Miss South Carolina USA

For the state pageant affiliated with Miss America, see Miss South Carolina.

Miss South Carolina USA
Formation1952
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersAiken
Location
Membership
Miss USA
Official language
English
Key people
Janice McDonald
Paula Miles
WebsiteOfficial website

The Miss South Carolina USA competition, previously known as Miss South Carolina Universe,[1][2] 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 has been produced by Paula Miles, the sister of Miss South Carolina USA 1979, Janice McDonald, since 1980, and it has been directed by RPM Productions.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

Gracen Grainger of Clemson was crowned Miss South Carolina USA 2024 on June 15, 2024, at North Charleston Coliseum & Performing Arts Center in North Charleston. She will represent South Carolina for the title of Miss USA 2024.

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: 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)

South Carolina holds a record of 38 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
  •   Declared as Winner
  •   Ended as runner-up
  •   Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
Year Name Hometown Age[a] Local title Placement at Miss USA Special awards at Miss USA Notes
2024 Gracen Grainger Clemson 22 Miss Golden Corner Top 20
2023 Kirby Elizabeth Self Greenwood 23 Miss Upstate Top 20
2022 Meera Bhonslé Lexington 25 Miss Upstate
2021 Marley Stokes[6] Lexington 23 Miss Golden Corner Top 8
2020 Hannah Jane Curry[8] Greer 20 Miss Greenville
2019 MaKenzie Divina Anderson 21 Miss Upstate
  • Previously Miss South Carolina Teen United States 2016
2018 Tori Sizemore[9] Anderson 22 Miss Golden Corner
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[7] 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 Pinckney North Charleston 21 Miss James Island 5th runner-up
2012 Erika Powell Greenville 26 Top 16
2011 Courtney Turner North Augusta 20 Top 8
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 Zais Newberry 20 Top 15
2006 Lacie Lybrand Lexington 23 Top 10
2005 Sarah Medley North Charleston 18
2004 Amanda Pennekamp Columbia 22 1st runner-up
2003 Anna Hanks Belton 21 Top 10
2002 Ashley Williams Little Mountain 20 Top 12 (6th)
2001 Candace Richards[10] Fountain Inn[10] 24[10]
2000 Lisa Rabon Myrtle Beach 21 Top 10 (9th)
1999 Lauren Poppell Rock Hill 23 Top 5 (4th) Best in Swimsuit
1998 Sonja Glenn[11] Chesnee[11] 21 Miss Photogenic[12]
1997 Casey Mizell Irmo 22
1996 Lysa Jackson Charleston 19
1995 Danielle Corley[13] Lexington[13] 23[13]
1994 Lu Parker Charleston 26 Miss USA 1994 Top 6 finalist at Miss Universe 1994
1993 Kelli Gosnell Pacolet 22 Semi-finalist
1992 Audra Wallace Charleston 22 2nd Runner-up
1991 Traci Rufty Columbia 21
1990 Gina Tolleson[14] Spartanburg[14] 20[14] 1st Runner-up[15]
1989 Angela Shuler Rock Hill 21
1988 April Abel[16] Johnston 20 Semi-finalist
1987 Elizabeth Woodard[17] Aiken[17] 21
1986 Maribeth Curry[18] Mauldin[19] 20 Semi-finalist
1985 Ann Margarete Hughes Charleston
1984 Ginger Greer Lugoff
1983 Allison Grisso[20] Columbia[20] 21[20] 2nd Runner-up
1982 Margo Wood Columbia
1981 Zade Turner[21] Myrtle Beach 21
1980 Shawn Weatherly[4] Sumter 20 Miss USA 1980 Miss Universe 1980[4]
1979 Janice McDonald Myrtle Beach Co-founder of RPM Productions with her sister Paula Miles
1978 Kathryn Threatt Pickens
1977 Pam Hoover Florence
1976 Virginia Murray Chester 3rd Runner-up[22] Best Costume Flight attendant and survivor of United Airlines Flight 232[22]
1975 Robin Morris[23] Greenville[23]
1974 Carol Lynn Hollis[24] Rock Hill
1973 Kiki Kirkland[25] Newberry[25] 21[25] Congeniality
1972 Susan Gordon Rock Hill Semi-finalist
1971 Eunice Campbell[26] Eastover[26]
1970 Vicki Chesser[27][28] Mt. Pleasant 19 1st Runner-up Best Costume
1969 Eva Engle Columbia 2nd Runner-up
1968 Kathryn Knoy
1967 Hope Patterson
1966 Joselyn Alarie
1965 Vicki Harrison Semi-finalist
1964 Judy Kennedy[2]
1963 Cecelia Yoder Semifinalist
1962 Judy Clyburn
1961 Yvonne Quick[1]
1960 Margaret Thompson
1959 Mary Powell
1958 Patricia Ann Moss Semi-finalist
1957 Jean Spotts Semi-finalist
1956 Betty Cherry Columbia 1st Runner-up
1955 Sara Stone Semi-finalist
1954 Miriam Stevenson Winnsboro 20 Miss USA 1954 Miss Universe 1954
Previously Miss South Carolina 1953
1953 Mary Kemp Griffin 1st runner-up
Susan Anthony Day Semi-finalist
1952 Margie Allen
  1. ^ Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant

References

  1. ^ a b "Limestone's Beauties". The Gaffney Ledger. 27 June 1961. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b "Winthrop Girl wins state 'Universe' title". The Index-Journal. 20 June 1964. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Price, Mark (13 November 2006). "Woman responsible for share of Cinderellas". The Desert Sun. p. D5.
  4. ^ a b c "Clemson co-ed hopes history will repeat itself at pageant". The Greenville News. 29 November 1989. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Lucas, Lynne (24 November 1991). "A Different World". The Greenville News. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Richardson, Claire (March 30, 2021). "Marley Stokes speaks with Good Morning Columbia after being crowned Miss South Carolina USA". WOLO-TV. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Pageant crowns new Miss South Carolina USA". WCSC-TV. November 20, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  8. ^ Davis, Kimberlei (November 25, 2019). "Newberry College junior crowned Miss South Carolina USA 2020". WOLO-TV. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  9. ^ Oyer, Kalyn (November 18, 2017). "The new Miss SC USA and Miss SC Teen USA have been crowned". The Post and Courier.
  10. ^ a b c Powell, Lynne (15 November 2000). "Limestone College fund director is Miss South Carolina USA". The Gaffney Ledger. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b "Wofford Senior from Chesnee crowned Miss South Carolina USA". The Greenville News. 5 November 1997 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Miss Photogenic". The Greenville News. 8 March 1998. p. B1 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b c "New Miss South Carolina USA crowned". The Greenville News. 28 November 1994. p. 2A – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b c "Spartanburg woman wins state beauty title". The Greenville News. 5 December 1989 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Miss Michigan chosen Miss USA". The Gettysburg Times. 3 March 1990. p. 1.
  16. ^ "Miss South Carolina USA". The Index-Journal. 9 November 1987 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b "Aiken student named Miss South Carolina". 1 December 1986. p. 3B – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Norman, Diane (1986-03-23). "Golden Thread is Common Theme for Miss South Carolina USA". Herald-Journal.
  19. ^ The Associated Press (16 February 1986). "Mauldin Teen Crowned Miss South Carolina-USA". The Greenville News – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ a b c "Miss SC USA Crowned". The Index-Journals. 7 February 1983. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Miss South Carolina-USA likes Baryshnikov". The Rock Hill Herald. 1981-02-07.
  22. ^ a b The Associated Press (21 July 1989). "Five North Carolinians survive crash; 2 killed". Asheville Citizen-Times. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ a b "Greenville Girl wins SC-USA Title". The Aiken Standard. 31 March 1975. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Rock Hill Woman wins Beauty Title". The Greenville News. 1 April 1974. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ a b c "Miss SC-USA Plans to Leave For Pageant in New York May 11". The Greenville News. 2 May 1973. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ a b "New Queen". Florence Morning News. 22 March 1971 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Bishopville Beauty Runner-up in Contest". The Sumter Daily Item. 21 March 1971. p. 5B.
  28. ^ "2 Upstate Residents to Seek Title". The Greenville News. 4 March 1971. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
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