Your ultimate Miss USA state pageant resource
Take a trip back into the history of the Miss Minnesota USA and Teen USA pageants, from Jodell Stirmlinger in 1952 to 2023 winners Sarah Anderson and Mikhala Rivers. Get to know every single Miss and Teen titleholder with a full listing, hometown map and extensive photo archive, with state pageant photos, Miss USA and Teen USA competition photos and more.
22 • Edina
23 • Bloomington
Top 15 at
Miss USA
23 • Ham Lake
20 • Minnetonka
24 • Clearwater
20 • Maple Grove
Winner
Barbara Peterson (1976)
2nd runner-up
Deborah Cossette (1977), Meridith Gould (2017)
3rd runner-up
Lanore Van Buren (2002)
4th runner-up
Kari Lee Johnson (1985)
Top 5/6
Angelique de Maison (1995)
Semi-finalist
Jodell Stirmlinger (1952), Mary Ann Papke (1953), Dawn Joyce (1954), Carla Peterson (1980), Jolene Stravrakis (1994)
Top 8/10/11/12*
Madeline Helget (2022)
Top 15/16/20*
Kaylee Unverzagt (2008), Erica Nego (2009), Haley O’Brien (2014), Cat Stanley (2019)
* Where the semi-finalists are cut in multiple stages before the top 5 or 6
Congeniality
Elizabeth Carroll (1965), Janet Tveita (1990), Dottie Cannon (2006)
Photogenic
Paige Swenson (2000), Sarah Cahill (2003)
| IMAGE | YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2023 | Sarah Anderson | Maple Grove | 19 | |||
 | 2022 | Madeline Helget | Clearwater | 24 | Top 12 | ||
 | 2021 | Katarina Spasojevic | Minnetonka | 20 | |||
 | 2020 | Taylor Fondie | Ham Lake | 23 | |||
 | 2019 | Catherine Stanley* | Bloomington | 23 | Top 15 | Previously Miss MN Teen USA 2014 | |
 | 2018 | Kalie Wright^ | Eagle Bend | 25 | Previously Miss ID 2015 | ||
 | 2017 | Meridith Gould^° | Minneapolis | 22 | 2nd runner-up | Previously Miss SD Outstanding Teen 2012 & Miss SD 2014 | |
 | 2016 | Bridget Jacobs | Maple Grove | 20 | |||
 | 2015 | Jessica Scheu | Prior Lake | 23 | |||
 | 2014 | Haley O'Brien* | Excelsior | 21 | Top 20 | Previously Miss MN Teen USA 2010 | |
 | 2013 | Danielle Hooper | Inver Grove Heights | 21 | |||
 | 2012 | Nitaya Panemalaythong | Savage | 26 | |||
 | 2011 | Brittany Thelemann | Plymouth | 23 | |||
 | 2010 | Courtney Basara | Duluth | 20 | |||
 | 2009 | Erica Nego | Plymouth | 24 | Top 15 | Later Miss Universe Ghana 2011 | |
 | 2008 | Kaylee Unverzagt | Eagan | 20 | Top 15 | ||
 | 2007 | Alla Ilushka* | Eden Prairie | 22 | Previously Miss MN Teen USA 2002 (SF Miss Teen USA) | ||
 | 2006 | Dottie Cannon | Eagan | 22 | Congeniality | ||
 | 2005 | Carrie Lee | Sebeka | 25 | |||
 | 2004 | Jessica Dereschuk | Stacy | 20 | |||
 | 2003 | Sarah Cahill* | Waseca | 24 | Photogenic | Previously Miss MN Teen USA 1996 | |
 | 2002 | Lanore Van Buren | Edina | 26 | 3rd runner-up | ||
 | 2001 | Anne Marie Clausen | Golden Valley | 23 | |||
 | 2000 | Paige Swenson* | Fridley | 24 | Photogenic | Previously Miss MN Teen USA 1994 | |
 | 1999 | Crystal Vandenberg | Brooklyn Center | 19 | |||
 | 1998 | Josan Hengen | Eden Prairie | 19 | |||
 | 1997 | Melissa Hall | Minneapolis | 21 | |||
 | 1996 | Karin Smith | Brooklyn Park | 25 | |||
 | 1995 | Angelique de Maison | St. Louis Park | Finalist | |||
 | 1994 | Jolene Stravrakis | Burnsville | 26 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1993 | Kristi Bennecke | Anoka | 23 | |||
 | 1992 | Amber Rue | Hopkins | 26 | |||
 | 1991 | April Herke | Eden Prairie | 24 | |||
 | 1990 | Janet Tveita | Brooklyn Park | 20 | Congeniality | ||
 | 1989 | Julie Knutson | Crystal | 22 | |||
 | 1988 | Julie Nelson | Bloomington | 20 | |||
 | 1987 | Christine Rosenberger | South St. Paul | 20 | |||
 | 1986 | Cynthia Peterson | Edina | 22 | |||
 | 1985 | Kari Lee Johnson | Minneapolis | 20 | 4th runner-up | ||
 | 1984 | Martha Mork | Edina | 22 | |||
 | 1983 | Carolyn Mattson | New Hope | 22 | |||
 | 1982 | Lori Kmetz | New Brighton | 21 | |||
 | 1981 | Polly Peterson | Edina | 22 | Sister of Miss USA 1976 Barbara Peterson | ||
 | 1980 | Carla Peterson | Albert Lea | 19 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1979 | Cynthia Sue Lee | St. Paul | 21 | |||
 | 1978 | Janey Gohl | St. Cloud | 21 | |||
 | 1977 | Deborah Cossette | Minneapolis | 21 | 2nd runner-up | ||
 | 1976 | Barbara Peterson | Edina | 22 | Miss USA | NF Miss Universe; sister of Miss MN USA 1981 Polly Peterson | |
 | 1975 | Dawn Lamotte | Maplewood | 19 | |||
 | 1974 | Gayle Johnson | Minneapolis | 22 | |||
 | 1973 | Cyndi James | Minneapolis | 24 | |||
 | 1972 | Darlene Koskiniemi | St Paul | 19 | |||
 | 1971 | Shirley Kittleson | Sherburn | 23 | |||
 | 1970 | Sally Strickland | St. Paul | 19 | |||
 | 1969 | Laureen Darling | Minneapolis | 18 | |||
 | 1968 | Arlene Larson | Bloomington | 23 | |||
 | 1967 | Betty Ann Brewer | Minneapolis | 25 | |||
 | 1966 | Patricia Thatcher | Austin | 22 | |||
 | 1965 | Elizabeth Carroll | Bloomington | 20 | Congeniality | ||
| 1964 | Did not compete | ||||||
| 1963 | Did not compete | ||||||
| 1962 | Did not compete | ||||||
| 1961 | Did not compete | ||||||
| 1960 | Did not compete | ||||||
 | 1959 | Muriel Fairbanks | Minneapolis | 23 | |||
 | 1958 | Sue Bouchard | Minneapolis | 19 | |||
 | 1957 | Mary Margaret Ford†| Minneapolis | 18 | †2021 | ||
 | 1956 | Marilyn Johnson | Minneapolis | 18 | |||
 | 1955 | Sally Ann Colombo | Stillwater | 18 | |||
 | 1954 | Dawn Joyce | Minneapolis | 20 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1953 | Mary Ann Papke†| Minneapolis | 20 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1952 | Jodell Stirmlinger†| St. Paul | 21 | Semi-finalist | †2018 |
| YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Sarah Anderson | Maple Grove | 19 | |||
| 2022 | Madeline Helget | Clearwater | 24 | Top 12 | ||
| 2021 | Katarina Spasojevic | Minnetonka | 20 | |||
| 2020 | Taylor Fondie | Ham Lake | 23 | |||
| 2019 | Catherine Stanley* | Bloomington | 23 | Top 15 | Previously Miss MN Teen USA 2014 | |
| 2018 | Kalie Wright^ | Eagle Bend | 25 | Previously Miss ID 2015 | ||
| 2017 | Meridith Gould^° | Minneapolis | 22 | 2nd runner-up | Previously Miss SD Outstanding Teen 2012 & Miss SD 2014 | |
| 2016 | Bridget Jacobs | Maple Grove | 20 | |||
| 2015 | Jessica Scheu | Prior Lake | 23 | |||
| 2014 | Haley O'Brien* | Excelsior | 21 | Top 20 | Previously Miss MN Teen USA 2010 | |
| 2013 | Danielle Hooper | Inver Grove Heights | 21 | |||
| 2012 | Nitaya Panemalaythong | Savage | 26 | |||
| 2011 | Brittany Thelemann | Plymouth | 23 | |||
| 2010 | Courtney Basara | Duluth | 20 | |||
| 2009 | Erica Nego | Plymouth | 24 | Top 15 | Later Miss Universe Ghana 2011 | |
| 2008 | Kaylee Unverzagt | Eagan | 20 | Top 15 | ||
| 2007 | Alla Ilushka* | Eden Prairie | 22 | Previously Miss MN Teen USA 2002 (SF Miss Teen USA) | ||
| 2006 | Dottie Cannon | Eagan | 22 | Congeniality | ||
| 2005 | Carrie Lee | Sebeka | 25 | |||
| 2004 | Jessica Dereschuk | Stacy | 20 | |||
| 2003 | Sarah Cahill* | Waseca | 24 | Photogenic | Previously Miss MN Teen USA 1996 | |
| 2002 | Lanore Van Buren | Edina | 26 | 3rd runner-up | ||
| 2001 | Anne Marie Clausen | Golden Valley | 23 | |||
| 2000 | Paige Swenson* | Fridley | 24 | Photogenic | Previously Miss MN Teen USA 1994 | |
| 1999 | Crystal Vandenberg | Brooklyn Center | 19 | |||
| 1998 | Josan Hengen | Eden Prairie | 19 | |||
| 1997 | Melissa Hall | Minneapolis | 21 | |||
| 1996 | Karin Smith | Brooklyn Park | 25 | |||
| 1995 | Angelique de Maison | St. Louis Park | Finalist | |||
| 1994 | Jolene Stravrakis | Burnsville | 26 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1993 | Kristi Bennecke | Anoka | 23 | |||
| 1992 | Amber Rue | Hopkins | 26 | |||
| 1991 | April Herke | Eden Prairie | 24 | |||
| 1990 | Janet Tveita | Brooklyn Park | 20 | Congeniality | ||
| 1989 | Julie Knutson | Crystal | 22 | |||
| 1988 | Julie Nelson | Bloomington | 20 | |||
| 1987 | Christine Rosenberger | South St. Paul | 20 | |||
| 1986 | Cynthia Peterson | Edina | 22 | |||
| 1985 | Kari Lee Johnson | Minneapolis | 20 | 4th runner-up | ||
| 1984 | Martha Mork | Edina | 22 | |||
| 1983 | Carolyn Mattson | New Hope | 22 | |||
| 1982 | Lori Kmetz | New Brighton | 21 | |||
| 1981 | Polly Peterson | Edina | 22 | Sister of Miss USA 1976 Barbara Peterson | ||
| 1980 | Carla Peterson | Albert Lea | 19 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1979 | Cynthia Sue Lee | St. Paul | 21 | |||
| 1978 | Janey Gohl | St. Cloud | 21 | |||
| 1977 | Deborah Cossette | Minneapolis | 21 | 2nd runner-up | ||
| 1976 | Barbara Peterson | Edina | 22 | Miss USA | NF Miss Universe; sister of Miss MN USA 1981 Polly Peterson | |
| 1975 | Dawn Lamotte | Maplewood | 19 | |||
| 1974 | Gayle Johnson | Minneapolis | 22 | |||
| 1973 | Cyndi James | Minneapolis | 24 | |||
| 1972 | Darlene Koskiniemi | St Paul | 19 | |||
| 1971 | Shirley Kittleson | Sherburn | 23 | |||
| 1970 | Sally Strickland | St. Paul | 19 | |||
| 1969 | Laureen Darling | Minneapolis | 18 | |||
| 1968 | Arlene Larson | Bloomington | 23 | |||
| 1967 | Betty Ann Brewer | Minneapolis | 25 | |||
| 1966 | Patricia Thatcher | Austin | 22 | |||
| 1965 | Elizabeth Carroll | Bloomington | 20 | Congeniality | ||
| 1964 | Did not compete | |||||
| 1963 | Did not compete | |||||
| 1962 | Did not compete | |||||
| 1961 | Did not compete | |||||
| 1960 | Did not compete | |||||
| 1959 | Muriel Fairbanks | Minneapolis | 23 | |||
| 1958 | Sue Bouchard | Minneapolis | 19 | |||
| 1957 | Mary Margaret Ford†| Minneapolis | 18 | †2021 | ||
| 1956 | Marilyn Johnson | Minneapolis | 18 | |||
| 1955 | Sally Ann Colombo | Stillwater | 18 | |||
| 1954 | Dawn Joyce | Minneapolis | 20 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1953 | Mary Ann Papke†| Minneapolis | 20 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1952 | Jodell Stirmlinger†| St. Paul | 21 | Semi-finalist | †2018 |
16 • Andover
Miss Congeniality
at Miss Teen USA
19 • Duluth
17 • Owatonna
17 • North Oaks
17 • Maple Grove
4th runner-up
Maggie McGill (2013)
Semi-finalist
Michelle Borg (1995), Alla Ilushka (2002), Hannah Corbett (2011)
Top 10*
Allison Arling (2004), Vanessa Vonbehren (2007)
Top 15/16/20*
Lauren Hindi (2005)
* Where the semi-finalists are cut in multiple stages before the top 5 or 6
Congeniality
Olivia Herbert (2019)
| IMAGE | YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2023 | Mikhala Rivers | Maple Grove | 17 | |||
 | 2022 | Ava Ernst | North Oaks | 17 | |||
 | 2021 | Annika Wiese | Owatonna | 18 | |||
 | 2020 | Gwendolyn Buchanan | Duluth | 19 | |||
 | 2019 | Olivia Herbert | Andover | 16 | Congeniality | ||
 | 2018 | Peyton Schroeder | Rosemount | 18 | |||
 | 2017 | Tori Trittin | Lakeville | 15 | |||
 | 2016 | Sophia Primozich | Minnetonka | 17 | |||
 | 2015 | Hayden Hammond | Maple Grove | 18 | |||
 | 2014 | Catherine Stanley* | Bloomington | 18 | Later Miss MN USA 2019 | ||
 | 2013 | Maggie McGill | Plymouth | 19 | 4th runner-up | ||
 | 2012 | Kendra Berger | Apple Valley | 17 | |||
 | 2011 | Hannah Corbett | Excelsior | 17 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 2010 | Haley O'Brien* | Victoria | 18 | Later Miss MN USA 2014 (T20 Miss USA) | ||
 | 2009 | Vanessa Johnston | Lakeville | 17 | |||
 | 2008 | Sarah Sprayberry | St. Paul | 16 | |||
 | 2007 | Vanessa Vonbehren | Apple Valley | 17 | Top 10 | ||
 | 2006 | Amy Blue | Anoka | 17 | |||
 | 2005 | Lauren Hindi | Stacy | 16 | Top 15 | ||
 | 2004 | Allison Arling | Lakeville | 18 | Top 10 | ||
 | 2003 | Kristin Swoboda | White Bear Lake | 16 | |||
 | 2002 | Alla Ilushka* | Eden Prairie | 18 | Semi-finalist | Later Miss MN USA 2007 | |
 | 2001 | Serene Aandahl | Minneapolis | 17 | SF Miss Universe Canada 2007 | ||
 | 2000 | Jennifer Jones | Lakeville | 18 | |||
 | 1999 | Laura Beth Reier | Brooklyn Park | 18 | |||
 | 1998 | Kristin Hilgenberg | Lakeville | 19 | |||
 | 1997 | Jamie Duffney | Plymouth | 17 | |||
 | 1996 | Sarah Cahill* | Waseca | 17 | Later Miss MN USA 2003 (Photogenic @ Miss USA) | ||
 | 1995 | Michelle Borg | Brainerd | 17 | Semi-finalist | ||
 | 1994 | Paige Swenson* | Fridley | 19 | Later Miss MN USA 2000 (Photogenic @ Miss USA) | ||
 | 1993 | Charity Lundy | Stacy | 17 | |||
 | 1992 | Elizabeth Peters | Lake Hubert | 16 | |||
 | 1991 | Natasha Grudnoske | Arden Hills | 16 | |||
 | 1990 | Jennifer Bell | Blooming Prairie | 16 | |||
 | 1989 | Darcy Engelstad | Prior Lake | 18 | |||
 | 1988 | Julie Ward | Savage | 17 | |||
 | 1987 | Karin Hargroves | Shoreview | 17 | |||
 | 1986 | Jennifer Gessell | Bloomington | 16 | |||
 | 1985 | Lana Bourque | Crystal | 16 | |||
 | 1984 | Heather Johnson | Truman | ||||
 | 1983 | Kimberly Ess | Shakopee | 17 |
| YEAR | NAME | HOMETOWN | AGE | PLACEMENT | AWARD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Mikhala Rivers | Maple Grove | 17 | |||
| 2022 | Ava Ernst | North Oaks | 17 | |||
| 2021 | Annika Wiese | Owatonna | 18 | |||
| 2020 | Gwendolyn Buchanan | Duluth | 19 | |||
| 2019 | Olivia Herbert | Andover | 16 | Congeniality | ||
| 2018 | Peyton Schroeder | Rosemount | 18 | |||
| 2017 | Tori Trittin | Lakeville | 15 | |||
| 2016 | Sophia Primozich | Minnetonka | 17 | |||
| 2015 | Hayden Hammond | Maple Grove | 18 | |||
| 2014 | Catherine Stanley* | Bloomington | 18 | Later Miss MN USA 2019 | ||
| 2013 | Maggie McGill | Plymouth | 19 | 4th runner-up | ||
| 2012 | Kendra Berger | Apple Valley | 17 | |||
| 2011 | Hannah Corbett | Excelsior | 17 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 2010 | Haley O'Brien* | Victoria | 18 | Later Miss MN USA 2014 (T20 Miss USA) | ||
| 2009 | Vanessa Johnston | Lakeville | 17 | |||
| 2008 | Sarah Sprayberry | St. Paul | 16 | |||
| 2007 | Vanessa Vonbehren | Apple Valley | 17 | Top 10 | ||
| 2006 | Amy Blue | Anoka | 17 | |||
| 2005 | Lauren Hindi | Stacy | 16 | Top 15 | ||
| 2004 | Allison Arling | Lakeville | 18 | Top 10 | ||
| 2003 | Kristin Swoboda | White Bear Lake | 16 | |||
| 2002 | Alla Ilushka* | Eden Prairie | 18 | Semi-finalist | Later Miss MN USA 2007 | |
| 2001 | Serene Aandahl | Minneapolis | 17 | SF Miss Universe Canada 2007 | ||
| 2000 | Jennifer Jones | Lakeville | 18 | |||
| 1999 | Laura Beth Reier | Brooklyn Park | 18 | |||
| 1998 | Kristin Hilgenberg | Lakeville | 19 | |||
| 1997 | Jamie Duffney | Plymouth | 17 | |||
| 1996 | Sarah Cahill* | Waseca | 17 | Later Miss MN USA 2003 (Photogenic @ Miss USA) | ||
| 1995 | Michelle Borg | Brainerd | 17 | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1994 | Paige Swenson* | Fridley | 19 | Later Miss MN USA 2000 (Photogenic @ Miss USA) | ||
| 1993 | Charity Lundy | Stacy | 17 | |||
| 1992 | Elizabeth Peters | Lake Hubert | 16 | |||
| 1991 | Natasha Grudnoske | Arden Hills | 16 | |||
| 1990 | Jennifer Bell | Blooming Prairie | 16 | |||
| 1989 | Darcy Engelstad | Prior Lake | 18 | |||
| 1988 | Julie Ward | Savage | 17 | |||
| 1987 | Karin Hargroves | Shoreview | 17 | |||
| 1986 | Jennifer Gessell | Bloomington | 16 | |||
| 1985 | Lana Bourque | Crystal | 16 | |||
| 1984 | Heather Johnson | Truman | ||||
| 1983 | Kimberly Ess | Shakopee | 17 |
