The Miss South Dakota USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of South Dakota in the Miss USA pageant. From 2002 until 2024, Minnesota-based Future Productions produced the pageant. In 2025, KPC Productions became the new production company for the pageant.
South Dakota has placed five times. One notable Miss South Dakota USA was Vanessa Short Bull (2000), one of the first Native Americans to compete at Miss USA. Short Bull was also Miss South Dakota 2002. South Dakota's best placement in the competition was Madison Nipe placing in the top five in 2018.
The current titleholder is Lexus Paulson of Sioux Falls who was crowned on May 30, 2026 at the Franklin Center in Des Moines. She will represent South Dakota at Miss USA 2026.
Gallery of titleholders
Results summary Top 5: Madison Nipe (2018) Top 10/12: Debra Ann Brickley (1974), Madison McKeown (2016) Top 15/16: Helen Youngquist (1958), Caroline Pettey (2021)
South Dakota holds a record of 5 placements at Miss USA.
Winners Color key
Year Name HometownAge Local title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes 2026 Lexus Paulson Sioux Falls 28 Miss Southeast SD 2025 Megan Hiykel Brookings 20 Miss SDSU 2024 Ahmitara Alwal Sioux Falls 25 Miss Southern SD 2023 Amber Hulse Hot Springs 25 Miss Black Hills Previously Miss South Dakota 2019-2020 2022 Shania Ann Knutson Viborg 21 Miss Brookings County Previously Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2018, later temporarily suspended from the title for pending charges of thefting 2021 Caroline Pettey Rapid City 26 Miss Rapid City Top 16 Previously Miss Alabama Teen United States 2013 2020 Kalani Jorgensen Sioux Falls 25Previously Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2012 Longest reigning Miss South Dakota USA at 2019 Abigail Mae Merschman Sioux Falls 22 2018 Madison Maricie Nipe Madison 21 Top 5 2017 Tessa Elizabeth Dee Mitchell 25 Previously Miss South Dakota 2013 2016 Madison Marie McKeown Sioux Falls 20 Top 10 Previously Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2014 2015 Lexy Kristine Schenk Irene 20 Previously Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2011 2014 Brittney Palmer Brookings 25 2013 Jessica Albers Yankton 26 2012 Taylor Neisen Rapid City 20 2011 Chandra Rae Burnham Highmore 23 2010 Emily Anne Miller Irene 21 2009 Jessica Rowell Sioux Falls 22 2008 Charlie Buhler Mitchell 19 2007 Suzie Heffernan Brookings 20 2006 Alexis LeVan Sioux Falls 19 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2008 2005 Jessica Lea Fjerstad Madison 20 Previously Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2002 2004 Andrea Parliament Brandon 20 2003 Jessica Kate Lawrence Brookings 25 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2001 2002 Sitania Sue Syrovatka Sioux Falls 2001 Beth Lovro Sioux Falls 2000 Vanessa Shortbull Rapid City 21 Later Miss South Dakota 2002 1999 Shawna Gross Huron 24 1998 Lori O'Brien Rapid City 1997 Jamie Marie Swenson Sioux Falls 25 1996 Caresa Winters Huron 20 1995 Jenny Snobeck Sioux Falls 1994 Tabetha Mauck Mobridge Previously Miss South Dakota Teen USA 1991 1993 Kara Rovere Sturgis 1992 Shawn Christine Frerichs Sioux Falls 1991 Jillayne Fossum Canton Previously Miss South Dakota Teen USA 1988 1990 Valerie Sejnoha Sioux Falls 1989 Nanette Enders Watertown 1988 Sandi Lynn Fix Sioux Falls 21 1987 Jana Van Woudenberg Canton 18 1986 Lori Scumacher Sioux Falls 1985 Stacey Arnold Rapid City 21 1984 Donna Smith Box Elder 20 1983 Kelly Rosenbaum Elk Point 19 Miss Clay County 1982 Meaghen Marie North Sioux Falls 19 1981 Joan Abbott Irene 19 1980 Jane Schmidt Flandreau 25 1979 Noele de Saint Gall Garretson 25 1978 Nadene Oppold Sioux Falls 1977 Ginger Thomson Sioux Falls 1976 Dorothy Kay Westphal Sioux Falls Miss Congeniality (tie) 1975 Lanette Rabenberg Sioux Falls 1974 Debra Ann Brickley Sioux Falls Semi-finalist 1973 Rebecca Bunkers Brookings 1972 Kathleen "Kathey" Bakke DeSmet 1971 Sonia Hart Sioux Falls 1970 Cynthia Finley Sturgis 1969 Mary Catherine Bergen Sioux Falls 1968 Byrean Blacksmith Sioux Falls 1967 Patricia Marshall Rapid City 1962-1966 Did not compete 1961 Sharon Hoffman 1960 Patricia Ann Klith Sioux Falls 1959 Jeannine Kay Stratton Sioux Falls 19 1958 Helen Youngquist Sioux Falls 20 Semi-finalist 1957 Gay Marshall Sioux Falls 19 1956 Did not compete 1955 Phyllis Elaine Choquette Jefferson 19 1954 Barbara Ann Brown Sioux Falls 18 1953 Kathleen Herman Bowdle 18 1952 Marlene Margaret Rieb Parkston 20 withdrew
References
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