The Miss South Dakota competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the U.S. state of South Dakota in the Miss America pageant.

When Alaska won the Miss America 2022 title, South Dakota is one of the few states along with Maine, West Virginia and Wyoming that has yet to win a Miss America, Miss USA, or Miss Teen USA title.

Kianna Healy of Hartford was crowned Miss South Dakota on May 30, 2026, at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center on the campus of South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. She competed for the title of Miss America 2027 on September 6, 2026, at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Results summary The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss South Dakota titleholders at the national Miss America pageants/competitions. The year in parentheses indicates the year of the national competition during which a placement and/or award was garnered, not the year attached to the contestant's state title.

Placements 1st runners-up: Irene O'Connor (1951) Top 10: Marlene Rieb (1952), Mary Harum (1971), Barbara Guthmiller (1975) Top 15: Alexandra Hoffman (2009)

Awards Preliminary awards Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Marlene Rieb (1952) Preliminary Talent: Irene O'Connor (1951), Delores Jerde (1954)

Non-finalist awards Non-finalist Talent: Delores Jerde (1954), Ann McKay (1969), Karen Janousek (1978), Julie Kleinsasser (1980), Sara Frankenstein (1999)

Other awards Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship: Angela Casey (1994), Kimberlee McKay (1996) Social Impact Initiative Scholarship Award 2nd runners-up: Amber Hulse (2020) Women in Business Scholarship Award Winners: Carrie Wintle (2019) Women in STEM Finalists: Hunter Widvey (2023)

Winners

Year Name Hometown Age Local Title Miss America Talent Placement at Miss America Special scholarships at Miss America Notes2026 Kianna Healy Hartford 23 Miss Sioux Falls Vocal Previously Miss South Dakota's Outstanding Teen 20212025 Jamee Katner Huron 21 Miss Siouxland Vocal 2024 Joelle Simpson Rapid City 20 Miss Rolling Plains Harp, "Swan Lake Harp Cadenza" Daughter of Miss South Dakota Teen USA 1986 Valerie Marsden2023 Miranda O'Bryan Martin 25 Miss Missouri River Vocal, “Blank Space” 2022Hunter WidveyRapid City23Miss HuronVocal, "Feelin' Good"Women in STEM FinalistPreviously Miss South Dakota's Outstanding Teen 20162021Kaitlin O'NeillGroton24Miss Dakota PlainsContemporary Dance, "Bad Guy" by Eklipse2019–20 Amber Hulse Hot Springs20Miss State Fair Piano Social Impact Initiative Scholarship Award 2nd runner-upLater Miss South Dakota USA 20232018Carrie WintleIroquois23Piano, "The Final Countdown"Women in Business Scholarship AwardPreviously Miss South Dakota's Outstanding Teen 20082017 Miranda Mack Redfield 21 Miss South Dakota State University Operatic Vocal, "Habanera" from Carmen 2016 Julia Olson Sioux Falls 23 Miss Missouri Valley Vocal Contestant at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant2015 Autumn Simunek Hot Springs 22 Miss Oahe Vocal, "Glitter and Be Gay" Previously Miss South Dakota's Outstanding Teen 2007Contestant at National Sweetheart 2012 pageant2014 Meridith Gould Sioux Falls 19 Miss Lake Alvin Lyrical Dance, "You Raise Me Up" Previously Miss South Dakota's Outstanding Teen 2012Later Miss Minnesota USA 20172nd runner-up at Miss USA 2017 pageant2013 Tessa Dee Mitchell 22 Miss Gold Rush Gymnastics Dance, "Bad" Later Miss South Dakota USA 20172012 Calista Kirby Brookings 23 Miss Rushmore Tumbling, "Hot Honey Rag" from Chicago2011 Anna Simpson Rapid City 21 Miss Rolling Plains Piano, Theme from Pirates of the Caribbean2010 Loren Vaillancourt Huron 20 Miss Hub City Gymnastics/Dance, "Cinema Italiano" from Nine 2009 Morgan Peck Sioux Falls 20 Miss USD Vocal, "My Simple Christmas Wish" 2008 Alexandra Hoffman Eureka 20 Miss South Dakota State University Vocal, "Even Now" Top 15 Sister of Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2008, Elizabeth HoffmanPreviously Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2006On Miss America: Countdown to the Crown, received a "Golden Sash" during the third episode, securing a spot in the Top 15 2007 Kate Wismer Britton 22 Miss South Dakota State Fair Classical Vocal, "The Doll Song" from The Tales of Hoffmann 2006 Callee Bauman Huron 21 Miss South Dakota State University Vocal, "Journey to the Past" 2005 Nikki Grandpre Pierre 23 Miss Sioux Empire Vocal, "Shy" from Once Upon a Mattress Contestant at National Sweetheart 2003 pageant 2004 Kyra Korver Mitchell 23 Miss Black Hills Gold Classical Vocal, "Con te partirò" 2003 Sara Seever Custer 21 Miss Rushmore Vocal / Dance, "The Music And the Mirror" from A Chorus Line 2002 Vanessa Short Bull Rapid City 23 Miss State Fair Ballet en Pointe, "The Dying Swan" Previously Miss South Dakota USA 2000 2001 Alecia Zuehlke Britton 23 Miss Great Plains Piano, "My Tribute" by Andraé Crouch 2000 Nicole Nigg Sisseton 24 Miss Western Plains Vocal, "When I Look At You" from The Scarlet Pimpernel 1999 Trisha Haroldson Bruce 22 Miss Dakota Rose Classical Vocal, "Adele's Laughing Song" from Die Fledermaus 1998 Sara Frankenstein Tulare 23 Miss Heartland Vocal, "In His Eyes" from Jekyll & Hyde Non-finalist Talent Award 1997 Shantel Swedlund Arlington 24Miss State Fair Alto Saxophone Former chairwoman of the Miss America Organization Board of Directors 1996 Stephanie Camp Rapid City 20 Vocal, "I Am Changing" 1995 Kimberlee McKay Belle Fourche 22 Miss University of South Dakota Flute, "Carmen Fantasy" Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship 1994 Kristi Bauer Brookings 23 Miss State Fair Interpretive Ballet 1993 Angela Casey Rapid City 24 Miss Rushmore Popular Vocal Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship 1992 Leslie Saunders Dakota Dunes 21 Miss East River Classical Vocal, "O Mio Fernando" from La favorite 1991 Melissa Brown Rapid City 22 Miss Rapid City Vocal, "Crazy" 1990 Jennifer Palmquist Wilmot 21 Miss State Fair Dramatic Monologue 1989 Dawn Strunk Irene 20 Miss Sioux Empire Piano 1988 Kathryn Barnes Sioux Falls 22 Miss Sioux Falls Vocal, "Miss Celie's Blues" from The Color Purple 1987 Najla Ghazi Brookings 19Miss South Dakota State University Oral Interpretations 1986 Julie Hedin Watertown 21 Flute 1985 Amy DeHeer Hot Springs 21Miss State Fair Vocal, "Who Will Buy?" from Oliver! 1984 Debra Cleveland Madison 19 Classical Piano 1983 LaRonda Lundin Revillo 20 Miss South Dakota State University Classical Piano, "Polichinelle" by Sergei Rachmaninoff 1982 Tara Meyerink Platte 19 Miss Mitchell Classical Piano, "Beethoven's Sonata No. 6, Opus 10" 1981 Pennisue Largent Hot Springs 22 Miss Hot Springs Vocal & Jazz Dance, "Misty" 1980 Carol Barnett Sioux Falls 18 Miss Sioux Falls Vocal, "Money Tree" selected as a Miss America USO Troupe member 1979 Julie Kleinsasser Freeman 19 Miss State Fair Popular Vocal, "Cry" Non-finalist Talent Award 1978 Jennifer Holt Mitchell 20 Miss Mitchell Vocal, "Spanish Rose" Founder and lead singer of Tetes Noires band 1977 Karen Janousek Rapid City 22 Miss Rapid City Classical Piano, "Prelude in C Minor" Non-finalist Talent Award 1976 Beth Guthmiller Tripp 21 Miss South Dakota State University/Brookings Vocal, "My Tribute" Younger sister of Miss South Dakota 1974, Barbara Guthmiller 1975 Gina Campbell Canton 21 Miss University of South Dakota Vocal, "Listen to a Country Song" 1974 Barbara Guthmiller Tripp 21 Miss Yankton College Vocal, "Summertime" Top 10 Older sister of Miss South Dakota 1976, Beth GuthmillerContestant at National Sweetheart 1972 pageant 1973 Gwen Resick Clark 20 Miss South Dakota State University Dramatic Skit, "Aldonza" from Don Quixote 1972 Janet Hunter Madison 20 Miss Madison Classical Piano, "Scherzo No. 3" by Chopin 1971 Susan Inman Hot Springs 19 Miss Hot Springs Original Dramatic Skit, "Ecology" Previously Miss South Dakota Teenager 1969 and top 8 in Miss American Teenager pageant 1970 Mary Harum Sioux Falls 19 Miss Sioux Falls Vocal Medley, "You've Made Me So Very Happy," "Something," & "Yesterday" Top 10 Co-host of Entertainment Tonight 1969 Nancy Nickelson Belle Fourche 20 Miss Black Hills State College Folk Singing & Guitar, "If I Had Wings" 1968 Ann McKay Vermillion 21 Miss Lead-Deadwood Dramatic Monologue from This Property Is Condemned Non-finalist Talent Award 1967 Sally Jo Iverson Brandon 20 Miss Sioux Falls Original Reading, "Tomorrow's Game" 1966 Deborah Molitor Vermillion 19 Miss University of South Dakota Popular Vocal & Contemporary Dance 1965 Nancy Sandwick Sioux Falls 19Miss Sioux Falls Vocal Medley, "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" & "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady 1964 June Ann Delbridge 19 Piano 1963 Heather Ann Paterson Watertown Miss Yankton College Ballet, Soft-Shoe, & Charleston Dance 1962 Charlean Fuhrman Mansfield 19 Miss Northern State Teachers College Vocal & Dramatic Act 1961 Rejean Bowar Faulkton 21 Miss South Dakota State College Piano, Vocal, & Narration of Original Monologue 1960 Janet Barber Britton 18 Miss Britton Dramatic Interpretation, "Casual Approach to Violence" 1959 Meredith Auld Yankton 18 Vocal Later married news anchor, Tom Brokaw 1958 Carolee Nelson Irene Drama 1957 Patricia Miller Mobridge Vocal 1956 Lois Paulson Vocal 1955 Connie White Canistota Piano 1954 Cleo Ann Harrington Colman Classical Vocal 1953 Delores Jerde Spearfish Piano Non-finalist Talent AwardPreliminary Talent Award 1952 Sandra Hart Huron Fire Baton Twirling 1951 Marlene Rieb Parkston Baton Twirling Top 10 Preliminary Swimsuit Award 1950 Irene O'Connor Burbank Dramatic Monologue, "Dedication of the White Armor" from Saint Joan 1st runner-up Preliminary Talent Award 1949 Carol Quinn Sioux Falls Dramatic Monologue from Pygmalion 1948 Myrna Clemenson Conde 1947 Roselyn Lea Anderson Saint Onge Piano, "'O Sole Mio" 1935-1946 No South Dakota representative at Miss America pageants 1934No national pageant was held 1933No South Dakota representative at Miss America pageant 1932No national pageants were held 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 Ramona Pearl Sorensen Lemmon 18 1926 Mary Davis 1925No South Dakota representative at Miss America pageants 1924 1923 1922 1921

Notes

References

External links Miss South Dakota official website