Wikipedia / Miss Nebraska
Wikipedia / Miss Nebraska
The Miss Nebraska competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Nebraska in the Miss America pageant.
Lexi Nolda of North Platte was crowned Miss Nebraska on June 6, 2026, at North Platte HS Performing Arts Center in North Platte. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2027.
Gallery of past titleholders
Results summary
The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Nebraska titleholders at the national Miss America pageants/competitions. The year in parentheses indicates the year of the national competition during which a placement and/or award was garnered, not the year attached to the contestant's state title.
Placements
Miss America: Teresa Scanlan (2011)
Top 10: Mary Lee Jepsen (1963), Guylyn Remmenga (1979), Kristin Lowenberg (1984), Brittany Jeffers (2010), Jessica Shultis (2019)
Top 12: Alyssa Howell (2016)
Top 15: Myrtle Roach (1925)
Top 20: Christina Foehlinger (2002)
Awards
Preliminary awards
Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Molly McGrath (2007)
Preliminary Talent: Diane Knotek (1957), Mary Lee Jepsen (1963) (tie), Guylyn Remmenga (1979) (tie), Teresa Scanlan (2011)
Non-finalist awards
Non-finalist Talent: Madalyn Joyce King (1947), Diane Knotek (1957), Catherine "Kay" Nielson (1958), Sherry Johnson (1959), Patricia Lee Van Horne (1967), Linda Kay Hallstrom (1978), Paula Louise Mitchell (1981), Allison Boyd (1985), Julie Meusburger (1986), Vicki Linn Train (1992), Myra Katherine Hale (1996), Kendra Quandt (1998), Jane Noseworthy (2004), Kayla Batt (2012), Steffany Lien (2023)
Non-finalist Interview: Jill Pennington (2001), Aleah Peters (2017)
Other awards
Miss Congeniality: Jane Deliese Briggeman (1970), Kayla Batt (2012)
Quality of Life Award 1st runners-up: Kendra Quandt (1998)
Quality of Life Award 2nd runners-up: Myra Katherine Hale (1996)
Quality of Life Award Finalists: Vicki Linn Train (1992)
STEM Scholarship Award Finalists: Allison Tietjen (2018)
Tiffany Phillips Scholar-Athlete Scholarship: Allie Swanson (2020)
Women in Business 1st runner-up: Morgan Holen (2022)
Women in Business Scholarship Award Finalists: Jessica Shultis (2019)
Winners
Year | Name | Hometown | Age | Local Title | Miss America Talent | Placement at Miss America | Special scholarships at Miss America | Notes |
Lexi Nolda | 22 | Miss Fremont | Contemporary Dance | |||||
Makinzie Gergory | 25 | Miss Old West Balloon Fest | Lyrical Dance | |||||
Raechel Warren | 28 | Miss Douglas County | Roller Figure Skating, "Song Must Go On" | Previously Miss Iowa Volunteer 2022 | ||||
Morgan Baird | 21 | Miss Scotts Bluff County | Contemporary Dance | |||||
Steffany Lien | 24 | Miss Lincoln | Dance Twirl | Non-finalist Talent Award | Previously Miss Nebraska's Outstanding Teen 2015 | |||
Morgan Hope Holen | 23 | Miss Omaha | Dance | Women in Business 1st runner-up | Daughter of Miss Nebraska 1988, Jodi Sue Miller HolenPreviously Miss Nebraska's Outstanding Teen 20144th runner-up at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2015Previously Distinguished Young Woman of Nebraska 2016Top 10 at Distinguished Young Woman 2016 | |||
2020 | Title vacant; state and national pageants postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |||||||
Allie Swanson | 24 | Miss Heartland | Vocal | Tiffany Phillips Scholar-Athlete Scholarship | Sister of Miss Nebraska 2014 and Miss Nebraska USA 2020, Megan SwansonResigned the title due to subsequent marriage | |||
Jessica Shultis | 24 | Miss Lincoln | Original Monologue | Top 10 | Women in Business Scholarship Finalist | Semifinalist at Miss Nebraska USA 2016 and 2020 competitions | ||
Allison Tietjen | 21 | Miss Heartland | Piano, "The Phantom of the Opera" | STEM Scholarship Finalist | ||||
Aleah Peters | Miss Omaha | Baton Twirling, "Wings" | Non-finalist Interview Award | |||||
Alyssa Howell | 20 | Miss Douglas County | Piano, "Northern Lights" | Top 12 | ||||
Megan Swanson | 21 | Miss Douglas County | Vocal, "You Raise Me Up" | Sister of Miss Nebraska 2019, Allie SwansonLater Miss Nebraska USA 2020 | ||||
Jacee Pilkington | 21 | Miss Western Nebraska | Vocal, "How Great Thou Art" | Previously Miss Nebraska's Outstanding Teen 2009 | ||||
Mariah Cook | 23 | Miss State Fair | Piano, "Malagueña" | |||||
Kayla Batt | 21 | Miss Omaha | Vocal, "Love You I Do" | Miss CongenialityNon-finalist Talent Award | Previously Miss Nebraska's Outstanding Teen 2007Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2010 | |||
Nicky Haverland | 24 | Miss Douglas County | colspan=3 | |||||
17 | Miss Southeast | Piano, "White Water Chopped Sticks" by Calvin Jones | Winner | Preliminary Talent Award | Youngest Miss Nebraska ever crownedLater Miss Nebraska World 2015, 1st runner up at Miss World America 2015 | |||
Brittany Jeffers | 23 | Miss Omaha | Dance, "So Much Better" from Legally Blonde | Top 10 | Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2007 pageant | |||
Gretchen Bergquist | 22 | Miss Panhandle | Vocal, "Feeling Good" | |||||
Ashley Bauer | 22 | Miss Douglas County | Vocal, "This Is my Life"' | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2006 pageant | ||||
Molly McGrath | 23 | Miss Sarpy County | Jazz Dance, "She Bangs" | Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award | ||||
Kelly Keiser | 21 | Miss Lincoln | Piano, "Cumana" | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2004 pageant | ||||
Brook Matthews | 24 | Miss Omaha | Vocal, "Shine It On" | Contestant at National Sweetheart 2003 pageant | ||||
Jane Noseworthy | 24 | Classical Vocal, "Art Is Calling for Me" from The Enchantress | Non-finalist Talent Award | |||||
Krista Knicely | 23 | Miss Douglas County | Jazz Dance, "I'm a Woman" | |||||
Christina Foehlinger | 21 | Miss Tri-Cities | Baton Twirling, Theme from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | Top 20 | Sister of Miss Nebraska's Outstanding Teen 2008, Rachel Foehlinger | |||
Jill Pennington | 23 | Miss Great Plains | Vocal, "If I Loved You" | Non-finalist Interview Award | ||||
Becky Smith | 20 | Miss Omaha | Ballet en Pointe, Music from Kiss of the Spider Woman | |||||
Jenny Lemmerman | 20 | Miss Great Plains | Vocal, "I'm a Woman" | |||||
Kendra Quandt | 23 | Miss Western Nebraska | Classical Piano, "Prelude in C sharp minor" by Rachmaninoff | Non-finalist Talent AwardQuality of Life Award 1st runner-up | ||||
Rachel Scott | 19 | Miss Columbus | Vocal, "Via Dolorosa" | |||||
Myra Katherine Hale | 23 | Miss Douglas County | Classical Piano | Non-finalist Talent AwardQuality of Life Award 2nd runner-up | ||||
Jennifer Love | 21 | Miss High Plains | Classical Vocal, "Romany Life" from The Fortune Teller | |||||
Mary Lynn Schnitzler | 23 | Miss Norfolk Area | Vocal, "Someone Like You" from Jekyll & Hyde | |||||
Natalie Kuijvenhoven | 21 | Miss Great Plains | Vocal, "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" | |||||
Vicki Linn Train | 24 | Piano, "Prelude" from Pour le piano | Non-finalist Talent AwardQuality of Life Award Finalist | |||||
Michelle Ebadi | 23 | Miss Western Nebraska | Tap Dance, "Sing, Sing, Sing" & "Puttin' on the Ritz" | |||||
Kristi Hilliard | 24 | Miss Great Plains | Vocal "Golden Rainbow" | |||||
Jodi Sue Miller | 20 | Miss Omaha | Acrobatic Jazz Dance | Previously Nebraska's Junior Miss 1986Mother of Miss Nebraska's Outstanding Teen 2014 and Miss Nebraska 2021, Morgan Hope Holen | ||||
Mindee Zimmerman | 23 | Miss Platte Valley | Vocal, "People" | |||||
Donna Schieffer | 19 | Miss Columbus Area | Modern Dance | |||||
Julie Meusburger | 22 | Miss River City | Flute, Carmen Fantasy | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||||
Allison Boyd | 21 | Miss University of Nebraska | Acrobatic Dance | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||||
Kristin Lowenberg | 20 | Miss Kearney Area | Jazz Dance, "What a Feeling" | Top 10 | ||||
Sandra Haschke | 20 | Miss Lincoln Area | Popular Vocal, "All I Ever Need Is You" | |||||
Jill Pershing | 21 | Miss Lincoln | Ballet en Pointe, Rhapsody in Blue | |||||
Paula Louise Mitchell | 20 | Miss University of Nebraska | Piano, "Toccata in E-flat minor" by Khachaturian | Non-finalist Talent Award | Mother of Miss Nebraska Teen USA 2015, Paige Pflueger | |||
Kathryn Ann Saathoff | 21 | Miss Midland Lutheran College | ||||||
Guylyn Remmenga | 21 | Miss University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Piano, "Toccata" & "Nocturne" | Top 10 | Preliminary Talent Award (tie) | Previously National Sweetheart 1976 | ||
Linda Kay Hallstrom | 18 | Miss Eastern Nebraska Area | Jazz Dance | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||||
Marion Catherine Watson | 22 | Miss Lancaster County | Vocal, "Over the Rainbow" | |||||
Janet Kay Goode | 19 | Miss Omaha | Dramatic Skit, "Why?" | Previously Miss Nebraska World 1974 | ||||
Sharon Sue Pelc | 22 | Miss Ord | Ventriloquism & Singing, "Those Were the Days" | |||||
Sandy Cramer | 18 | Miss Omaha | Acrobatic Jazz Dance, "I'm an Ordinary Man" | |||||
Jeanine Giller | 22 | Jazz Dance, "Bitter End" | ||||||
Sally Lou Warner | 19 | Miss Kimball | Vocal, "Big Spender" | |||||
Debra May Sullivan | 19 | Miss Omaha | Acrobatic Dance, "Fly Me to the Moon" | |||||
Jane Deliese Briggeman | 21 | Miss York | Musical Interpretation, "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" & Fantaisie-Impromptu | Miss Congeniality | ||||
Diane Boldt | 19 | Miss Kearney | Character Dance | |||||
Terry Lee Schmidt | 18 | Miss University of Nebraska | Drawing & Reading, "What Is a Girl?" by Alan Beck | |||||
Patricia Lee Van Horne | 19 | Miss Lincoln | Popular Vocal, "Misty" | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||||
Karen Hansmeire | 20 | Miss Ogallala | Semi-classical Vocal, "Love Is Where you Find It" | |||||
Sandra Lee Rice | 20 | Miss Lexington | Dramatic Reading from After the Fall | |||||
Donna Marie Black | Miss Grand Island | Classical Vocal, "Una Voce Poco Fa" from The Barber of Seville | ||||||
Mary Lee Jepsen | 18 | Miss Papillion | Fire Baton Twirling, "Ritual Fire Dance" | Top 10 | Preliminary Talent Award (tie) | |||
Nancy Lee Foreman | 20 | Miss Albion | Dramatic Reading, "Such Is Your Heritage" | |||||
Cheryl Ann Jaeke | 18 | Miss Grand Island | Vocal | |||||
Joan Arolyn Sipes | 19 | Piano, "Transcendental Étude No. 4 in D minor" by Liszt | ||||||
Sherry Johnson | Monologue | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||||||
Catherine Lucille "Kay" Nielson | 20 | Modern Interpretive Dance | Non-finalist Talent Award | Later Miss Iowa USA 1959 | ||||
Diane Knotek | Classical Vocal, "The Polonaise" | Non-finalist Talent AwardPreliminary Talent Award | ||||||
Sandra Spiecher | Speech, "Teaching Handicapped Students" | |||||||
Sue Welch Fisher | Classical Vocal, "Un bel dì vedremo" from Madama Butterfly | |||||||
Diana Louise Hann | Art | |||||||
Helen Francis Burhorn | Piano, Warsaw Concerto | |||||||
Geraldine Marie Elseman | 19 | Dramatic Monologue | ||||||
Jinx Burrus | Baton Twirling | |||||||
Vanita Mae Brown | ||||||||
Betty Love Booth | Miss Nebraska | |||||||
Serena McKinney | Miss Omaha | |||||||
Madalyn Joyce King | Tap Dance | Non-finalist Talent Award | ||||||
Marjorie Ann Hanson | ||||||||
Claire Buglewicz | Vocal, "You Made Me Love You" | |||||||
Emmajane Newby | ||||||||
Ruth Lenore Jones | Assumed the title after the original winner, Ruby Hart, was disqualified after getting married | |||||||
No Nebraska representative at Miss America pageant | ||||||||
1934 | No national pageant was held | |||||||
No Nebraska representative at Miss America pageant | ||||||||
1932 | No national pageants were held | |||||||
1931 | ||||||||
1930 | ||||||||
1929 | ||||||||
1928 | ||||||||
No Nebraska representative at Miss America pageant | ||||||||
Anne Kathleen Foucar | Miss Omaha | Competed under local title at Miss America pageant | ||||||
Myrtle Roach | Miss Omaha | Top 15 | Competed under local title at Miss America pageant | |||||
No Nebraska representative at Miss America pageant | ||||||||
References
External links