Miss South Carolina USA

For the state pageant affiliated with Miss America, see Miss South Carolina.

Miss South Carolina USA
Formation1952
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersAiken
Location
Membership
Miss USA
Official language
English
Key people
Janice McDonald
Paula Miles
WebsiteOfficial website

The Miss South Carolina USA competition, previously known as Miss South Carolina Universe,[1][2] 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 has been produced by Paula Miles, the sister of Miss South Carolina USA 1979, Janice McDonald, since 1980, and it has been directed by RPM Productions.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

Gracen Grainger of Clemson was crowned Miss South Carolina USA 2024 on June 15, 2024, at North Charleston Coliseum & Performing Arts Center in North Charleston. She will represent South Carolina for the title of Miss USA 2024.

  1. ^ "Limestone's Beauties". The Gaffney Ledger. 27 June 1961. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Winthrop Girl wins state 'Universe' title". The Index-Journal. 20 June 1964. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Price, Mark (13 November 2006). "Woman responsible for share of Cinderellas". The Desert Sun. p. D5.
  4. ^ "Clemson co-ed hopes history will repeat itself at pageant". The Greenville News. 29 November 1989. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Lucas, Lynne (24 November 1991). "A Different World". The Greenville News. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.