# Miss Minnesota

The Miss Minnesota competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Minnesota in the Miss America pageant. Women from Minnesota have won the Miss America crown on three occasions. The most recent winner was Gretchen Carlson in 1989.
Emily Schumacher of Mankato was crowned Miss Minnesota 2024 on June 21, 2024. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2025.

## Results summary

The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Minnesota titleholders at the national Miss America pageants/competitions. The year in parentheses indicates the year of the national competition during which a placement and/or award was garnered, not the year attached to the contestant's state title.

### Placements

* Miss America: BeBe Shopp (1948), Dorothy Benham (1977), Gretchen Carlson (1989)
* 1st runners-up: Elaine Campbell (1947)
* 2nd runners-up: N/A
* 3rd runners-up: Lauren Susan Green (1985)
* 4th runners-up: Arlene Anderson (1945), Nancee Parkinson (1962), Barbara Hasselberg (1965), Judy Mendenhall (1970), Rebecca Yeh (2014)
* Top 10: Florence Hunton (1943), Charlotte Sims (1968), Sheila Bernhagen (1972), Laurie Saarinen (1983)
* Top 12: Patricia Cummings (1944)
* Top 15: Lucille McGinty (1925), Marion Rudeen (1939), Gloria Burkhart (1949), Michaelene Karlen (2019)

### Awards
#### Preliminary awards

* Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: BeBe Shopp (1948), Nancee Parkinson (1962), Judy Mendenhall (1970), Dorothy Benham (1977), Sue Erickson (1979), Debra Goodwin (1981)
* Preliminary Talent: Marion Rudeen (1939), Arlene Anderson (1945), Elaine Campbell (1947), Gloria Burkhart (1949), Barbara Hasselberg (1965), Judy Mendenhall (1970), Dorothy Benham (1977), Lauren Susan Green (1985), Gretchen Carlson (1989), Rebecca Yeh (2014), Brianna Drevlow (2018)

#### Non-finalist awards

* Non-finalist Talent: Keri Thorne (1976), Debra Goodwin (1981), Jo Bender (1993), Shawna Deeann Stoltenberg (1994), Jennifer Ostergaard (1998), Karyn Stordahl (2006), Nicole Swanson (2007), Brooke Kilgarriff (2010), Kathryn Knuttila (2011), Brianna Drevlow (2018)

#### Other awards

* Miss Congeniality: Madeline Van Ert (2017)
* Louanne Gamba Instrumental Award: Kathryn Knuttila (2011), Rebecca Yeh (2014)
* Quality of Life Award Winners: Jennifer Ostergaard (1998)
* Quality of Life Award Finalists: Jennifer Hudspeth (2008), Brooke Kilgarriff (2010), Kathryn Knuttila (2011), Natalie Davis (2012), Brianna Drevlow (2018)
* STEM Scholarship Finalist: Gabrielle "Elle" Mark (2022)
* Waterford Business Management & Marketing Award: Paula Knoll (1996)

## Winners

* Declared as winner
* Ended as a runner-up
* Ended as a finalist or semi-finalist
| Year | Name | Hometown | Age | Local Title | Miss America Talent | Placement at Miss America | Special scholarships at Miss America | Notes |
| 2024 | Emily Rae Schumacher | Mankato | 24 | Miss Mankato | Dance "Elvis Has Left the Building” | Top 11 | | Previously Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2017 Older sister of Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2022, Julia Schumacher |
| 2023 | Angelina Amerigo | Woodbury | 22 | Miss West Central | Dance | | | |
| 2022 | Rachel Evangelisto | Minneapolis | 24 | Miss Winona | Praying Mantis Kung Fu | | | First Native American Miss Minnesota |
| 2021 | Gabrielle (Elle) Louise Mark | Red Wing | 25 | Miss St. Croix Valley | Vocal | | STEM Scholarship Finalist | |
| 2019–20 | Kathryn Kueppers | Mendota Heights | 21 | Miss Coon Rapids | Vocal | | | Daughter of Miss Minnesota 1983, Vicki Plaster Kueppers Previously Miss Minnesota Sweetheart 2018 Top 10 finalist at National Sweetheart 2018 pageant |
| 2018 | Michaelene Karlen | Kasson | 23 | Miss South Central | Contemporary Ballet, "Symphony No. 3" by Philip Glass | Top 15 | | |
| 2017 | Brianna Drevlow | Thief River Falls | 23 | Miss North Star | Classical Piano, Rhapsody in Blue | | Non-finalist Talent Award Preliminary Talent Award Quality of Life Award Finalist | |
| 2016 | Madeline Van Ert | Rochester | 19 | Miss River Valley | Piano/Vocal, "What a Wonderful World" | | Miss Congeniality | Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2015 pageant |
| 2015 | Rachel Latuff | Hastings | 24 | Miss Olmsted County | Contemporary Ribbon Dance, "Out of the Woods" | | | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2014 pageant |
| 2014 | Savannah Cole | Brainerd | 19 | Miss Southern Valley | Vocal, "The House of the Rising Sun" | | | |
| 2013 | Rebecca Yeh | Nisswa | 20 | Miss Northwest | Violin, "Scherzo Tarantelle" by Henryk Wieniawski | 4th runner-up | Louanne Gamba Instrumental Award Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 2012 | Siri Freeh | Lake Park | 22 | Miss Northwest | Lyrical Dance, "Make Us One" | | | |
| 2011 | Natalie Davis | Dassel | 21 | Miss Mankato | Vocal, "Unexpected Song" | | Quality of Life Award Finalist | Previously Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2006 Contestant at National Sweetheart 2009 pageant |
| 2010 | Kathryn Knuttila | Detroit Lakes | 23 | Miss Twin Cities | Original Piano Composition, "Quintessence" | | Louanne Gamba Instrumental Award Non-finalist Talent Award Quality of Life Award Finalist | Sister of Miss Minnesota 2001, Kari Knuttila |
| 2009 | Brooke Kilgarriff | Eagan | 20 | Miss Twin Cities | Vocal, "Somebody to Love" | | Non-finalist Talent Award Quality of Life Award Finalist | |
| 2008 | Angela McDermott | Austin | 24 | Miss Twin Cities | Vocal, "You Don't Own Me" | | | |
| 2007 | Jennifer Hudspeth | Apple Valley | 23 | Miss Mankato | Vocal, "Life of the Party" from The Wild Party | | Quality of Life Award Finalist | |
| 2006 | Nicole Swanson | Lakeville | 24 | Miss Twin Cities | Classical Viola, "Etude Speciale Opus 36, No. 29" by Jacques Féréol Mazas | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 2005 | Karyn Stordahl | Owatonna | 24 | Miss Heart of the Lakes | Classical Piano Medley, "Malagueña," "Prelude in G minor," "Fantaisie-Impromptu," & "Clair de Lune" | | Non-finalist Talent Award | Married to NFL player Ben Utecht |
| 2004 | Tiffany Ogle | Waverly | 24 | Miss Metropolitan | Broadway Vocal, "Nothing" from A Chorus Line | | | Co-host of morning show The Morning Blend for Milwaukee's WTMJ-TV |
| 2003 | Megan Torgerson | Warren | 23 | Miss Coon Rapids | Classical Vocal, "Una Voce Poco Fa" from The Barber of Seville | | | |
| 2002 | Allyson Kearns | Eden Prairie | 22 | Miss Twin Cities | Dance, "I Hope I Get It" from A Chorus Line | | | |
| 2001 | Kari Knuttila | Detroit Lakes | 21 | Miss Twin Cities | Classical Piano, "Sonata in B Minor" by Liszt | | | Sister of Miss Minnesota 2010, Kathryn Knuttila |
| 2000 | Katherine Hill | Wayzata | 23 | Miss Twin Cities | Vocal / Piano, "All by Myself" | | | |
| 1999 | Natalie Lund | New Brighton | 21 | Miss Central Minnesota | Tap Dance, "Shout And Feel It" | | | |
| 1998 | Megan West | Litchfield | 22 | Miss Winona | Vocal, "I'm Afraid This Must Be Love" | | | |
| 1997 | Jennifer Ostergaard | Winona | 22 | Miss Winona | Dramatic Monologue, "Clear Glass Marbles" from Talking With... | | Non-finalist Talent Award Quality of Life Award | |
| 1996 | Sherry Johnson | Owatonna | 22 | Miss Winona | Vocal, "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart" | | | |
| 1995 | Paula Knoll | Moorhead | 22 | Miss Northwest | Classical Violin, "Csárdás" | | Waterford Business Management & Marketing Award | |
| 1994 | Eileen Kay Van Driest | Winona | 23 | Miss Cottage Grove | Classical Flute | | | |
| 1993 | Shawna Deeann Stoltenberg | Coon Rapids | 24 | Miss Stillwater | Classical Piano | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1992 | Jo Bender | Rochester | 23 | Miss Rochester | Fiddle Medley, "Dixie," "Tennessee River," & "Orange Blossom Special" | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1991 | Julie Richardson | Fridley | 24 | Miss Coon Rapids | Vocal, "Someone Like You" from Jekyll & Hyde | | | |
| 1990 | Brenda Armstrong | Albert Lea | 19 | Miss Albert Lea | Harp, "La Source" by Alphonse Hasselmans | | | |
| 1989 | Lynne Ann Schacher | East Grand Forks | 25 | Miss Metropolitan | Ballet / Jazz Dance, Selections from Merrily We Roll Along | | | |
| 1988 | Susan Johnson | | | Miss Mankato | | Did not compete; originally second runner-up, later assumed the title after Carlson won Miss America 1988 and the first runner-up declined to take the title | Did not compete; originally second runner-up, later assumed the title after Carlson won Miss America 1988 and the first runner-up declined to take the title | Did not compete; originally second runner-up, later assumed the title after Carlson won Miss America 1988 and the first runner-up declined to take the title |
| 1988 | Gretchen Carlson | Anoka | 22 | Miss Cottage Grove | Classical Violin, Zigeunerweisen | Winner | Preliminary Talent Award | Former chairwoman of the Miss America Board of Directors Filed a lawsuit against then Fox News Chairman and CEO, Roger Ailes, claiming sexual harassment, which eventually was settled for $20 million Former co-host of Fox & Friends and anchor of The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson |
| 1987 | Katherine Killen | Owatonna | 20 | Miss Owatonna | Vocal, "Tonight" | | | |
| 1986 | Kristine Fouks | Stillwater | 23 | Miss White Bear Lake | Vocal | | | Placed as 1st runner-up in the state pageant, assumed the title after Phyliky resigned |
| 1986 | Lisa Phyliky | | | | | N/A | N/A | Resigned due to knee injury |
| 1985 | Elizabeth Hunter | Austin | 21 | Miss Austin | Semi-classical Vocal, "Love Is Where You Find It" | | | |
| 1984 | Lauren Green | Minneapolis | 26 | Miss Twin Cities | Piano, "Étude Op. 10, No. 4 in C-Sharp Minor" by Frédéric Chopin | 3rd runner-up | Preliminary Talent Award | First African-American Miss Minnesota |
| 1983 | Vicki Plaster | St. Paul | 23 | Miss Twin Cities | Vocal Medley, "Just You Wait" & "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady | | | Mother of Miss Minnesota 2019, Kathryn Kueppers |
| 1982 | Laurie Saarinen | Osage | 21 | Miss Park Rapids | Vocal, "My Man" | Top 10 | | Previously Miss North Dakota USA 1981 |
| 1981 | Elizabeth Ruyak | Mankato | 20 | Miss Mankato | Piano, Fantaisie-Impromptu by Frédéric Chopin | | | |
| 1980 | Debra Goodwin | Austin | 20 | Miss Austin | Classical Piano | | Non-finalist Talent Award Preliminary Swimsuit Award | |
| 1979 | Debra Ann Nerby | Rochester | 24 | Miss Byron | Vocal, "Who Can I Turn To?" | | | Debra Ann Nerby Desmonde died at age 62 after an expended illness on December 29, 2017 |
| 1978 | Sue Erickson | Coon Rapids | 19 | Miss Coon Rapids | Vocal, "With a Song in My Heart" | | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | |
| 1977 | Kim Fossey | Austin | 20 | Miss Austin | Popular Vocal, "Mister Melody" | | | |
| 1976 | Mary Catherine Nelson | Winona | 19 | Miss Winona | Classical piano | Did not compete; later assumed the title after Benham won Miss America 1977 | Did not compete; later assumed the title after Benham won Miss America 1977 | Did not compete; later assumed the title after Benham won Miss America 1977 |
| 1976 | Mary Catherine Nelson | Winona | 19 | Miss Winona | Classical piano | | | Later named Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest 1979 and placed fourth runner-up to Miss Wisconsin 1979 while attending UW-La Crosse. |
| 1976 | Dorothy Benham | Edina | 20 | Miss South St. Paul | Classical Vocal, "Adele's Laughing Song" from Die Fledermaus | Winner | Preliminary Swimsuit Award Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 1975 | Keri Thorne | White Bear Lake | 19 | Miss White Bear Lake | Flute, "Swingin' Shepherd Blues" by Moe Koffman | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 1974 | Pam Bernhagen | Bloomington | 20 | Miss Bloomington | Acrobatic Jazz Ballet, "Fiddler on the Roof" | | | Sister of Miss Minnesota 1971, Sheila Bernhagen |
| 1973 | Joleen Benoit | Farmington | 19 | Miss Shakopee | Vocal / Guitar, "Danny's Song" | | | |
| 1972 | Linda Hagen | Hampton | 22 | Miss Saint Paul | Popular Vocal, "Who Will Buy?" from Oliver! | | | |
| 1971 | Sheila Bernhagen | Bloomington | 19 | Miss Bloomington | Acrobatic Jazz Ballet, "Flim Flam Man" | Top 10 | | Sister of Miss Minnesota 1974, Pam Bernhagen |
| 1970 | Juliana Gabor | South St. Paul | 20 | Miss South St. Paul | Popular Vocal, "My Coloring Book" | | | |
| 1969 | Judy Mendenhall | Edina | 18 | Miss Edina | Flute, "The Swiss Shepherd's Song" by Pietro Morlacchi | 4th runner-up | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 1968 | Mary Williams | Minneapolis | 20 | Miss St. Anthony Village | Tap Dance, "Wall Street Rag" by Scott Joplin | | | |
| 1967 | Charlotte Sims | St. Paul | 19 | Miss Roseville | Acrobatic Dance, "Ebb Tide" | Top 10 | | |
| 1966 | Diane Lindgren | St. Paul | 19 | Miss White Bear Lake | Folk Singing & Guitar | | | |
| 1965 | Jeanne Ruth | St. Paul | 18 | Miss Saint Paul | Interpretive Jazz Dance, Selections from West Side Story | | | |
| 1964 | Barbara Hasselberg | Bloomington | 21 | Miss Bloomington | Authentic Polynesian Dances, "Hawaiian War Chant" | 4th runner-up | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 1963 | Sharon Carnes | St. Paul | | Miss Saint Paul | Vocal, "Love Is Where You Find It" from The Kissing Bandit | | | |
| 1962 | Judith Lerstad | Bloomington | 22 | Miss Bloomington | Alto & Bass Saxophone Medley, "Harlem Nocturne," "Misty," & "Hubcaps & Tailgates" | | | |
| 1961 | Nancee Parkinson | West St. Paul | 18 | Miss West St. Paul | Modern Calypso Jazz Dance | 4th runner-up | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | |
| 1960 | Jean Elverum | Faribault | 22 | Miss Faribault | Vocal, "Romany Life" from The Fortune Teller | | | |
| 1959 | Judy Olson | Albert Lea | 19 | Miss Albert Lea | Modern Dance | | | |
| 1958 | Diane Albers | St. Paul | | Miss Saint Paul | Piano, "Allegro de Concierto" by Enrique Granados | | | |
| 1957 | Ardyce Gustafson | St. Paul | | Miss Saint Paul | Vocal Medley from My Fair Lady | | | |
| 1956 | Marie Miller | Winona | | Miss Winona | Vocal, "Batti Batti o bel Masette" from Don Giovanni | | | |
| 1955 | Marlyse Reed | Fairmont | | Miss Fairmont | Dramatic Monologue from L'Aiglon | | | |
| 1954 | Jeanne Reince | Winona | | Miss Winona | Classical Vocal | | | |
| 1953 | Idell Hulin | Minneapolis | | Miss Minneapolis | Vocal | | | |
| 1952 | Carole Wick | Duluth | | Miss Duluth | Vocal | | | |
| 1951 | Katherine Rose Clark | Minneapolis | | Miss Minneapolis | Classical Vocal, "The Jewel Song" from Faust | | | Kathryn Rose Clark, a native of La Crosse, Wis., was a student the MacPhail School of Music in Minneapolis, Minn. for three years at the time of her state victory. |
| 1950 | Jeanne M. Traun | Minneapolis | 20 | Miss Minneapolis | Vocal | | | Jeanne M. Traun Grace died at age 92 on January 13, 2024 after a bout with dementia. |
| 1949 | Gloria Burkhart | Minneapolis | | Miss Minneapolis | Violin, Zigeunerweisen | Top 15 | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 1948 | Jean Sheils | | | Miss Edina | | N/A | N/A | Assumed the title after Shopp was named Miss America 1948 |
| 1948 | BeBe Shopp | Hopkins | 18 | Miss Hopkins | Vibraharp, "Caprice Viennois" by Fritz Kreisler | Winner | Preliminary Swimsuit Award | |
| 1947 | Elaine Campbell | Minneapolis | | Miss Minneapolis | Classical Vocal, "Je Veux Vivre" from Roméo et Juliette | 1st runner-up | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 1946 | Rosemarie Gregg | St. Paul | | Miss Saint Paul | | | | |
| 1945 | Arlene Anderson | Minneapolis | | Miss Minneapolis | Vocal / Marimba, "Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life" from Naughty Marietta | 4th runner-up | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 1944 | Patricia Cummings | Minneapolis | | | Hula | Top 12 | | |
| 1943 | Florence Hunton | Minneapolis | | | Dramatic Reading from "Désirée’s Baby" | Top 10 | | |
| 1942 | Jane Groerner | Minneapolis | | | | | | |
| 1941 | Patricia Tiets | Minneapolis | | | | | | |
| 1940 | Virginia Kepler | Minneapolis | | | | | | |
| 1939 | Marion Rudeen | Minneapolis | | | Acrobatic Dance | Top 15 | Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 1938 | Avis Claire Darrow | Duluth | | | | | | |
| 1937 | Cecelia Rodge | Minneapolis | | | | | | |
| 1936 | Irene Martineau | Minneapolis | | Miss Minneapolis | | | | |
| 1935 | Mildred Barrett | Marshall | | | | | | |
| 1934 | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held |
| 1933 | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1932 | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held |
| 1931 | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held |
| 1930 | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held |
| 1929 | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held |
| 1928 | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held |
| 1927 | Sylvia Irene Brenner | Minneapolis | | Miss Minneapolis | | | | Competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1926 | Florence Fuller | Duluth | | Miss Duluth | | | | Multiple Minnesota representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1926 | Helen Katherine Douglas | Minneapolis | | Miss Minneapolis | | | | Multiple Minnesota representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1925 | Lucille McGinty | Minneapolis | | Miss Minneapolis | | Top 15 | | Multiple Minnesota representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1925 | Dorothy Bastyr | St. Paul | | Miss Saint Paul | | | | Multiple Minnesota representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1924 | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1923 | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1922 | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1921 | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant | No Minnesota representative at Miss America pageant |