{{Short description|Beauty pageant competition}} {{for|the state pageant affiliated with Miss America|Miss Minnesota}} {{pp-sock|small=yes}} {{Infobox organization |name = Miss Minnesota USA |image = |image_border = |image_size = |caption = |map = |map_size = |map_caption = |formation = {{Start date and age|1952}} |type = Beauty pageant |headquarters = Savage |location = Minnesota |membership = Miss USA |language = English |leader_title = |leader_name = |key_people = Kelly McCoy<br> |num_staff = |budget = |website = {{official|https://kpcproductions.themissusa.com/}} }}
The '''Miss Minnesota USA''' competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Minnesota in the Miss USA pageant. It was directed by Future Productions based in Savage, Minnesota since its inception in 1995 to 2024, which also directs the state pageants for Colorado, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.missnorthdakotausa.com/nd-about-us.html|title=Future Productions, LLC State Directors|access-date=8 February 2017}}</ref>
Barbara Elaine Peterson was the first Miss Minnesota USA to be crowned Miss USA (in 1976), and was also the first Miss USA to not place in the Miss Universe pageant. Her sister, Polly Peterson Bowles, was Miss Minnesota USA 1981.<ref name="nelson">{{cite news|title=3rd Miss Minnesota-USA has 'nothing to hide'|last=Furst|first=Randy|date=1988-02-11|publisher=Star-Tribune Newspaper of the Twin Cities Mpls.-St. Paul|page=01A}}</ref>
In 2016, Halima Aden became the first contestant to compete wearing a burkini, and the first to wear a hijab the entire time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.good.is/articles/the-first-somali-miss-minnesota|title=Halima Aden Breaks Ground as First Somali-American to Compete for Miss Minnesota USA|date=17 November 2016}}</ref> In 2017, Mikayla Holmgren was the first woman with Down syndrome to compete in a statewide Miss USA pageant.<ref name="Wright 2018">{{cite web| first=Mary |last=Divine |title=Standing ovations for first woman with Down syndrome to compete in Miss Minnesota USA |publisher=Twin Cities Pioneer Press |url=http://www.twincities.com/2017/11/26/standing-ovations-as-woman-with-down-syndrome-becomes-first-to-compete-in-miss-minnesota-usa/|date=November 27, 2017}}</ref>
The current titleholder is {{sortname|Rachel|Betterley|Rachel Latuff}} of Prior Lake was crowned Miss Minnesota USA on May 30, 2026, at The Franklin Center in Des Moines. She will represent Minnesota at Miss USA 2026.
==Gallery of titleholders== <gallery> File:Barbara Peterson in White House (cropped).jpg|Barbara Peterson, Miss Minnesota USA 1976 & '''Miss USA 1976''' File:Kaylee Unverzagt headshot.png|Kaylee Unverzagt, Miss Minnesota USA 2008 File:Kalie Wright Miss Minnesota USA 2018.jpg|Kalie Wright, Miss Minnesota USA 2018 </gallery>
==Results summary== ===Placements=== *'''Miss USA:''' Barbara Peterson (1976) *'''2nd runners-up:''' Deborah Cossette (1977), Meridith Gould (2017) *'''3rd runner-up:''' Lanore Van Buren (2002) *'''4th runner-up:''' Kari Lee Johnson (1985) *'''Top 6:''' Angelique de Maison (1995) *'''Top 10'''/'''12:''' Jodell Stirmlinger (1952), Carla Reid Peterson (1980), Jolene Stavrakis (1994), Madeline Helget (2022) *'''Top 15'''/'''19'''/'''20:''' Mary Ann Papke (1953), Dawn Joyce (1954), Kaylee Unverzagt (2008), Erica Nego (2009), Haley O'Brien (2014), Cat Stanley (2019) '''Minnesota''' holds a record of 16 placements at Miss USA.
===Awards=== *'''Miss Congeniality:''' Elizabeth Jane Carroll (1965), Janet Tveita (1990), Dottie Cannon (2006) *'''Miss Photogenic:''' Paige Swenson (2000), Sarah Cahill (2003)
== Winners ==
;Color key {{plainlist| * {{Color box|gold|border=darkgray}} Declared as Winner * {{Color box|#FFFF66|border=darkgray}} Ended as runner-up * {{Color box|#FFFACD|border=darkgray}} Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists }}
{| class="wikitable sortable"style="font-size:90%;" |- ! Year ! Name ! Hometown ! Age<sup>1</sup> ! width=12%| Local title ! data-sort-type=number | Placement ! Special awards ! width=31%| Notes |- | 2026 | {{sortname|Rachel|Betterley|Rachel Latuff}} | Prior Lake | 35 | | TBA | TBA | * Previously Miss Minnesota 2015 under her maiden name Rachel Latuff |- | 2025 | Megan Rivera | Prior Lake | 25 | Miss Prior Lake | | | |- | 2024 | Muna Ali | Saint Paul | 27 | Miss Minnesota City | | | |- | 2023 | Sarah Anderson | Maple Grove | 20 | Miss Maple Grove | | | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 2022 | Madeline Helget | Clearwater | 24 | Miss Clearwater | Top 12 | | |- | 2021 | Katarina Spasojevic | Minnetonka | 20 | Miss Minnetonka | | | Shortest reigning Miss Minnesota USA ({{age in years, months and days|2021|8|1|2022|5|29|sc=yes}}) |- | 2020 | Taylor Fondie | Ham Lake | 22 | | | | *Former Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader *Longest reigning Miss Minnesota USA ({{age in years, months and days|2019|12|1|2021|8|1|sc=yes}}) |- |-style="background-color:#FFFACD;" |2019 |Catherine "Cat" Stanley |Bloomington |23 | |Top 15 | | * Previously Miss Minnesota Teen USA 2014 |- | 2018 | Kalie Wright<ref name="Wright 2018"/> | Eagle Bend | 24 | | | | *Previously '''National Sweetheart 2014'''<ref name="KWNSH">{{cite news |first=Tetona |last=Dunlap |newspaper=Times-News |publisher=Lee Enterprises |location=Twin Falls, ID |title=Your Neighbor: The Kimberly Woman Crowned Miss National Sweetheart |url=http://magicvalley.com/news/local/your-neighbor-the-kimberly-woman-crowned-miss-national-sweetheart/article_5425f83e-362e-11e4-91a1-001a4bcf887a.html |date=September 7, 2014}}</ref> *Previously Miss Idaho 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=http://magicvalley.com/news/local/kimberly-native-crowned-miss-idaho/article_996f5cef-1881-57d3-8b5c-d169c6288f9e.html|title=Kimberly Native Crowned 'Miss Idaho'|publisher=magicvalley.com|date=June 23, 2015}}</ref> |- |-style="background-color:#FFFF66;" | 2017 | Meridith Gould | Minneapolis | 22 | | 2nd Runner-Up | | *Previously Miss South Dakota's Outstanding Teen 2012 *Previously Miss South Dakota 2014 *Eligible as a student of University of Minnesota at the time of crowning |- | 2016 | Bridget Jacobs | Maple Grove | 20 | | | | |- | 2015 | Jessica Scheu | Prior Lake | 23 | | | | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 2014 | Haley O'Brien | Excelsior | 21 | | data-sort-value="20" | Top 20 | | *Previously Miss Minnesota Teen USA 2010 *Previously '''Miss Collegiate America 2012''' |- | 2013 | Danielle Hooper{{citation needed|date=October 2023}} | Inver Grove Heights | 20 | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 2012 | Nitaya Panemalaythong | Savage | 26 | | {{hs|50}} | |Born in Thailand |- | 2011 | Brittany Thelemann | Plymouth | 23 | | {{hs|50}} | | Cousin of Olivia Herbert, Miss Minnesota Teen USA 2019 |- | 2010 | Courtney Basara | Duluth | 20 | | {{hs|50}} | | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 2009 | Erica Nego | Plymouth | 24 | | data-sort-value="12" | Top 15 (12th place) | | * Later Miss Universe Ghana 2011 |- |-style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 2008 | Kaylee Unverzagt | Eagan | 20 | | data-sort-value="15" | Top 15 (15th place) | | |- | 2007 | Alla Ilushka | Eden Prairie | 22 | | {{hs|50}} | | * Previously Miss Minnesota Teen USA 2002 and Top 10 at Miss Teen USA 2002 |- | 2006 | Dottie Cannon<ref>{{cite news|title=Ambition takes local woman to Baltimore; Miss Minnesota USA, Dottie Cannon of Eagan, is competing Friday in the Miss USA pageant. |publisher=Star-Tribune|date=2006-04-17|first=Delma|last=Francis|page=10E}}</ref> | Eagan | 22 | | {{hs|50}} | Miss Congeniality | |- | 2005 | Carrie Lee | Sebeka | 25 | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 2004 | Jessica Dereschuk | Stacy | 20 | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 2003 | Sarah Cahill | Waseca | 24 | | {{hs|50}} | Miss Photogenic | * Previously Miss Minnesota Teen USA 1996 |- |-style="background-color:#FFFF66;" | 2002 | Lanore Van Buren | Edina | 26 | | data-sort-value="4" | 3rd Runner-Up | Bluepoint Apparel Swimsuit and Fitness Award | |- | 2001 | Anne Marie Catherine Clausen | Golden Valley | 23 | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 2000 | Paige Swenson | Fridley | | | {{hs|50}} | Miss Photogenic | * Previously Miss Minnesota Teen USA 1994 |- | 1999 | Crystal Vandenberg<ref>{{cite press release|publisher=Associated Press|title=New Miss Minnesota-USA, Miss Minnesota Teen USA crowned |date=1998-11-30}}</ref> | Brooklyn Center | 19 | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1998 | Josan Hengen | Eden Prairie | 19 | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1997 | Melissa Hall | Minneapolis | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1996 | Karin Smith | Brooklyn Park | 25 | | {{hs|50}} | | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 1995 | Angelique de Maison | St. Louis Park | | | data-sort-value="5" | Finalist (5th place) | | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 1994 | Jolene Stravrakis | Burnsville | | | data-sort-value="10" | Semifinalist (10th place) | | |- | 1993 | Kristi Bennecke<ref>{{cite news|title=She's got her cap set for an education // 'No. 1 priority is school,' says Miss Minnesota USA |date=1992-11-19|publisher=Star-Tribune Newspaper of the Twin Cities Mpls.-St. Paul|page=07B|first=Dan|last=Freeborn}}</ref> | Anoka | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1992 | Amber Rue | Minneapolis | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1991 | April Ann Herke | Eden Prairie | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1990 | Janet Tveita | Minneapolis | | | {{hs|50}} | Miss Congeniality | |- | 1989 | Julie Knutson | Crystal | 22 | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | rowspan=3|1988 | Sue Bolich | Mound | | | {{hs|99}}N/A<sup>2</sup> | | |- | Jolene Stavrakis | Apple Valley | | | {{hs|99}}N/A<sup>2</sup> | | |- | Julie Nelson | Bloomington | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1987 | Christine Rosenberger | South St. Paul | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1986 | Cynthia Jane Peterson | Edina | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFF66;" | 1985 | Kari Lee Johnson | Minneapolis | | | data-sort-value="5" | 4th Runner-Up | | |- | 1984 | Martha Mork | Edina | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1983 | Carolyn Mattson | New Hope | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1982 | Lori Kmetz | New Brighton | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1981 | Polly Peterson | Edina | | | {{hs|50}} | | sister of Miss USA 1976 Barbara Peterson |- |-style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 1980 | Carla Reid Peterson | Albert Lea | | | Top 12<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goggin |first1=Terry |date=16 May 1980 |title=South Carolina coed is new Miss USA |pages=9 |work=Hattiesburg American |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hattiesburg-american-the-new-miss-usa-s/128638833/ |access-date=9 October 2025 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> | | |- | 1979 | Cynthia Sue Lee | St. Paul | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1978 | Janey Gohl | St. Cloud | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFF66;" | 1977 | Deborah Cossette | Minneapolis | | | data-sort-value="3" | 2nd Runner-Up | | |- |-style="background-color:GOLD;" | 1976 | Barbara Elaine Peterson | Edina | | | data-sort-value="1" | '''Miss USA 1976''' | | Non-semi-finalist at Miss Universe 1976 |- | 1975 | Dawn Lamotte | St. Paul | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1974 | Gayle Johnson | rowspan="2" | Minneapolis | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1973 | Cyndi James | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1972 | Darlene Koskiniemi | Roseville | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1971 | Shirley Kittleson | Sherburn | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1970 | Sally Strickland | St. Paul | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1969 | Laureen Darling | rowspan="2" | Minneapolis | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1968 | Arlene Larson | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1967 | Betty Ann Brewer | Richfield | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1966 | Patricia Thatcher | Austin | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1965 | Elizabeth Jane Carroll | Bloomington | | | {{hs|50}} | Miss Congeniality | |- | 1960-64 | colspan=7 | No Representative |- | 1959 | Muriel Fairbanks | rowspan="4" | Minneapolis | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1958 | Sue Bouchard | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1957 | Mary Margaret Ford | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1956 | Marilyn Johnson | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- | 1955 | Sally Ann Colombo | Stillwater | | | {{hs|50}} | | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 1954 | Dawn Joyce | rowspan="2" | Minneapolis | | | data-sort-value="19" | Semifinalist (Top 19) | | |- style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 1953 | Mary Ann Papke | | | data-sort-value="20" | Semifinalist (Top 20) | | |- |-style="background-color:#FFFACD;" | 1952 | Jodell Stirmlinger | St. Paul | | | data-sort-value="10" | Semifinalist (Top 10) | | |} <sup>1</sup> Age at the time of the Miss USA pageant <br /><sup>2</sup> Contestant resigned title before the Miss USA pageant
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website|http://www.missminnesotausa.com/mn-home.html}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090405125047/http://ericanego.com/ Miss Minnesota-USA 2009 Official Website]
{{State pageantry|State=Minnesota}} {{Minnesota Pageant Winners}} {{Miss USA state}}
Minnesota Category:Culture of Minnesota Category:Women in Minnesota Category:Recurring events established in 1952 Category:Annual events in Minnesota Category:1952 establishments in Minnesota