Miss South Dakota USA 2023 is Amber Hulse
Miss Black Hills, Amber Hulse was crowned Miss South Dakota USA 2023 on Sunday, June 11 at Watertown Event Center in Watertown, South Dakota.
The runners-up were Lexus Paulson (Sioux Falls), Cathyliana Santiago-Nunez (Harrisburg), Anna Bonnstetter (Southeast South Dakota), and Jaimye Wininger (Brookings).
Amber is a former White House intern who holds a degree in political science and government from the University of South Dakota. She is currently pursuing her doctorate of law degree at Georgetown University Law Center.
No stranger to pageantry, the 24-year-old is also a former Miss South Dakota winner who went on to participate in Miss America 2020 in Uncasville, Connecticut.
She will now prepare to represent her home state South Dakota at Miss USA 2023 in Reno, Nevada on a date yet to be announced.
"I am beyond grateful to be standing here today as your new Miss South Dakota USA. It is an absolute honor to represent this beautiful state and its people," she shared on social media.
"Growing up in South Dakota has taught me the values of hard work, perseverance, and kindness. I am proud to call this place my home, and I am even more proud to represent it on a national stage," she added.
Also held on Sunday at the same venue was Miss South Dakota Teen USA 2023. The title went to Mount Rushmore representative Lindsey Pfingston who will now proceed to Miss Teen USA 2023 later this year.
Lindsey's court of runners-up consisted of Bella Puetz (Sioux Falls), Stefonna Salomon (Bennet County), Madison Bradberry (Onida), and Haylee Jankord (Lead).
Last year's titleholders, Shania Knutson and Bella Welker relinquished their reigns at the end of the glittering event.
Meet the new Miss South Dakota USA:
Photos: Maggie Sweets, Amber Hulse / Instagram
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