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 competed for the title of Miss America 2027 on September 6, 2026, at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida.
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 Notes2026Lexi NoldaNorth Platte22Miss FremontContemporary Dance2025Makinzie GergoryScottsbluff25Miss Old West Balloon FestLyrical Dance2024Raechel WarrenOmaha28Miss Douglas CountyRoller Figure Skating, "Song Must Go On"Previously Miss Iowa Volunteer 20222023 Morgan Baird Gering 21Miss Scotts Bluff County Contemporary Dance2022Steffany LienLincoln24Miss LincolnDance TwirlNon-finalist Talent AwardPreviously Miss Nebraska's Outstanding Teen 20152021Morgan Hope HolenOmaha23Miss OmahaDanceWomen in Business 1st runner-upDaughter 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 20162020 Title vacant; state and national pageants postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic2019Allie SwansonOmaha24Miss HeartlandVocalTiffany Phillips Scholar-Athlete ScholarshipSister of Miss Nebraska 2014 and Miss Nebraska USA 2020, Megan SwansonResigned the title due to subsequent marriage2018Jessica ShultisDannebrog24Miss LincolnOriginal MonologueTop 10Women in Business Scholarship FinalistSemifinalist at Miss Nebraska USA 2016 and 2020 competitions 2017 Allison TietjenChester 21 Miss Heartland Piano, "The Phantom of the Opera" STEM Scholarship Finalist 2016 Aleah Peters Omaha Miss Omaha Baton Twirling, "Wings" Non-finalist Interview Award 2015 Alyssa Howell Omaha 20 Miss Douglas County Piano, "Northern Lights" Top 12 2014 Megan Swanson Omaha 21 Miss Douglas County Vocal, "You Raise Me Up" Sister of Miss Nebraska 2019, Allie SwansonLater Miss Nebraska USA 2020 2013 Jacee Pilkington Minatare 21 Miss Western Nebraska Vocal, "How Great Thou Art" Previously Miss Nebraska's Outstanding Teen 2009 2012 Mariah Cook Chadron 23 Miss State Fair Piano, "Malagueña" 2011 Kayla Batt Alliance 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 2010 Nicky Haverland 24 Miss Douglas County colspan=3 Teresa Scanlan Gering 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 2009 Brittany Jeffers Ogallala 23 Miss Omaha Dance, "So Much Better" from Legally Blonde Top 10 Top 10 at National Sweetheart 2007 pageant 2008 Gretchen Bergquist Oxford 22 Miss Panhandle Vocal, "Feeling Good" 2007 Ashley Bauer Scottsbluff 22 Miss Douglas County Vocal, "This Is my Life"' Contestant at National Sweetheart 2006 pageant 2006 Molly McGrath Omaha 23 Miss Sarpy County Jazz Dance, "She Bangs" Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award 2005 Kelly Keiser Gothenburg 21 Miss Lincoln Piano, "Cumana" Contestant at National Sweetheart 2004 pageant 2004 Brook Matthews Blair 24 Miss Omaha Vocal, "Shine It On" Contestant at National Sweetheart 2003 pageant 2003 Jane Noseworthy Bellevue 24 Classical Vocal, "Art Is Calling for Me" from The Enchantress Non-finalist Talent Award 2002 Krista Knicely Omaha 23 Miss Douglas County Jazz Dance, "I'm a Woman" 2001 Christina Foehlinger Ralston 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 2000 Jill PenningtonOmaha 23 Miss Great Plains Vocal, "If I Loved You" Non-finalist Interview Award 1999 Becky Smith 20 Miss Omaha Ballet en Pointe, Music from Kiss of the Spider Woman 1998 Jenny Lemmerman West Point 20 Miss Great Plains Vocal, "I'm a Woman" 1997 Kendra Quandt Davenport 23 Miss Western Nebraska Classical Piano, "Prelude in C sharp minor" by Rachmaninoff Non-finalist Talent AwardQuality of Life Award 1st runner-up 1996 Rachel Scott Columbus 19 Miss Columbus Vocal, "Via Dolorosa" 1995 Myra Katherine Hale Lincoln 23 Miss Douglas County Classical Piano Non-finalist Talent AwardQuality of Life Award 2nd runner-up 1994 Jennifer Love North Platte 21 Miss High Plains Classical Vocal, "Romany Life" from The Fortune Teller 1993 Mary Lynn Schnitzler Battle Creek 23 Miss Norfolk Area Vocal, "Someone Like You" from Jekyll & Hyde 1992 Natalie Kuijvenhoven Lincoln 21Miss Great Plains Vocal, "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" 1991 Vicki Linn Train North Platte 24 Piano, "Prelude" from Pour le piano Non-finalist Talent AwardQuality of Life Award Finalist 1990 Michelle Ebadi Omaha 23 Miss Western Nebraska Tap Dance, "Sing, Sing, Sing" & "Puttin' on the Ritz" 1989 Kristi Hilliard Ogallala 24 Miss Great Plains Vocal "Golden Rainbow" 1988 Jodi Sue Miller Omaha 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 1987 Mindee Zimmerman Norfolk 23 Miss Platte Valley Vocal, "People" 1986 Donna Schieffer Columbus 19 Miss Columbus Area Modern Dance 1985 Julie Meusburger Lincoln 22 Miss River City Flute, Carmen Fantasy Non-finalist Talent Award 1984 Allison Boyd Nebraska City 21 Miss University of Nebraska Acrobatic Dance Non-finalist Talent Award 1983 Kristin Lowenberg Kearney 20 Miss Kearney Area Jazz Dance, "What a Feeling" Top 10 1982 Sandra Haschke Humphrey 20 Miss Lincoln Area Popular Vocal, "All I Ever Need Is You" 1981 Jill Pershing Lincoln 21 Miss Lincoln Ballet en Pointe, Rhapsody in Blue 1980 Paula Louise Mitchell Norfolk 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 1979 Kathryn Ann Saathoff Fremont 21 Miss Midland Lutheran College Vocal, "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" 1978 Guylyn Remmenga Elwood 21 Miss University of Nebraska-Lincoln Piano, "Toccata" & "Nocturne" Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award (tie) Previously National Sweetheart 1976 1977 Linda Kay Hallstrom Omaha 18 Miss Eastern Nebraska Area Jazz Dance Non-finalist Talent Award 1976 Marion Catherine Watson 22 Miss Lancaster County Vocal, "Over the Rainbow" 1975 Janet Kay Goode 19 Miss Omaha Dramatic Skit, "Why?" Previously Miss Nebraska World 1974 1974 Sharon Sue Pelc Johnstown 22 Miss Ord Ventriloquism & Singing, "Those Were the Days" 1973 Sandy CramerOmaha 18 Miss Omaha Acrobatic Jazz Dance, "I'm an Ordinary Man" 1972 Jeanine Giller 22 Jazz Dance, "Bitter End" 1971 Sally Lou Warner Bushnell 19 Miss Kimball Vocal, "Big Spender" 1970 Debra May Sullivan Omaha 19 Miss Omaha Acrobatic Dance, "Fly Me to the Moon" 1969 Jane Deliese Briggeman Seward 21 Miss York Musical Interpretation, "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" & Fantaisie-Impromptu Miss Congeniality 1968 Diane Boldt Omaha 19 Miss Kearney Character Dance 1967 Terry Lee Schmidt Lincoln 18 Miss University of Nebraska Drawing & Reading, "What Is a Girl?" by Alan Beck 1966 Patricia Lee Van Horne 19 Miss Lincoln Popular Vocal, "Misty" Non-finalist Talent Award 1965 Karen Hansmeire Ogallala 20 Miss Ogallala Semi-classical Vocal, "Love Is Where you Find It" 1964 Sandra Lee Rice Cozad 20 Miss Lexington Dramatic Reading from After the Fall 1963 Donna Marie Black Broken Bow Miss Grand Island Classical Vocal, "Una Voce Poco Fa" from The Barber of Seville 1962 Mary Lee Jepsen Papillion 18 Miss Papillion Fire Baton Twirling, "Ritual Fire Dance" Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award (tie) 1961 Nancy Lee Foreman Albion 20 Miss Albion Dramatic Reading, "Such Is Your Heritage" 1960 Cheryl Ann Jaeke Shelton 18 Miss Grand Island Vocal 1959 Joan Arolyn Sipes Columbus 19 Piano, "Transcendental Étude No. 4 in D minor" by Liszt 1958 Sherry Johnson Omaha Monologue Non-finalist Talent Award 1957 Catherine Lucille "Kay" Nielson Lincoln 20 Modern Interpretive Dance Non-finalist Talent Award Later Miss Iowa USA 1959 1956 Diane Knotek Classical Vocal, "The Polonaise" Non-finalist Talent AwardPreliminary Talent Award 1955 Sandra Spiecher Omaha Speech, "Teaching Handicapped Students" 1954 Sue Welch Fisher Kearney Classical Vocal, "Un bel dì vedremo" from Madama Butterfly 1953 Diana Louise Hann Lincoln Art 1952 Helen Francis Burhorn Omaha Piano, Warsaw Concerto 1951 Geraldine Marie Elseman 19 Dramatic Monologue 1950 Jinx Burrus Crete Baton Twirling 1949 Vanita Mae Brown Omaha 1948 Betty Love Booth Fremont Miss Nebraska Serena McKinney Omaha Miss Omaha 1947 Madalyn Joyce King Tap Dance Non-finalist Talent Award 1946 Marjorie Ann Hanson 1945 1944 1943 1942 Claire Buglewicz Vocal, "You Made Me Love You" 1941 1940 1939 1938 Emmajane Newby Humboldt 1937 Ruth Lenore Jones Nebraska City Assumed the title after the original winner, Ruby Hart, was disqualified after getting married 1936No Nebraska representative at Miss America pageant 1935 1934No national pageant was held1933No Nebraska representative at Miss America pageant 1932No national pageants were held 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927No Nebraska representative at Miss America pageant 1926 Anne Kathleen Foucar Omaha Miss Omaha Competed under local title at Miss America pageant 1925 Myrtle Roach Omaha Miss Omaha Top 15 Competed under local title at Miss America pageant 1924No Nebraska representative at Miss America pageant 1923 1922 1921
References
External links Miss Nebraska official website