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Miss South Carolina USA

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 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. 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.

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.

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.

Gallienne Nabila of Greer was crowned Miss South Carolina USA 2025 on August 31, 2025, at The Twichell Auditorium in Spartanburg. She represented South Carolina for the title of Miss USA 2025.

Gallery of titleholders

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 15/16/19/20: 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), Gracen Grainger (2024), Gallienne Nabila (2025)

South Carolina holds a record of 40 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

References

External links