johnson Share Photos of Their Wedding Ceremony Bliss, TIME](https://time.com/4551346/michael-phelps-wedding-photo/)
14. [Nicole Johnson Talks Boomer's Instagram, Ryan Lochte, and Her Future With Michael Phelps, Cosmopolitan](https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/q-and-a/a63435/nicole-johnson-olympics-interview/)
15. [From Miss California USA to Michael Phelps' Wife: Nicole Johnson in EXOTIC FashionMagazine, California Fashion Week](https://www.califashionweek.com/post/from-miss-california-usa-to-michael-phelps-wife-nicole-johnson-in-exotic-fashionmagazine)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Food, customs, and everyday culture › Beauty pageants and titleholders › Beauty pageant titleholders › National pageant titleholders*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license