The Miss South Carolina USA competition, previously known as Miss South Carolina Universe, is the pageant that selects the representative for the state

South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

in the

Miss USA Miss USA is an American beauty pageant that has been held annually since 1952 to select the entrant from United States in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operated both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA, until 2020, ...

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.

Miriam Stevenson Miriam Jacqueline Stevenson (born July 4, 1933) is an American television host, actress, former model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 1954. She was the first American to win the title, and had previously been crowned Miss USA 1 ...

, South Carolina's first

and the United States' first

Miss Universe Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by a United States and Thailand based Miss Universe Organization.Natalie Tadena (July 2, 2015"Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant Lands on Reelz Cable Channel". ''The Wall Stre ...

, was also the first Miss USA winner to have competed at

Miss America Miss America is an annual competition that is open to women from the United States between the ages of 17 and 25. Originating in 1921 as a "bathing beauty revue", the contest is now judged on competitors' talent performances and interviews. As ...

. She was the first woman to have competed at

, and

. South Carolina's second Miss USA was

Shawn Weatherly Shawn Nichols Weatherly is an American actress and beauty queen who won the titles of Miss USA and Miss Universe in 1980. She went on to star as Cadet Karen Adams in the film '' Police Academy 3: Back in Training'' (1986), and as Jill Riley in th ...

, who also went on to win

. Seven Miss South Carolina USAs have also held the

Miss South Carolina Teen USA The Miss South Carolina Teen USA pageant is the competition that selects the representatives for the state of South Carolina in the Miss Teen USA pageant. The pageant has been directed by RPM Productions since its inception. South Carolina is in ...

title and competed at

Miss Teen USA Miss Teen USA is a beauty pageant formerly run, since 1983, by the Miss Universe Organization for girls aged 14–19. Unlike its sister pageants Miss Universe, which currently broadcasts on Fox and Miss USA, this pageant is webcast on the M ...

. Two have also competed at

. Miss South Carolina USA titleholders have also competed at two other major international pageants.

Gina Tolleson Gina Marie Tolleson (born March 26, 1969) is an American model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss World America, Miss World America 1990 and also Miss World 1990. Miss World Gina won the title of Miss South Carolina USA 1990 and was the first ...

, first runner-up at Miss USA 1990, went on to win the

Miss World Miss World is the oldest existing international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Since his death in 2000, Morley's widow, Julia Morley, has co-chaired the pageant. Along with Miss Universe, Miss Int ...

crown that year, and Miss South Carolina USA 2004,

Amanda Pennekamp Amanda Helen Pennekamp (born July 17, 1981) is an American model, television personality, and former beauty queen from Columbia, South Carolina who has competed in the Miss USA and Miss Earth pageants. Pennekamp won the Miss South Carolina USA ...

, has also competed at the

Miss Earth Miss Earth is an annual international major beauty pageant based in the Philippines that advocates for environmental awareness, conservation and social responsibility. Along with Miss World, Miss Universe, and Miss International, it is one of t ...

2006 pageant where she made the top 16. Meera Bhonslé of Lexington was crowned Miss South Carolina USA 2022 on March 5, 2022 at North Charleston Coliseum & Performing Arts Center in

North Charleston North Charleston is the third-largest city in the state of South Carolina.City Planning Department (2008-07)City of North Charleston boundary map. City of North Charleston. Retrieved January 21, 2011. On June 12, 1972, the city of North Charlest ...

. She represented South Carolina for the title of Miss USA 2022.

Gallery of titleholders

File:Shawn Weatherly.jpg,

, Miss South Carolina USA 1980,

Miss USA 1980 Miss USA 1980 was the 29th Miss USA pageant, televised live on May 15 from the Gulf Coast Convention Center in Biloxi, Mississippi on CBS. The pageant was won by Shawn Weatherly of South Carolina, who was crowned by outgoing titleholder Mary Th ...

Miss Universe 1980 Miss Universe 1980, the 29th Miss Universe pageant, was held on 8 July 1980 at the Sejong Cultural Center in Seoul, South Korea. It was the first time in the pageant's history that the event was held in South Korea. Shawn Weatherly from the Unite ...

File:Allison Grisso Miss SC USA 1983.png, Allison Grisso, Miss South Carolina USA 1983 File:Maribeth Curry.jpg, Maribeth Curry, Miss South Carolina USA 1986 File:AmandaPennekamp.jpg,

, Miss South Carolina USA 2004, competing as

Miss Earth USA Miss Earth USA (formerly Miss Earth United States) is an annual beauty pageant which selects the United States representative to Miss Earth which is an annual international beauty pageant promoting environmental awareness. The current titlehold ...

in the swimsuit competition at

Miss Earth 2006 Miss Earth 2006, the 6th edition of the Miss Earth pageant, was held on November 26, 2006, at the grounds of the National Museum in Manila, Philippines. The pageant was won by Hil Hernández of Chile and crowned by outgoing titleholder, Miss Ea ...

File:LacieLybrand.jpg,

Lacie Lybrand Lacie Lyn Lybrand (born June 16, 1982) is an American model and beauty queen from Lexington, South Carolina, who was the winner of the Miss United States 2003 pageant, held in New York City. Lybrand won the Miss South Carolina USA 2006 title in ...

, Miss South Carolina USA 2006 File:Stephanie Smith cropped.jpg, Stephanie Murray Smith, Miss South Carolina USA 2009

Results summary

*Miss USAs:

(1954),

(1980),

Lu Parker Frances Louise Parker (born April 16, 1968) is an American journalist, Miss USA 1994 winner, animal rights advocate, and motivational speaker. Early life Born in Anderson, South Carolina, Parker attended the College of Charleston, where she wa ...

(1994) *1st runners-up: Mary Kemp Griffin (1953), Betty Cherry (1956), Vickie Chesser (1970),

(1990),

(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),

(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 Mitchell McGeever "Mick" Zais (born December 10, 1946) is an American education official and former general who served as the acting United States secretary of education. He previously served as the 17th South Carolina Superintendent of Educatio ...

(2007), Jamie Hill (2008), Erika Powell (2012), Leah Lawson (2016) South Carolina holds a record of 37 placements at

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

References

External links

Official website
{{Miss USA state

South Carolina culture Recurring events established in 1952 1952 establishments in South Carolina