BROOKINGS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Kianna Healy of Hartford was named Miss South Dakota 2026 in Brookings Saturday night.
Healy, 23, graduated from O’Gorman High School and Pace University with a major in Film and Arts and Entertainment Management.
She won a $13,000 scholarship, a $1,000 preliminary talent award, a $500 preliminary fitness award, and the $500 Callee Bauman Wachter top performing arts award.
Healy’s community service initiative is “The Second Chance Project.” For her talent, she sang “I’m a Star” by Scott Alan.
She is the daughter of Russ and Michelle Healy and competed as Miss Sioux Falls.
First runner-up was Amelie Wilcox of Rapid City, garnering a $5,000 scholarship. Wilcox also won the $5,000 South Dakota Strong award, the overall interview award ($1,000), a $1,000 community service award, and the $500 Hunter Widvey Medical scholarship. Wilcox also took home the $1,000 Ray Peterson Rookie of the Year award given to the highest placing delegate competing at Miss South Dakota for the first time.
Second runner-up was Sydney Morgan of Hot Springs, receiving a $4,000 scholarship. She also received the $500 STEM scholarship.
Third runner-up was Katie Milbrandt, Brookings, garnering a $3,000 scholarship and the $1,000 Quality of Life Award.
Briley Steffensen of Hartford garnered fourth runner-up, in addition to winning a preliminary fitness award for a total earned of $2,500 in awards and scholarships.
Rounding out the top ten semi-finalists, each receiving a $750 scholarship, were Thea Tanton of Brookings, Lilly Mae Blume of Redfield, Javonte Madsen of Sioux Falls, Rylin Yerdon of Harrisburg, and Natalie Biegler of Timber Lake.
Tanton and Biegler tied for the preliminary talent award.
Laney Titze of Mitchell received $1,000 in the South Dakota Strong competition. Winning $500 each in the South Dakota Strong competition were Olivia Granaas, Jensine Matson and Taysan Rouselle.
Kyla Andvik of Fargo, ND earned the most talented non-semifinalist award ($250). Jenisha Gurung received the highest score for non-finalist in interview ($250). Top fundraiser ($500 award) was Jayden Bender.
Miss Congeniality ($500) was Miss NSU Evelynn Carlson of Aberdeen.
Twenty-seven women from across the state competed for the title, which was a record number of candidates. All won scholarships, totalling more than $60,000. Each of the non-semi-finalists received a $300 scholarship.
Healy will represent South Dakota at the Miss America Competition this September.
Healy works at Dakota News Now as a Special Projects Producer.
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