Miss South Carolina USA

Last updated

Miss South Carolina USA
Formation1952
Type Beauty pageant
Headquarters Aiken
Location
Membership Miss USA
Official language
English
Key people
Janice McDonald
Paula Miles
Website Official 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 is produced by Paula Miles, the sister of Miss South Carolina USA 1979, Janice McDonald, from 1980 until 2024 under directed by RPM Productions. [3] In 2025 and onwards, the pageant is now produced and directed by Ariana Blaize, Miss Universe Guyana 2024, under A Blaize Productions alongside the rest of former RPM states.

Contents

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

South Carolina holds a record of 38 placements at Miss USA third overall behind Texas and California.

Awards

Winners

Color key
YearNameHometownAge [a] Local titlePlacement at Miss USASpecial awards at Miss USANotes
2024 Gracen Grainger Clemson 22Miss Golden CornerTop 20
2023 Kirby Elizabeth Self Greenwood 23Miss UpstateTop 20
2022 Meera Bhonslé Lexington 25Miss Upstate
2021 Marley Stokes [6] Lexington 23Miss Golden CornerTop 8
2020 Hannah Jane Curry [8] Greer 20Miss Greenville
2019 MaKenzie Divina Anderson 21Miss Upstate
  • Previously Miss South Carolina Teen United States 2016
2018 Tori Sizemore [9] Anderson 22Miss Golden Corner
2017 Megan Gordon North Augusta 23Miss UpstateTop 5
  • Later Miss South Carolina World 2019
    • Later 1st runner-up at Miss World America 2019
2016 Leah Lawson [7] Laurens 21Miss Mountain LakesTop 15Auditioned on American Idol season 14 and eliminated during Hollywood Week
2015 Sarah Weishuhn Goose Creek 20Miss Summerville
2014 Christina Zapolski Charleston 22Miss Isle of PalmsTop 10Contestant on Hunted
2013 Megan Pinckney North Charleston 21Miss James Island5th runner-up
2012 Erika Powell Greenville 26Top 16
2011 Courtney Turner North Augusta 20Top 8
2010 Rachel Law Greenville 21
2009 Stephanie Murray Smith Goose Creek 21Top 10Contestant on The Amazing Race 17
2008 Jamie Hill Columbia 24Top 15Contestant on The Amazing Race 10
2007 Ashley Zais Newberry 20Top 15
2006 Lacie Lybrand Lexington 23Top 10
2005 Sarah Medley North Charleston 18
2004 Amanda PennekampColumbia221st runner-up
2003 Anna Hanks Belton 21Top 10
2002 Ashley Williams Little Mountain 20Top 12 (6th)
2001 Candace Richards [10] Fountain Inn [10] 24 [10]
2000 Lisa Rabon Myrtle Beach 21Top 10 (9th)
1999 Lauren Poppell Rock Hill 23Top 5 (4th)Best in Swimsuit
1998 Sonja Glenn [11] Chesnee [11] 21Miss Photogenic [12]
1997 Casey Mizell Irmo 22
1996 Lysa Jackson Charleston 19
1995 Danielle Corley [13] Lexington [13] 23 [13]
1994 Lu Parker Charleston26Miss USA 1994Top 6 finalist at Miss Universe 1994
1993 Kelli Gosnell Pacolet 22Semi-finalist
1992 Audra WallaceCharleston222nd Runner-up
1991 Traci RuftyColumbia21
1990 Gina Tolleson [14] Spartanburg [14] 20 [14] 1st Runner-up [15]
1989Angela ShulerRock Hill21
1988April Abel [16] Johnston 20Semi-finalist
1987Elizabeth Woodard [17] Aiken [17] 21
1986Maribeth Curry [18] Mauldin [19] 20Semi-finalist
1985Ann Margarete HughesCharleston
1984Ginger Greer Lugoff
1983Allison Grisso [20] Columbia [20] 21 [20] 2nd Runner-up
1982Margo WoodColumbia
1981Zade Turner [21] Myrtle Beach21
1980 Shawn Weatherly [4] Sumter 20Miss USA 1980 Miss Universe 1980 [4]
1979Janice McDonaldMyrtle BeachCo-founder of RPM Productions with her sister Paula Miles
1978Kathryn ThreattPickens
1977Pam HooverFlorence
1976Virginia MurrayChester3rd Runner-up [22] Best CostumeFlight attendant and survivor of United Airlines Flight 232 [22]
1975Robin Morris [23] Greenville [23]
1974Carol Lynn Hollis [24] Rock Hill
1973Kiki Kirkland [25] Newberry [25] 21 [25] Congeniality
1972 Susan GordonRock HillSemi-finalist
1971Eunice Campbell [26] Eastover [26]
1970Vicki Chesser [27] [28] Mt. Pleasant 191st Runner-upBest Costume
1969Eva EngleColumbia2nd Runner-up
1968Kathryn Knoy
1967 Hope Patterson
1966Joselyn Alarie
1965Vicki HarrisonSemi-finalist
1964Judy Kennedy [2]
1963Cecelia YoderSemifinalist
1962Judy Clyburn
1961Yvonne Quick [1]
1960 Margaret Thompson
1959Mary Powell
1958Patricia Ann MossSemi-finalist
1957Jean SpottsSemi-finalist
1956 Betty Cherry Columbia 1st Runner-up
1955Sara StoneSemi-finalist
1954 Miriam Stevenson Winnsboro20Miss USA 1954 Miss Universe 1954
Previously Miss South Carolina 1953
1953 Mary Kemp Griffin1st runner-up
Susan Anthony DaySemi-finalist
1952Margie Allen
  1. ↑ Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant

References

  1. 1 2 "Limestone's Beauties". The Gaffney Ledger. 27 June 1961. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 Powell, Lynne (15 November 2000). "Limestone College fund director is Miss South Carolina USA". The Gaffney Ledger. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 "New Miss South Carolina USA crowned". The Greenville News. 28 November 1994. p. 2A – via Newspapers.com.
  14. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 The Associated Press (21 July 1989). "Five North Carolinians survive crash; 2 killed". Asheville Citizen-Times. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 "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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