SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - A Sioux Falls girl was crowned as Miss South Dakota Saturday in Hot Springs.
Meredith Gould will compete in the Miss America Pageant in September. Gould got to the state pageant by winning the Miss Lake Alvin title.
For her talent, Gould performed a ballet en pointe. She also was awarded the “Ray Peterson Rookie of the Year” $500 scholarship for the first-year contestant. Gould is the first former Miss South Dakota’s Outstanding Teen to go on to win the Miss South Dakota.
Gould won the preliminary swimsuit award Wednesday night. She is 19 years old and is a sophomore at the Carlson School of Management – University of Minnesota. Gould won over $10,000 in scholarship money Saturday night.
First runner-up was Miss State Fair, Jade Possail of Brookings. Possail won the swimsuit award Thursday night and had the top score in interview. She also won the $1,000 Miss America Community Service Award.
Gould’s personal platform is financial responsibility mentorship for students.