JUNE 7, 2021, UPDATE:
Kaitlin O’Neill, whose hometown is Groton, was crowned Miss South Dakota 2021 Saturday night (June 5, 2021). In addition to her scholarship of $8,000 for winning the competition, O’Neill was a preliminary talent winner Thursday evening ($1,000), and on-stage interview winner on Friday ($500.) She was also the overall interview winner ($500) and took home the state community service Award ($1,000).
O’Neill’s platform is “Bloom – Healthy Mind, Healthy Body, Healthy You.” Her talent was a contemporary ballet to Bad Guy by Eklipse. She is the daughter of Robin O’Neill and Steve O’Neill and competed as Miss Dakota Plains. O’Neill graduated from Minnesota State University-Mankato, with majors in dance and marketing.
First runner-up was Hunter Widvey of Rapid City, garnering a $4,000 scholarship. Widvey also won the $1,000 preliminary talent award Friday night.
Second runner-up was Annie Woodmansey of Pierre. In addition to her scholarship award of $2,000, she received the Quality of Life scholarship and the Sylvia Tannehill Kindness scholarship, each for $1,000.
Third runner-up was Miranda O’Brian, taking home a scholarship of $1,500, in addition to the $500 award for preliminary on-stage interview and social initiative pitch on Thursday.
Fourth runner-up and winner of a $1,200 scholarship was Margaret Samp, Sioux Falls. In addition, she received the Ray Peterson “Rookie of the Year” award of $500 for being the top-placing first-time candidate.
Rounding out the top eight semi-finalists and receiving $1000 scholarships were Carly Goodhart of Sisseton, who also won a $750 STEM Scholarship, Sylvie Larson of Harrisburg, and Maleah Eschembaum of Aberdeen.
Courtney Remick, Prior Lake, MN, won the most talented non-semi-finalist ($300 scholarship) as well as a $750 STEM Scholarship. Emma Salzwedel of Sioux Falls was voted Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants ($500 scholarship). Baylee Dittman had the top interview for a non-semi-finalist ($300 scholarship).
Fifteen women from across the state competed for the title. All won scholarships, totalling nearly $35,000.
Kaitlin O’Neill will compete at the Miss America Pageant at the Mohegan Sun resort in Connecticut, December 2021.
Miss South Dakota 2019/2020 Amber Hulse crowns Miss South Dakota 2021, Kaitlin O’Neill.
Photo credit Miss South Dakota Pageant.
Miss South Dakota and her court: 3rd runner-up Miranda O’Bryan, 2nd runner-up Annie Woodmansey, Miss South Dakota 2021 Kaitlin O’Neill, 1st runner-up Hunter Widvey, 4th runner-up Margaret Samp.
Photo credit Miss South Dakota Pageant.
JUNE 4, 2021, UPDATE:
A Pierre woman earned two scholarships during the first evening of competition at the Miss South Dakota Pageant last night (Thurs.) in Brookings.
Annie Woodmansey, Miss State Fair, received the $1,000 Quality of Life scholarship, which is awarded to the candidate who has fulfilled a legitimate need in their community through the creation, development and participation in a community service project in the area of her platform. Woodmansey is originally from Pierre and is a music teacher in Mitchell. Through her platform, “Fine Arts for All Hearts,” she works to provide opportunities in the fine arts for all children. This award is sponsored by Bruce and Susan Wintle of Iroquois and their daughter, Carrie Wintle, Miss South Dakota 2018.
Woodmansey also received the $1,000 Sylvia Tannehill “Kindness” Scholarship. Slyvia Tannehill is a longtime and much loved member of the Miss South Dakota family. Her kindness and wit has left an impression on all of the volunteers she welcomed into her home in Hot Springs. Her laughter, hospitality and ability to remember everyone’s names inspired this scholarship. Applicants must demonstrate that they have conducted legitimate actions in their community and elsewhere through the creation, development and/or participation in acts of kindness, leading to others utilizing their methods or participating in a lifestyle change toward kindness and generosity.
Kaitlin O’Neill, Miss Dakota Plains, earned the $1,000 State Community Service Scholarship. This scholarship goes to the candidate who has demonstrated their dedication to service in their community and state through volunteerism. They must be able to show how their volunteering helped the community and how they have personally benefited from it. This award is sponsored by Autumn Simunek Conrad, Miss South Dakota 2015.
The South Dakota Scholarship Foundation, in partnership with CDI, Inc., of Brookings, supports the idea that development of world class talent in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics is critical to America’s global leadership. CDI is sponsoring two $750 scholarships to candidates who display a dedication to the STEM field. The winners were Carly Goodhart, Miss Brookings and Courtney Remick, Miss Siouxland. Goodhart graduated from South Dakota State University (SDSU) with a degree in nursing and works as a neonatal intensive care nurse. Remick graduated from SDSU with a degree in medical laboratory science and works as an EMT.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Fifteen young women from across the state– including Annie Woodmansey from Pierre– will compete June 3 – 5, for thousands of dollars in scholarships and the role of Miss South Dakota. The new Miss South Dakota will take home at least $8,000 in scholarship money and will represent South Dakota at the Miss America Competition. Nearly $35,000 will be awarded in scholarship funds to the women competing this year.
Photo credit Miss South Dakota Pageant.
Preliminary competitions will be June 3 and 4, and finals will be held June 5, all at 6:00 p.m. The pageant finals on June 5 will be livestreamed. The Miss South Dakota’s Outstanding Teen competition will be held June 5 at 1:00 p.m. All competitions are at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center, on the South Dakota State University campus in Brookings.
The theme this year is “C’mon Get Happy.” The competition celebrates its 74th anniversary and returns to Brookings after a one-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pageant will feature Amber Hulse of Hot Springs, Miss South Dakota 2019. Amber represented South Dakota at the Miss America Competition in December 2019 at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. She spent the year advocating for her social impact initiative, “Operation Overload” – focused on guiding youth through the career planning process by helping students meet their full potential and realize opportunities for further education and career goals.
The pageant’s ever-popular silent auction, which raises funds for scholarships, has gone online this year, and is available at: http://bit.ly/2021SDauction.
The candidates will be judged on a private interview with the judges (35%), talent (35%), evening wear/red carpet (15%) and on-stage interview (15%).
The young women competing are (name, age, title, hometown, talent, and social impact initiative):
- Annie Woodmansey, 24, Miss State Fair, Pierre, Talent: Flute, Social Impact Initiative: Fine Arts for All Hearts
- Baylee Dittman, 25, Miss Central States Fair, Spearfish, Talent: Musical Theatre, Social Impact Initiative: Breaking the Barcode: Ending Human Trafficking
- Breanna Bossman, 19, Miss Rapid City, Humboldt, Talent: Dance, Social Impact Initiative: Drive Smart, Drive Safe, Drive Secure
- Breanna Remington, 18, Miss Fall River Balloon Festival, Hot Springs, Talent: Pop Vocal, Social Impact Initiative: Get Involved: Encouraging Kids to Become Great Leaders
- Calli Mah, 21, Miss Hot Springs, Mitchell, Talent: Vocal, Social Impact Initiative: Harmony in Humanity
- Carly Goodhart, 25, Miss Brookings, Sisseton, Talent: Vocal, Social Impact Initiative: Women’s Health: The Industry and Everyday
- Courtney Remick, 23, Miss Siouxland, Prior Lake, MN, Talent: Original Monologue, Social Impact Initiative: Prepared Not Scared: Emergency Education
- Emma Salzwedel, 20, Miss USD, Sioux Falls, Talent: Stand-up Comedy, Social Impact Initiative: The Stereotype Effect: Embracing You
- Hunter Widvey, 22, Miss Missouri Valley, Rapid City, Talent: Vocal, Social Impact Initiative: More than Four: Childhood Cancer Awareness
- Kaitlin O’Neill, 24, Miss Dakota Plains, Groton, Talent: Ballet, Social Impact Initiative: Healthy Mind, Healthy Body, Healthy You
- Maleah Eschenbaum, 21, Miss Railroad Junction, Aberdeen, Talent: ASL Translated Song, Social Impact Initiative: More Than Looks
- Margaret Samp, 19, Miss Rushmore, Sioux Falls, Talent: Classical Vocal, Social Impact Initiative: Beyond Dyslexia
- Megan Clark, 19, Miss Christmas in the Hills, Huron, Talent: Vocal, Social Impact Initiative: IVF for “ECK”: National Infertility Awareness
- Miranda O’Bryan, 23, Miss Rolling Plains, Martin, Talent: Musical Theatre, Social Impact Initiative: Page Turners: Fall in Love with Reading
- Sylvie Larson, 24, Miss SDSU, Harrisburg, Talent: Clarinet, Social Impact Initiative: Mindset Matters: Applying the Strength You Already Possess
Showtime is 6:00 p.m. on June 3-5 at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center, on the South Dakota State University campus in Brookings.
Ticket information are available at www.tix.com/ticket-sales/
More information about candidates, the competition, and all events is available at misssd.org.
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