| Year |
Name |
Hometown |
Age |
Local Title |
Miss America Talent |
Placement at Miss America |
Special scholarships at Miss America |
Notes |
| 2011 |
Natalie Davis[1] |
Dassel |
21 |
Miss Mankato |
Vocal "Unexpected Song" |
|
Quality of Life Award Finalist |
Previously Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2006; Contestant at National Sweetheart 2009 |
| 2010 |
Kathryn Knuttila |
Detroit Lakes |
23 |
Miss Twin Cities |
Original Piano Composition "Quintessence" |
|
Quality of Life Finalist, Non-Finalist Talent Award, Louanne Gamba Instrumental Award |
Sister of Miss Minnesota 2001- Kari Knuttila |
| 2009 |
Brooke Kilgarriff |
Eagan |
20 |
Miss Twin Cities |
Vocal "Somebody to Love" |
|
Non-Finalist Talent Award & Quality of Life finalist |
|
| 2008 |
Angela McDermott[2] |
Austin |
24 |
Miss Twin Cities |
Vocal "You Don't Own Me" |
|
|
|
| 2007 |
Jennifer Hudspeth |
Apple Valley |
23 |
Miss Mankato |
Vocal "Life of the Party" from The Wild Party |
|
Quality of Life Finalist |
Reporter for Mankato, MN News Station |
| 2006 |
Nicole Swanson |
Lakeville |
24 |
Miss Twin Cities |
Classical Viola "Etude Speciale Opus 36, No. 29 - The Gossip" by Jacques Féréol Mazas |
|
Non-Finalist Talent Award |
Previously Minnesota's Junior Miss 2001 |
| 2005 |
Karyn Stordahl |
Owatonna |
24 |
Miss Heart of the Lakes |
Classical Piano Medley "Malagueña," "Prelude in G minor," "Fantaisie-Impromptu" & "Clair de Lune" |
|
Non-Finalist Talent Award |
Now married to NFL player Ben Utecht |
| 2004 |
Tiffany Ogle |
Waverly |
24 |
Miss Metropolitan |
Broadway Vocal "Nothing" from A Chorus Line |
|
|
Current co-host of morning show The Morning Blend for Milwaukee's WTMJ-TV |
| 2003 |
Megan Torgerson |
Warren |
23 |
Miss Coon Rapids |
Classical Vocal "Una Voce Poco Fa" from The Barber of Seville |
|
|
|
| 2002 |
Allyson Kearns |
Eden Prairie |
22 |
Miss Twin Cities |
Dance "I Hope I Get It" from A Chorus Line |
|
|
Works for Harpo Productions |
| 2001 |
Kari Knuttila |
Detroit Lakes |
21 |
Miss Twin Cities |
Classical Piano "Sonata in B Minor" |
|
|
Sister of Miss Minnesota 2010 |
| 2000 |
Katherine Hill |
Wayzata |
23 |
Miss Twin Cities |
Vocal / Piano "All by Myself" |
|
|
|
| 1999 |
Natalie Lund |
New Brighton |
21 |
Miss Central Minnesota |
Tap Dance "Shout And Feel It" |
|
|
Returned for Judges Panel at Miss Minnesota in 2009 |
| 1998 |
Megan West |
Litchfield |
22 |
Miss Winona |
Vocal "I'm Afraid This Must Be Love" |
|
|
|
| 1997 |
Jennifer Ostergaard |
Winona |
22 |
Miss Winona |
Dramatic Monologue "Clear Glass Marbles" from Talking With... |
|
Non-finalist Talent Award; Quality of Life Award |
Top Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotan; Top Twenty Outstanding Young American; Pediatric Clinical Psychologist |
| 1996 |
Sherry Johnson |
Owatonna |
22 |
Miss Winona |
Vocal "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart" |
|
|
|
| 1995 |
Paula Knoll |
Moorhead |
22 |
Miss Northwest |
Classical Violin "Csárdás |
|
Waterford Business Management & Marketing Award |
|
| 1994 |
Eileen Van Driest |
Winona |
23 |
Miss Cottage Grove |
Classical Flute solo |
|
|
|
| 1993 |
Shawna Stoltenberg |
Coon Rapids |
24 |
Miss Stillwater |
Classical Piano piece by Aram Khachaturian |
|
Non-finalist Talent Award |
|
| 1992 |
Jo Bender |
Rochester |
23 |
Miss Rochester |
Fiddle Medley "Dixie," "Tennessee River" & "Orange Blossom Special" |
|
Non-finalist Talent Award |
Meteorologist, KSTP-TV Minneapolis; Hosted Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen Pageant in 2009 |
| 1991 |
Julie Richardson |
Fridley |
24 |
Miss Coon Rapids |
Vocal "Someone Like You" from Jekyll & Hyde |
|
|
|
| 1990 |
Brenda Armstrong |
Albert Lea |
19 |
Miss Albert Lea |
Harp Solo "La Source" by Alphonse Hasselmans |
|
|
|
| 1989 |
Lynne Schacher |
East Grand Forks |
25 |
Miss Metropolitan |
Ballet / Jazz Dance "Merrily We Roll Along" |
|
|
|
| 1988 |
Susan Johnson* |
|
|
Miss Mankato |
|
|
|
|
| Gretchen Carlson |
Anoka |
22 |
Miss Cottage Grove |
Classical Violin "Zigeunerweisen" |
Winner |
Preliminary Talent Award |
co-host, Fox & Friends |
| 1987 |
Katherine Killen |
Owatonna |
20 |
Miss Owatonna |
Vocal "Tonight" |
|
|
|
| 1986 |
Kristine Fouks |
Stillwater |
23 |
Miss White Bear Lake |
Vocal |
|
|
Placed as 1st runner-up in the state pageant but assumed the title after the original winner resigned. |
| 1985 |
Elizabeth Hunter |
Austin |
21 |
Miss Austin |
Semi-Classical Vocal "Love Is Where You Find It" |
|
|
|
| 1984 |
Lauren Green |
Minneapolis |
26 |
Miss Twin Cities |
Piano Solo "Étude Op. 10, No. 4 in C-Sharp Minor" |
3rd runner-up |
Preliminary Talent Award |
Morning newscaster for Fox News Channel |
| 1983 |
Vicki Plaster |
St. Paul |
23 |
Miss Twin Cities |
Vocal Medley "Just You Wait" & "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady |
|
|
|
| 1982 |
Laurie Saarinen |
Osage |
21 |
Miss Park Rapids |
Vocal "My Man" |
Semi-finalist |
|
Previously Miss North Dakota USA 1981 |
| 1981 |
Elizabeth Ruyak |
Mankato |
20 |
Miss Mankato |
Piano "Fantaisie-Impromptu" |
|
|
|
| 1980 |
Debra Goodwin |
Austin |
20 |
Miss Austin |
Classical Piano |
|
Preliminary Swimsuit Award, Non-finalist Talent Award |
|
| 1979 |
Debra Nerby |
Rochester |
24 |
Miss Byron |
Vocal "Who Can I Turn To?" |
|
|
|
| 1978 |
Sue Erickson |
Coon Rapids |
19 |
Miss Coon Rapids |
Vocal "With a Song in My Heart" |
|
Preliminary Swimsuit Award |
|
| 1977 |
Kim Fossey |
Austin |
20 |
Miss Austin |
Popular Vocal "Mister Melody" |
|
|
|
| 1976 |
Mary Nelson* |
|
|
Miss Winona |
|
|
|
|
| Dorothy Benham |
Edina |
20 |
Miss South St. Paul |
Classical Vocal "Adele's Laughing Song" from Die Fledermaus |
Winner |
Preliminary Swimsuit Award; Preliminary Talent Award |
|
| 1975 |
Kerri Thorne |
White Bear Lake |
19 |
Miss White Bear Lake |
Flute Solo "Swingin' Shepherd Blues" by Moe Koffman |
|
|
|
| 1974 |
Pam Bernhagen |
Bloomington |
20 |
Miss Bloomington |
Acrobatic Jazz Ballet "Fiddler on the Roof" |
|
|
sister of Miss Minnesota 1971 |
| 1973 |
Joleen Benoit |
Farmington |
19 |
Miss Shakopee |
Vocal / Guitar "Danny's Song" |
|
|
toured with Miss America USO Troupe |
| 1972 |
Linda Hagen |
Hampton |
22 |
Miss St. Paul |
Popular Vocal "Who Will Buy?" from Oliver! |
|
|
|
| 1971 |
Sheila Bernhagen |
Bloomington |
19 |
Miss Bloomington |
Acrobatic Jazz Ballet "Flim Flam Man" |
Semi-finalist |
|
|
| 1970 |
Juliana Gabor |
South St. Paul |
20 |
Miss South St. Paul |
Popular Vocal "My Coloring Book" |
|
|
Died from Cancer in 2009- moment of silence in her honor at State pageant. |
| 1969 |
Judy Mendenhall |
Edina |
18 |
Miss Edina |
Flute Solo "The Swiss Shepherd's Song" by Pietro Morlacchi |
4th runner-up |
Preliminary Talent Award |
|
| 1968 |
Mary Williams |
Minneapolis |
20 |
Miss St. Anthony Village |
Tap Dance "Wall Street Rag" by Scott Joplin |
|
|
|
| 1967 |
Charlotte Sims |
St. Paul |
19 |
Miss Roseville |
Acrobatic Dance "Ebb Tide" |
Semi-finalist |
|
Toured with Miss America USO Troupes in 1968 & 1969; Competed in the 1964 Miss Teenage America Pageant |
| 1966 |
Diane Lindgren |
St. Paul |
19 |
Miss White Bear Lake |
Folk Singing & Guitar |
|
|
|
| 1965 |
Jeanne Ruth |
St. Paul |
18 |
Miss St. Paul |
Interpretive Jazz Dance "West Side Story" |
|
|
|
| 1964 |
Barbara Hasselberg |
Bloomington |
21 |
Miss Bloomington |
Medley of Authentic Polynesian Dances "Hawaiian War Chant" |
4th runner-up |
Preliminary Talent Award |
Competed in the 1964 Miss Wool of America Pageant |
| 1963 |
Sharon Carnes |
St. Paul |
|
Miss St. Paul |
Popular Vocal |
|
|
|
| 1962 |
Judith Lerstad |
Bloomington |
22 |
Miss Bloomington |
Alto & Bass Saxophone Medley "Harlem Nocturne," "Misty" & "Hubcaps & Tailgates" |
|
|
|
| 1961 |
Nancee Parkinson |
West St. Paul |
18 |
Miss West St. Paul |
Modern Calypso Jazz Dance |
4th runner-up |
Preliminary Swimsuit Award |
|
| 1960 |
Jean Elverum |
Faribault |
22 |
Miss Faribault |
Vocal "Romany Life" from The Fortune Teller |
|
|
|
| 1959 |
Judy Olson |
Albert Lea |
19 |
Miss Albert Lea |
Modern Dance |
|
|
|
| 1958 |
Diane Albers |
St. Paul |
|
Miss St. Paul |
Piano "Allegro de Concierto" by Enrique Granados |
|
|
|
| 1957 |
Ardyce Gustafson |
St. Paul |
|
Miss St. Paul |
Classical Vocal |
|
|
|
| 1956 |
Marie Miller |
Winona |
|
Miss Winona |
Vocal |
|
|
|
| 1955 |
Marlyse Reed |
Fairmont |
|
Miss Fairmont |
|
|
|
|
| 1954 |
Jeanne Reince |
Winona |
|
Miss Winona |
Classical Vocal |
|
|
|
| 1953 |
Idell Hulin |
Minneapolis |
|
Miss Minneapolis |
Vocal |
|
|
|
| 1952 |
Carole Wick |
Duluth |
|
Miss Duluth |
Vocal |
|
|
|
| 1951 |
Katherine Clark |
Minneapolis |
|
Miss Minneapolis |
|
|
|
|
| 1950 |
Jeanne Traun |
Minneapolis |
|
Miss Minneapolis |
Vocal |
|
|
|
| 1949 |
Gloria Burkhart |
Minneapolis |
|
Miss Minneapolis |
Violin "Zigeunerweisen" |
Semi-finalist |
Preliminary Talent Award |
|
| 1948 |
Jean Sheils* |
|
|
Miss Edina |
|
|
|
|
| BeBe Shopp |
Hopkins |
18 |
Miss Hopkins |
Vibraharp "Caprice Viennois" by Fritz Kreisler |
Winner |
Preliminary Swimsuit Award |
|
| 1947 |
Elaine Campbell |
Minneapolis |
|
Miss Minneapolis |
Classical Vocal "Je Veux Vivre" from Roméo et Juliette |
1st runner-up |
Preliminary Talent |
|
| 1946 |
Rosemarie Gregg |
St. Paul |
|
Miss St. Paul |
|
|
|
|
| 1945 |
Arlene Anderson |
Minneapolis |
|
Miss Minneapolis |
Vocal / Marimba "Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life" from Naughty Marietta |
4th runner-up |
Preliminary Talent Award |
|
| 1944 |
Patricia Cummings |
Minneapolis |
|
|
Hula |
Semi-finalist |
|
|
| 1943 |
Florence Hunton |
Minneapolis |
|
|
Dramatic Reading "Desiree's Baby" |
Semi-finalist |
|
|
| 1942 |
Jane Groerner |
Minneapolis |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1941 |
Patricia Tiets |
Minneapolis |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1940 |
Virginia Kepler |
Minneapolis |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1939 |
Marion Rudeen |
Minneapolis |
|
|
Acro Dance |
Semi-finalist |
Preliminary Talent |
|
| 1938 |
Avis Darrow |
Duluth |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1937 |
Cecelia Rodge |
Minneapolis |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1936 |
Irene Martineau |
Minneapolis |
|
Miss Minneapolis |
|
|
|
|
| 1935 |
Mildred Barrett |
Marshall |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1927 |
No Miss Minnesota |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sylvia Irene Brenner competed as Miss Minneapolis in the Miss America Pageant |
| 1926 |
No Miss Minnesota |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Florence Fuller competed as Miss Duluth and Helen Katherine Douglas competed as Miss Minneapolis in the Miss America pageant. |
| 1925 |
No Miss Minnesota |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lucille McGinty competed as Miss Minneapolis and finished as a Finalist. Dorothy Bastyr competed as Miss St. Paul. |