BROOKINGS – Twelve young women from around the state will compete for the title of Miss South Dakota’s Teen 2026, May 29-30. The theme of this year’s competition is “United in Harmony” with delegates judged on interview, talent, physical fitness, and evening gown. The new titleholder will compete for the title of Miss America’s Teen at West Palm Beach, Florida, on Aug. 28-Sept. 6.
The competition is taking place at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center on the South Dakota State University campus in Brookings, in conjunction with the Miss South Dakota competition. Showtime will be 6:30 p.m. May 29, with the new Miss South Dakota’s Teen crowned at the conclusion of the May 29 performance. Tickets are available at https://www.misssd.org.
The pageant will feature Taya Ritterbush of Hot Springs, the current Miss South Dakota’s Teen. Taya represented South Dakota at the 2025 Miss America’s Teen Competition in Orlando.
Throughout its 78-year history, the Miss South Dakota program has impacted over 18,000 young women. This year, over $65,000 in scholarships and awards will be awarded during the three-day event. The Miss South Dakota Scholarship Program’s mission is to uphold the four points of the crown: Service, Scholarship, Success, and Style.
Participation in this program provides young women with the opportunity to promote a platform of community service and share their talents, intelligence, and positive values while serving as role models in their communities. The program is run entirely by volunteers and is supported by private donations which help the delegates in their pursuit of academic excellence, service, and lifelong success.
The new Miss South Dakota’s Outstanding Teen will take home at least $3,500 in scholarships and awards, in addition to a crowning package worth thousands of dollars. There is more than $11,000 in scholarship and award funds available to teen candidates.
The new titleholder will compete at the 2027 Miss America’s Teen Competition in September. The Teen Pageant is open to young women ages 14-18 who have not yet graduated from high school or who graduate this spring.
The young women competing are (name, age, title, hometown, talent, and Community Service Initiative):
- Abigail Oaks, 17, Miss Rapid City’s Teen, Rapid City, Talent: Piano, Community Service Initiative: Keys to Confidence
- Amelia Gubbels, 15, Miss Vermillion’s’ Teen, Canton, Talent: Musical Theater Vocal, Community Service Initiative: Read, Reach, Rise
- Elaine Reiter, 17, Miss Hot Springs’ Teen, Rapid City, Talent: Jazz Dance, Community Service Initiative: It’s OK to Talk
- Emmah Scott, 16, Miss McCrory Garden’s Teen, 15, Watertown, Talent: HER Story, Community Service Initiative: Flip the Script
- Evian Johnson, 18, Miss Siouxland’s Teen, Brookings, Talent: Lyrical Dance, Community Service Initiative: Use Your Power
- Jaye Olszewski, 16, Sioux Falls, Miss Hub City’s Teen, Talent: Vocal, Community Service Initiative: More than a Feeling
- Jerica Ratigan, 18, Miss State Fair’s Teen, Frankfort, Talent: Jazz Dance, Community Service Initiative: ADHD Awareness in Women
- Jessie Ratigan, 17, Miss Missouri River’s Teen, Frankfort, Talent: Jazz Dance, Community Service Initiative: Young Adult Communication
- Julia Shanks, 18, Miss Brookings’ Teen, Sioux Falls, Talent: Vocal, Community Service Initiative: YESdakota (Young Entrepreneurs of South Dakota)
- Nikki Wendt, 14, Miss Fall River Balloon Festival’s Teen, Rapid City, Talent: Vocal, Community Service Initiative: Ronald McDonald House Charities
- Reese Henja, 18, Miss West River’s Teen, Tabor, Talent: Athletic Jump Rope Routine, Community Service Initiative: Strength in Change
- Suri Uhl, 17, Miss Jacks’ Teen, Dakota Dunes, Talent: Lyrical Dance, Community Service Initiative: Inclusion Throughout
For more information, visit www.MissSD.org.
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