Brookings Hosts Miss South Dakota’s Teen Competition

Twenty-seven young women from across the state will showcase their talents, public speaking skills, fitness, poise and stage presence in the 79th annual Miss South Dakota competition, taking place in Brookings May 28-30. Twenty-seven candidates is a record number, beating out the previous count of 25 in 2007. Ranging in age from 19 to 24 and representing hometowns from Aberdeen to Yankton, they will compete for over $65,000 in scholarships and awards and the role of Miss South Dakota. The new Miss South Dakota will take home at least $13,000 in scholarships and awards, plus a crowning package worth thousands of dollars. She will represent South Dakota at the Miss America competition in West Palm Beach, FL, August 28-September 6. The preliminary competitions will be 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 28, and Friday, May 29. The final competition will take place at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, May 30. The Miss South Dakota’s Teen competition will be held in conjunction with the Miss competition 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 available at https://www.misssd.org/. The pageant will feature Jamee Kattner, Miss South Dakota 2025. Jamee represented South Dakota at the Miss America competition in September 2025 in Orlando, FL. She spent the year advocating for her community service initiative, “Melodies of Joy” and singing and speaking 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, 20, Miss Fall River Balloon Festival, Onida, Talent: Vocal, Community Service Initiative: Ability Inclusion and Awareness Amélie Wilcox, 20, Miss Rolling Plains, Rapid City, Talent: Electric Bass Guitar, Community Service Initiative: Seeing the Invisible: Autoimmune Disease Awarenes sAngela Miller, 20, Miss Missouri River, Madison, WI, Talent: Musical Theatre, Community Service Initiative: Teach The Truth: Bringing Asian America History to Classroom sBriley Steffensen, 19, Miss Hub City, Hartford, Talent: Musical Theatre Vocal, Community Service Initiative: Be True 2 Yo uEllie Becker, 19, Miss Central States Fair, Howard, Talent: Slam Poetry, Community Service Initiative: Children Nutrition Progra mEmily Hofer, 22, Miss Pride of the Dakotas, Hartford, Talent: Flute, Community Service Initiative: Rewriting Recover yEvelynn Carlson, 22, Miss Northern State University, Aberdeen, Talent: Piano, Community Service Initiative: Fully Alive: Forming Women of Virtue and Visio Javonte Madsen, 22, Miss Vermillion, Sioux Falls, Talent: Jazz Vocal, Community Service Initiative: Common Ground Jayden Bender, 20, Miss Badlands, Britton: Talent: Jazz Dance, Community Service Initiative: Backing the Brave Jenisha Gurung, 20, Miss Dakota Prairie, Sioux Falls, Talent: Nepali Cultural Dance, Community Service Initiative: OKK Period Jensine Matson, 22, Miss Railroad Junction, Ramona, Talent: HER Story™, Community Service Initiative: Speak Your Power: Childhood Trauma Awareness Kamella Kopp, 21, Miss Dakota Rose, Yankton, Talent: HER Story™, Community Service Initiative: The Golden Heart Initiative- Raising Awareness on Elder Abuse Katie Milbrandt, 24, Miss East River, Brookings, Talent: HER Story™, Community Service Initiative: Speak Up: Stopping the Stigma by Starting the Conversation Kianna Healy, 23, Miss Sioux Falls, Hartford, Talent: Vocal, Community Service Initiative: The Second Chance Project Kyla Andvik, 21, Miss Brookings, Fargo, ND, Talent: Lyrical Dance, Community Service Initiative: Breaking the Silence Laney Titze, 23, Miss Huron, Mitchell, Talent: Piano, Community Service Initiative: Teagan’s Light Lilly Mae Blume, 20, Miss Sunflower Fields, Redfield. Talent: Speed Sand Painting, Community Service Initiative: Tractor Tracks to Farm Safety McKenzie Hassebroek, 24, Miss Brown County Fair, Rapid City. Talent: Speed Painting, Community Service Initiative: Well-fed Minds Misty Vonderleith, 20, Miss USD, Sioux Falls. Talent: HER Story™, Community Service Initiative: Partnering with local animal shelters, every animal deserves a home. Natalie Biegler, 21, Miss State Fair, Timber Lake, Talent: Unicycle/Monologue, Community Service Initiative: Career Catalyst: Launching Young People into their Futures Olivia Granaas, 24, Miss McCrory Gardens, Vermillion, Talent: Dance, Community Service Initiative: Sleep in Heavenly Peace Olivia Walz, 21, Miss West Riverl, Mitchell, Talent: HER Story™, Community Service Initiative: You Are Not Alone: A Journey of Hope, Healing, and Empowerment Rylin Yerdon, 23, Miss Siouxland, Harrisburg, Talent: Vocal, Community Service Initiative: Pursuing Success: The First Step Forward Sydney Meissner, 21, Miss SDSU, Rapid City, Talent: Tap Dance, Community Service Initiative: Lights, Language, Leadership Sydney Morgan, 21, Miss Hot Springs, Hot Springs, Talent: Vocal, Community Service Initiative: Community at Heart: Connecting Generations Taysan Rouselle, 19, Miss Black Hills, Sturgis, Talent: Country Pop Vocal, Community Service Initiative: Showered with Hope Thea Tanton, 21, Miss Heart of the Prairies, Brookings, Talent: Speed Painting, Community Service Initiative: Ripples of Change

Jamee Kattner was crowned Miss South Dakota 2025 at Saturday night's competition. Kattner is from Huron and graduated from SDSU with a major in music education this spring. Kattner won a $13,000 scholarship with the title, and a $500 South Dakota Strong award. Kattner’s community service initiative is “Melodies of Joy: Music's Power to Inspire.” As her talent, she sang “Art is Calling Me,” an operatic vocal from the Enchantress by Victor Herbert. She is the daughter of Linc and Kristi Kattner and competed as Miss Siouxland. First runner-up was Katie Milbrandt, Brookings, garnering a $5,000 scholarship. Milbrandt also won a $1,000 South Dakota Strong award, the $1,000 Dorothy Barnett Award for top overall interview, as well as a $750 STEM scholarship and a $1,000 Community Service Award. Second runner-up was Kianna Healy of Harrisburg, receiving a $4,000 scholarship. Healy also won a $500 preliminary health and fitness award and a $500 South Dakota Strong award, as well as the $1,000 Ray Peterson Rookie of the Year award given to the highest placing delegate competing at Miss South Dakota for the first time.  Third runner-up was Emily Deinken of Sioux Falls, receiving a $3,000 scholarship. Deinken also won a $1,000 preliminary talent award. Natalie Biegler of Timber Lake was fourth runner-up, receiving a $2,000 scholarship. Biegler also earned the top South Dakota Strong award for $5,000, the Sylvia Tannehill Kindness Award for $1,000, and the Hunter Widvey Medical Scholarship for $500. Rounding out the top ten semi-finalists, each receiving a $750 scholarship, were Payton Steffensen of Sioux Falls, Jenisha Gurung of Vermillion, Sydney Morgan of Hot Springs, Adrian Gruis of Onida, and Thea Tanton of La Vista, NE. Payton Steffensen received preliminary awards for talent of $1,000 and health and fitness for $500. Adrian Gruis took home the $500 Miss South Dakota Legacy award and also received $500 for being the top fund-raiser. Jenisha Gurung received the $1,000 Stan Nase Business scholarship. Sydney Morgan received a $500 South Dakota Strong award as well as a $750 STEM scholarship. Javonte Madsen of Rapid City accepted the most talented non-semifinalist ($250 award). Julia Stanek received the highest score for non-finalist in interview ($250). Miss Congeniality was Olivia Walz of Mitchell. Twenty women from across the state competed for the title. All won scholarships, totalling $54,250. Each of the non-semi-finalists received a $300 scholarship. Kattner will represent South Dakota at the Miss America Competition this September.

Taya Ritterbush, 18, was crowned Miss South Dakota’s Teen Friday evening. For her talent, she sang the Italian art song, “Se Tu M’Ami.” Her community service initiative is “Swimming in Inclusion, Floating in Diversity.” She is from Hot Springs and plans to attend the University of South Dakota and major in music education and performance. The title comes with a $3,500 scholarship. Ritterbush also won top private interview ($250) and top onstage conversation ($150). Her local title was Miss State Fair. Her parents are Nate and Alison Ritterbush. First runner-up was Evian Johnson of Brookings. She received $1,200 in scholarships, and was voted Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants, an additional $500 scholarship. Johnson also received the $200 STEM award. Second runner-up went to Hallie Carlson of Mitchell, earning $900 in scholarships. Carlson garnered the top overall talent award, an additional scholarship of $250, and the Community Service award for $250. Arianna Galles of Rapid City won the top fundraiser award for $500, and the People’s Choice scholarship, which was selected through online voting, for $250. Ritterbush will represent South Dakota at the 2025 Miss America's Teen Competition this September.

Miss Black Hills, Kianna Healy of Hartford, and Miss Rapid City, Payton Steffensen of Sioux Falls won preliminary awards at the Miss South Dakota competition Friday night. Healy took the preliminary health and fitness award of $500. She is a recent graduate of Pace University NYC. Her parents are Michelle Healy and Russell Healy. Steffensen won the preliminary talent award of $1,000 doing a musical theater/acro dance to “Don’t Lose Your Head” from the musical Six. She graduated from American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York and is currently working as a dancer, choreographer and educator. Two $750 STEM awards were announced. The awards are sponsored by Civil Design, Inc. and selected by an application process. They are for candidates majoring or graduated in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics field. The winners of the STEM awards this year were Katie Milbrandt and Sydney Morgan. Stanley Nase, CPA, has been a resident of Hot Springs since November 1971. Stan has served as a longtime auditor for the Miss South Dakota Program, and is sponsoring a scholarship for a candidate interested in pursuing a higher degree in the Business field. The winner of the $1,000 Stan Nase scholarship was Jenisha Gurung. The Hunter Widvey Medical scholarship for $500 goes to a contestant in this year’s competition who is either actively attending medical school or has plans to attend medical school in the near future, or is in another field of study closely related to medicine such as nursing, physical therapy, or chiropractic. Natalie Biegler was the winner of the inaugural Hunter Widvey medical scholarship. The competition continues Saturday, May 31, at 6:30 p.m. with the finals and the crowning of the 78th Miss South Dakota at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD.

Miss Rapid City, Payton Steffensen of Sioux Falls, and Miss Brookings, Emily Deinken of Sioux Falls, took home preliminary awards at the Miss South Dakota competition Thursday night. Deinken is the daughter of Brian and Michelle Deinken. Steffensen is the daughter of Emily Smith and Tony Steffensen. Steffensen won the $500 preliminary Health and Fitness Award. She graduated from American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York and is currently working as a dancer, choreographer and educator. Deinken won the $1,000 preliminary Talent Award playing the Carmen Flute Fantasie from Habanera. She is a middle school music teacher in Sioux Falls and is pursuing her master’s degree in music education from Florida State University. Evian Johnson of Brookings, Miss Hot Springs’ Teen, was selected as the winner of the Teen STEM scholarship for teen candidates planning on majoring in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics field. The Community Service Award is given to a candidate in both the teen and miss division who demonstrate that they have fulfilled a legitimate need in their community through the creation, development and/or participation in volunteerism. The winner of the Teen Community Service Award for $500 was Miss Jacks’ Teen Hallie Carlson. The winner of the Miss Community Service Award for $1,000 is Miss Rolling Plains Katie Milbrandt. The program continues tonight at 6:30 p.m. with the preliminary competitions for Miss South Dakota, and the crowning of Miss South Dakota's Teen 2025 at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center at South Dakota State University. The crowning of Miss South Dakota 2024 will be on Saturday night.

Celebrating over 4 decades of unwavering commitment to the Miss South Dakota Organization, Carol Barnett Nesbitt, a Sioux Falls native, was named Volunteer of the Year at this year’s annual Miss South Dakota competition. Nesbitt, who first joined the organization 44 years ago when she was selected to represent the state as Miss South Dakota 1980, continues to leave an indelible mark on the pageant's legacy. Currently serving as Co-Executive Director alongside former Miss South Dakota competitor Glenda Mostek, Nesbitt plays a pivotal role in supporting the year's delegates as they vie for the title of Miss South Dakota. Her dedication extends further as the Miss South Dakota Alumni Coordinator, fostering connections among former titleholders and perpetuating the organization's rich tradition. In addition, Nesbitt has served as host of the Miss South Dakota State pageant several times and has been an entertainer/vocalist for many years. Over the past 44 years, Nesbitt has held numerous leadership positions within the organization, from local executive director, to Miss SD Program Book Coordinator, to mentor and coach for aspiring title holders at both the local and state level, specifically in the areas of talent and interview. She has undoubtedly left a profound impact on the many lives she’s impacted during her tenure and on the program as a whole. Nesbitt was nominated for Volunteer of the Year by Glenda Mostek who touted Nesbitt’s life-long dedication to the organization. “She was on the board of the first pageant I ever entered, and has been one of the constants of the program throughout my involvement ever since,” said Mostek. “I don’t think there have been many SD state pageants that she has missed. She is a role model for all of us in her deep and undying devotion to the program, willingness to spend untold hours coaching candidates, and kind and loving manner of giving forthright and honest feedback.” Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Miss South Dakota Organization, working throughout the year as they support local competitions, organize the state competition, guide and provide leadership to candidates, as well as building the set for the competition, putting on the show, acting as judges hosts, and much more. They invest in our delegates by helping them increase their confidence and achieve their goals. The Miss South Dakota Organization thanks all of its volunteers for their many hours of dedication.

Joelle Simpson was crowned Miss South Dakota 2024 at Saturday night's competition. Simpson is originally from Rapid City and is attending the University of Minnesota majoring in Medical Laboratory Science. In addition to her $11,000 scholarship for winning the competition, Simpson was a preliminary talent winner Thursday evening ($1,000), preliminary health and fitness winner Friday evening ($500) and the overall interview award winner ($1,000). Simpson received the 2024 STEM award ($750) and was recognized as a finalist for the South Dakota Strong award presented by former Miss South Dakota, Shantel Swedlund-Krebs ($500). She received a $750 STEM scholarship and the Ray Peterson Rookie of the Year award ($1,000). Simpson’s community service initiative is “Nurturing Nature.” As her talent, she played the Harp Cadenza from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. She is the daughter of Dave and Val Simpson and competed as Miss Rolling Plains. First runner-up was Katie Milbrandt of Brookings, garnering a $5,000 scholarship. Second runner-up was Emily Deinken of Sioux Falls, receiving a $4,000 scholarship. Deinken also received the $500 Miss SD Legacy award as well as the $1,000 Quality of Life award. Third runner-up was Jensine Matson of Ramona, receiving a $3,000 scholarship. Matson was selected by her peers as Miss Congeniality, a $250 award. She also received the Sylvia Tannehill Acts of Kindness and Generosity Award of $1,000. Fourth runner-up was Sydney Morgan of Hot Springs. Morgan was selected for the $500 preliminary Health and Fitness award Thursday evening. She also received the Top Fundraiser award of $500 and the STEM award of $750. Rounding out the top ten semi-finalists, each receiving a $750 scholarship, were Kamella Kopp of Yankton, Olivia Granaas of Vermillion, Jamee Kattner of Huron, Rio Snyder of Black Hawk, and Julia Stanek of Sioux Falls. McKayla Gunderson of Mitchell accepted the most talented non-semifinalist ($250 award). In a tie, Gunderson was also voted by her peers as Miss Congeniality ($250). Madisen Vetter received the community service award ($1,000) as well as the highest score for non-finalist in interview ($250). Twenty women from across the state competed for the title. All won scholarships, totalling $51,750. Each of the non-semi-finalists received a $300 scholarship. Simpson will represent South Dakota at the Miss America Competition in early 2025.

Briley Steffensen, 17, was crowned Miss South Dakota’s Teen Friday evening. Her talent for the competition was a musical theater dance, and her community service initiative is Be True 2 You. She will be a senior at Harrisburg High School this fall, and her parents are Emily Smith and Tony Steffensen. The title comes with a $3,000 scholarship. First runner-up was Amelie Wilcox of Rapid City. She received $1,000 in scholarships. Second runner-up went to Evian Johnson of Brookings, earning $800 in scholarships. Third runner-up was Taya Ritterbush of Hot Springs, taking home a $600 scholarship. Fourth runner-up was Arianna Galles of Rapid City, winning a $400 scholarship. Steffensen will represent South Dakota at the 2025 Miss America's Teen Competition.

Kate Wismer, Executive Producer of the Miss South Dakota competition, has set the theme for this year's show as "Swingin' Glam". When determining a theme, Wismer says she almost always looks to the reigning titleholders for inspiration. Miranda O’Bryan won the title of Miss South Dakota 2023 singing a jazzy, retro version of a popular Taylor Swift song titled "Blank Space". This started the gears turning for Wismer and it didn’t take long to fill up a whole show with jazz standards, modern swing tunes, and even pop songs with a retro vibe. "I knew this was a genre of music that our reigning titleholders would excel in and it offers endless options when it comes to finding music that fits our show," Wismer states. So get ready to bring the GLAM and hum along with some swinging tunes as we cheer on all of the candidates and ultimately crown our new 2024 titleholders! Preliminary competitions will be held on Thursday, May 30, and Friday, May 31, at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center in Brookings. The final competition is set for Saturday, June 1. Tickets are available here .