Miss South Dakota USA


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], one of the first Native Americans in the [United States|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 Megan Hiykel of Brookings who was crowned on August 8, 2025 at the Franklin Center in Des Moines. She represented South Dakota at Miss USA 2025.
WWW Official Site

Results summary

  • Top 5: Madison Nipe
  • Top 10/12: Debra Ann Brickley, Madison McKeown
  • Top 15/16: Helen Youngquist, Caroline Pettey
South Dakota holds a record of 5 placements at Miss USA.

Winners

;Color key
YearNameHometownAgeLocal titlePlacement at Miss USASpecial awards at Miss USANotes
2025Megan HiykelBrookings20Miss SDSU
2024Ahmitara AlwalSioux Falls25Miss Southern South Dakota
2023Amber HulseHot Springs25Miss Black Hills
2022Shania KnutsonViborg21Miss Brookings County
  • Previously Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2018
    • 2021Caroline PetteyRapid City26Miss Rapid CityTop 16
  • Previously Miss Alabama Teen United States 2013
    • 2020Kalani JorgensenSioux Falls25
  • Previously Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2012
  • Longest reigning Miss South Dakota USA at
    • 2019Abigail MerschmanSioux Falls22
    2018Madison NipeMadison21Top 5
    2017Tessa DeeMitchell25
  • Previously Miss South Dakota 2013
    • 2016Madison McKeownSioux Falls20Top 10
  • Previously Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2014
    • 2015Lexy SchenkIrene20
  • Previously Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2011
    • 2014Brittney PalmerBrookings25
    2013Jessica AlbersYankton26
    2012Taylor NeisenRapid City20
    2011Chandra BurnhamHighmore23
    2010Emily MillerIrene21
    2009Jessica RowellSioux Falls22
    2008Charlie BuhlerMitchell19
    2007Suzie HeffernanBrookings20
    2006Alexis LeVanSioux Falls19Contestant at National Sweetheart 2008
    2005Jessica FjerstadMadison20
  • Previously Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2002
    • 2004Andrea ParliamentBrandon20
    2003Jessica LawrenceBrookings25Contestant at National Sweetheart 2001
    2002Sitania SyrovatkaSioux Falls
    2001Beth LovroSioux Falls
    2000Vanessa Short BullRapid City
  • Future Miss South Dakota 2002
    • 1999Shawna GrossHuron
    1998Lori O'BrienRapid City
    1997Jamie SwensonSioux Falls25
    1996Caresa WintersHuron20
    1995Jenny SnobeckSioux Falls
    1994Tabetha MauckMobridge
  • Previously Miss South Dakota Teen USA 1991
    • 1993Kara RovereSturgis
    1992Shawn FrerichsSioux Falls
    1991Jillayne FossumCanton
  • Previously Miss South Dakota Teen USA 1988
    • 1990Valerie SejnohaSioux Falls
    1989Nanette EndersWatertown
    1988Sandi Lynn FixSioux Falls
    1987Jana Van WoudenbergCanton17
    1986Lori ScumacherSioux Falls
    1985Stacey ArnoldRapid City
    1984Donna SmithBox Elder
    1983Kelly RosenbaumElk Point
    1982Meaghan NorthSioux Falls
    1981Joan AbbottIrene
    1980Jane SchmidtFlandreau
    1979Noele de Saint GallGarretson
    1978Nadene OppoldSioux Falls
    1977Ginger ThomsonSioux Falls
    1976Dorothy WestphalSioux FallsMiss Congeniality
    1975Lanette RabenbergSioux Falls
    1974Debra Ann BrickleySioux FallsSemi-finalist
    1973Rebecca BunkersBrookings
    1972Kathleen BakkeDeSmet
    1971Sonia HartSioux Falls
    1970Cynthia FinleySturgis
    1969Mary BergenSioux Falls
    1968Byrean BlacksmithSioux Falls
    1967Patricia MarshallRapid City
    1962-1966Did not compete
    1961Sharon Hoffman
    1960Patricia Klith
    1959Jeannine Stratton
    1958Helen YoungquistSemi-finalist
    1957Gay Marshall
    1956Did not compete
    1955Phyllis Choquette
    1954Barbara Ann Brown
    1953Kathleen Herman
    1952Marlene M. Riebwithdrew