I've mentioned before that there are an unusually high number of former Teen titleholders returning to compete this year and for the fourth or fifth year in a row South Dakota has more than one competing. Last year's first runner-up Kalani Jorgensen, who was Miss SD Teen USA 2012, is back, as is Miss SD Teen USA 2010 Alyssa Hustrulid who was second runner-up in 2016 & 2017.
Other than Kalani & Alyssa there are no other former Miss runners-up competing this year, but last year's Teen third runner-up Julia Gesling has moved up to the Miss division this year.
In the Teen competition, Shelby Specht is the only returning Teen semi-finalist. There are four non-finalists returning this year.
Contestant lists
Jennifer D.
Berkeley F.
Blair Flammond (NF 18)
Julia Gesling (3RU SD TUSA 18)
Megan Hill (SF SD TUSA 12, SF 10, NF 09)
Alexa H.
Alyssa Hustrulid (2RU 17, 2RU 16, SD USA 10)
Kalani Jorgenson (1RU 18, SF 17, SD USA 12)
Morgan K.
Liz K.
Rebeka L.
Abigail M.
Aanna Okerlund
Jhena van den Hoek (NF 18, NF 16, SF SD TUSA 15, NF 14)
Victorie W.
Cate B.
Kate Dailey (NF 18)
Janelle Dickau
Anna F.
Alexzaria P.
Danielle H.
Torrance Howe (NF 18)
Izabel K.
Alexis K.
Jaimi McN.
Luann M.
Jaydlynn N.
Matilyn O.
Madison P.
Emma S.
Molly S.
Jenae Schoeberl (NF 18, NF 17)
Shelby Specht (SF 18)
Jaimye Lynn Wininger (NF 18)