Madison McKeown was crowned Miss South Dakota USA 2016 in the Brandon Valley Performing Arts Center on October 4, 2015 by the outgoing queen, Lexy Schenk. Tessa Dee was adjudged as 1st runner-up, Alyssa Hustrulid was titled as 2nd runner-up, Regan Olson was announced as 3rd runner-up and Kendra Woytassek was declared as 4th runner-up. Completing the semi-finalists spot were Megan Spring, Christina Wheeler, Alaina Bertsch, Jenna Neth and Lainie Kessler. At the same event was crowned Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2016 Makenzie Falcon.
The pageant also witnessed allocations of special awards. Miss Congeniality was bagged by Amillionara Davis. Miss Photogenic was grabbed by Jenna Neth, NF Interview went to Amillionara Davis, NF Swimsuit was bagged by Ashley Hagel and NF Gown was won by Ashley Muehl.
Madison McKeown is a former Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2014 who represented her state at Miss Teen USA 2014 in Nassau, Bahamas. McKeown is a freshman at Kansas State University where she is double majoring in Public Relations and Fashion. She’s planning to battle school bullying. Madison shares her personal story of struggling with peer exclusion, bullying and making a good choice to include not exclude.
She has been competing in pageants since she is 6 years old. In 2014 Madison designed her own state pageant evening gown and hopes to pursue a career using her pageant and modeling background combined with her degree in fashion and public relations. A model by profession she has been in Seventeen Prom, Teen Vogue, & Teen Prom magazines and has done editorial, runway and market work.
South Dakota is one of the least successful states at the Miss USA Pageant, having only placed twice and never having advanced past the Semi-finals. Do you think Madison McKeown can break this curse?