BROOKINGS — Twenty young women from across the state will showcase their talents, public speaking skills, fitness, poise and stage presence in the 78th annual Miss South Dakota competition, taking place in Brookings on May 29-31.

Ranging in age from 19 to 26 and representing hometowns from throughout the state, they will compete for over $54,000 in cash and scholarships and the role of Miss South Dakota. The new Miss South Dakota will take home at least $13,000 in scholarships and awards and will represent South Dakota at the Miss America competition in September.

The preliminary competitions will be 6:30 p.m. May 29 and May 30. The final competition will take place at 6:30 p.m. May 31. The Miss South Dakota’s Teen competition will be held in conjunction with the Miss competition on Thursday and Friday evenings, with the new Miss South Dakota’s Teen being crowned at the conclusion of Friday’s event.

All competitions will take place at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center on the South Dakota State University campus in Brookings. The competition finals on Saturday will be available on livestream. Ticket information for in-person events, as well as the livestream, is available here.

The pageant will feature Joelle Simpson, Miss South Dakota 2024. Joelle represented South Dakota at the Miss America competition in January 2025 in Orlando, Florida. She spent the year advocating for her community service initiative, “Nurturing Nature” and playing her harp at numerous appearances around the state.

The candidates will be judged on a private interview with the judges (30%), talent/HER Story (20%), health and fitness (20%) evening gown (20%) and on-stage conversation (10%).

The young women competing are (name, age, title, hometown, talent, and community service initiative):

• Adrian Gruis, 19, Miss Rushmore, Onida, Talent: Vocal, Community Service Initiative: Love is Safe

• Emily Deinken, 26, Miss Brookings, Sioux Falls, Talent: Flute, Community service initiative: Advocate for Educators

• Jamee Kattner, 21, Miss Siouxland, Huron, Talent: Vocal, Community service initiative: Melodies of Joy: Music's Power to Inspire

• Javonte Madsen, 21, Miss Dakota Prairie, Rapid City, Talent: Vocal/Ukulele, Community service initiative: Common Ground

• Jenisha Gurung, 19, Miss USD, Sioux Falls, Talent: Semi Classical Kathak Dancing, Community service initiative: Putting a Period on Period Poverty

• Jensine Matson, 21, Miss Huron, Ramona, Talent: HER Story, Community service initiative: Speak Your Power: Childhood Trauma Awareness

• Jordan Wagner, 20, Miss State Fair, Bridgeport, NE, Talent: HER Story, Community service initiative: Agriyouth: Growing Our Future

• Julia Stanek, 21, Miss Hot Springs, Sioux Falls. Talent: HER Story, Community service initiative: Fueling South Dakota: Eliminating Hunger

• Katie Milbrandt, 23, Miss Rolling Plains, Hudson, Wisconsin. Talent: Gymnastics, Community service initiative: Speak Up: Stopping the Stigma by Starting the Conversation

• Kianna Healy, 22, Miss Black Hills, Hartford. Talent: Vocal, Community service initiative: Dare to Speak

• Lilly Mae Blume, 19, Miss Central States Fair, Redfield. Talent: Broadway dance, Community service initiative: Becoming the SHE.E.O of your life after depression

• Megan Rezac, 21, Miss Railroad Junction, Papillion, Nebraska, Talent: Vocal, Community Service Initiative: Bridging the Gap: Building Accessible Communities

• Natalie Biegler, 20, Miss Hub City, Timber Lake, Talent: Unicycle/Monologue, Community Service Initiative: Career Catalyst: Launching Young People into their Futures

• Olivia Granaas, 23, Miss Sioux Falls, Vermillion, Talent: Dance, Community service initiative: Ears For Education

• Olivia Walz, 20, Miss Fall River Balloon Festival, Mitchell, Talent: HER Story, Community service initiative: You Are Not Alone: A Journey of Hope, Healing, and Empowerment

• Payton Steffensen, 22, Miss Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Talent: Musical Theatre Acro Dance, Community service initiative: Networthing: Save, Invest, Soar

• Rylin Yerdon, 22, Miss McCrory Gardens, Harrisburg, Talent: Vocal, Community service initiative: Pursuing Success: Women Belong in Business

• Sydney Morgan, 20, Miss SDSU, Hot Springs, Talent: Vocal, Community service initiative: Community at Heart: Connecting Generations

• Sydney VanDen-Hemel, 19, Miss Pride of the Dakotas, Sioux Falls, Talent: Tuba, Community service initiative: Better is Coming

• Thea Tanton, 20, Miss Missouri River, La Vista, NE, Talent: Speed Painting, Community service initiative: Ripples of Change: A Lifeguard’s Call to Action for Water Safety

More information about candidates, the competition, and all events is available at misssd.org.