The Miss South Carolina USA competition, previously known as Miss South Carolina Universe, is the pageant that selects the representative for the state South Carolina in the Miss USA pageant, and the name of the title held by that winner. The pageant is produced by Paula Miles, the sister of Miss South Carolina USA 1979, Janice McDonald, from 1980 until 2024 under directed by RPM Productions. In 2025 and onwards, the pageant is now produced and directed by Ariana Blaize, Miss Universe Guyana 2024, under A Blaize Productions alongside the rest of former RPM states.
Miriam Stevenson, South Carolina's first Miss USA and the United States' first Miss Universe, was also the first Miss USA winner to have competed at Miss America. She was the first woman to have competed at Miss America, Miss USA, and Miss Universe. South Carolina's second Miss USA was Shawn Weatherly, who also went on to win Miss Universe.
Nine Miss South Carolina USAs have also held the Miss South Carolina Teen USA title and competed at Miss Teen USA. Two have also competed at Miss America.
Miss South Carolina USA titleholders have also competed at two other major international pageants. Gina Tolleson, first runner-up at Miss USA 1990, went on to win the Miss World crown that year, and Miss South Carolina USA 2004, Amanda Pennekamp, has also competed at the Miss Earth 2006 pageant where she made the top 16.
Victoria Vesce of Charleston was crowned Miss South Carolina USA 2026 on June 28, 2026, at The Spartanburg Marriott Hotel in Spartanburg. She will represent South Carolina for the title of Miss USA 2026.
Gallery of titleholders
Results summary Miss USAs: Miriam Stevenson (1954), Shawn Weatherly (1980), Lu Parker (1994) 1st runners-up: Mary Kemp Griffin (1953), Betty Cherry (1956), Vickie Chesser (1970), Gina Tolleson (1990), Amanda Pennekamp (2004) 2nd runners-up: Eva Engle (1969), Allison Grisso (1983), Audra Wallace (1992) 3rd runner-up: Virginia Murray (1976) 5th runner-up: Megan Pinckney (2013) Top 5/8: Lauren Poppell (1999), Courtney Turner (2011), Megan Gordon (2017), Marley Stokes (2021) Top 10/12: Susan Gordon (1972), Maribeth Curry (1986), April Abel (1988), Kelli Gosnell (1993), Lisa Rabon (2000), Ashley Williams (2002), Anna Hanks (2003), Lacie Lybrand (2006), Stephanie Murray Smith (2009), Christina Zapolski (2014) Top 15/16/19/20: Susan Anthony Day (1953), Sara Stone (1955), Jean Spotts (1957), Patricia Ann Moss (1958), Cecelia Yoder (1963), Vicki Harrison (1965), Ashley Zais (2007), Jamie Hill (2008), Erika Powell (2012), Leah Lawson (2016), Kirby Elizabeth Self (2023), Gracen Grainger (2024), Gallienne Nabila (2025), Victoria Vesce (2026)
South Carolina holds a record of 41 placements at Miss USA third overall behind Texas and California.
Awards Miss Congeniality: Kiki Kirkland (1973) Miss Photogenic: Sonja Glenn (1998) Best State Costume: Vicki Chesser (1970), Virginia Murray (1976) Best in Swimsuit: Lauren Poppell (1999)
Winners
Color key
Year Name HometownAge Local title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes 2026 Victoria Vesce Charleston 33 Miss Low Country Top 20 2025 Gallienne Nabila Greer 28 Miss Greer Top 20 2024 Gracen Grainger Clemson 22 Miss Golden Corner Top 20 Previously Miss South Carolina Teen USA 2020 Top 16 at Miss Teen USA 2020 2023 Kirby Elizabeth Self Greenwood 23 Miss Upstate Top 20 Previously Miss South Carolina Teen USA 2018 First Runner-Up at Miss Teen USA 2018 2022 Meera Bhonslé Lexington 25 Miss Upstate 2021 Marley Stokes Lexington 23 Miss Golden Corner Top 8 Previously Miss South Carolina Teen USA 2016 2nd runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2016 Later Miss Supranational USA 2026 2020 Hannah Jane Curry Greer 20 Miss Greenville 2019 MaKenzie DivinaAnderson 21 Miss Upstate Previously Miss South Carolina Teen United States 2016 2018 Victoria Carol "Tori" Sizemore Anderson 22 Miss Golden CornerPreviously Miss South Carolina Teen USA 2013 1st runner-up at Miss Teen USA 2013 Later Miss South Carolina Volunteer 2022 2017 Megan Gordon North Augusta 23 Miss Upstate Top 5 Later Miss South Carolina World 2019 Later 1st runner-up at Miss World America 2019 2016 Leah Lawson Laurens 21 Miss Mountain Lakes Top 15 Auditioned on American Idol season 14 and eliminated during Hollywood Week 2015 Sarah Weishuhn Goose Creek 20 Miss Summerville 2014 Christina Zapolski Charleston 22 Miss Isle of Palms Top 10 Contestant on Hunted 2013 Megan Tyler Pinckney North Charleston 21 Miss James Island 5th runner-up Previously Miss South Carolina Teen USA 2010 2012 Erika Grace Powell Greenville 26 Top 16Previously Miss South Carolina 2005 Top 10 at Miss America 2006 Former nanny of Hugh Jackman 2011 Courtney Hope Turner North Augusta 20 Top 8 Previously Miss United States Teen 2009 2010 Rachel Law Greenville 21 2009 Stephanie Murray Smith Goose Creek 21 Top 10 Contestant on The Amazing Race 17 2008 Jamie Hill Columbia 24 Top 15 Contestant on The Amazing Race 10 2007 Ashley Derham Zais Newberry 20 Top 15 Daughter of then Newberry College president Mick Zais 2006 Lacie Lyn Lybrand Lexington 23 Top 10 Miss United States 2002 2005 Sarah Ashley Medley North Charleston 18 Previously Miss South Carolina Teen USA 2001 2004 Amanda Helen Pennekamp Columbia 22 1st runner-up Later Miss Earth USA 2006 Top 16 semifinalist at Miss Earth 2006 2003 Anna Rebecca Hanks Belton 21 Top 10 Miss United States 2005 2002 Katherine Ashley Williams Little Mountain 20 Top 12 (6th) 2001 Candace Richards Fountain Inn 24 2000 Lisa Amy Rabon Myrtle Beach 21 Top 10 (9th) 1999 Lauren Poppell Rock Hill 23 Top 5 (4th) Best in Swimsuit Previously Miss South Carolina Teen USA 1993 Top 12 at Miss Teen USA 1993 1998 Sonja Glenn Chesnee 21 Miss Photogenic 1997 Casey Cristin Mizell Irmo 22 1996 Lysa Jackson Charleston 19 1995 Danielle Corley Lexington 23 1994 Frances Louise "Lu" Parker Charleston 26 Miss USA 1994 Top 6 finalist at Miss Universe 1994 1993 Kelli Gosnell Pacolet 22 Semi-finalist 1992 Audra Yolanda Wallace Charleston 22 2nd runner-up 2nd runner-up at Miss World USA 1993 1991 Traci Rufty Columbia 21 1990 Gina Marie Tolleson Spartanburg 20 1st Runner-up Later Miss World 1990 1989 Angela Christine Shuler Rock Hill 21 Second runner-up at Miss South Carolina Teen USA 1983 Previously Miss South Carolina Teen USA 1986 1988 April Abel Johnston 20 Semi-finalist 1987 Elizabeth "Beth" Woodard Aiken 21 Previously Miss South Carolina Teen USA 1983 1986 Maribeth Curry Mauldin 20 Semi-finalist 1985 Ann Margarete Hughes Charleston 1984 Ginger Greer Lugoff 1983 Margaret Allison Grisso Columbia 21 2nd Runner-up 1982 Margo Mechele Wood Columbia 1981 Zade Denise Turner Myrtle Beach 21 1980 Shawn Nichols Weatherly Sumter 20 Miss USA 1980 Miss Universe 1980 1979 Janice McDonald Myrtle Beach 20 Co-founder of RPM Productions with her sister Paula Miles 1978 Kathryn Marley Threatt Pickens 1977 Pam Hoover Florence 1976 Virginia Jan Murray Chester 3rd Runner-up Best Costume Flight attendant and survivor of United Airlines Flight 232 1975 Robin Ann Morris Greenville 1974 Carol Lynn Hollis Rock Hill 1973 Kiki Kirkland Newberry 21 Congeniality 1972 Eleanor Susan Gordon Rock Hill Semi-finalist Non-finalist at Miss World USA 1970 representing South Carolina 1971 Eunice Campbell Eastover 1970 Vickie Lynn Chesser Mt. Pleasant 19 1st Runner-up Best Costume 1969 Eva Engle Columbia 2nd Runner-up 1968 Kathryn "Kay" Knoy 1967 Lanette Hope Patterson Cayce 20 1966 Joselyn Jeanne Alarie Columbia 1965 Vicki Jean Harrison Lexington Top 15 1964 Judy Kennedy 1963 Cecelia McBride Yoder Top 15 Represented South Carolina in Miss USA World 1963 but did not place. 1962 Judy Clyburn 1961 Yvonne Quick 1960 Margaret Ann Thompson 1959 Mary Ann Powell 1958 Patricia Ann Moss Semi-finalist 1957 Jean Spotts Semi-finalist 1956 Betty Lane Cherry Columbia 1st Runner-up 1st runner-up at Miss World 1956. 1955 Sara Ella Stone Semi-finalist 1954 Miriam Jacqueline Stevenson Winnsboro 20 Miss USA 1954 Miss Universe 1954 Previously Miss South Carolina 1953 1953 Mary Kemp Griffin 1st runner-up She competed as Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, represented the US at Miss World 1953, and finished as 5th runner-up Susan Anthony Day Semi-finalist 1952 Margie Allen
References
External links Official website