#hayden hammond

LIVE

Five-time competitor Jessica Scheu (pronounced “Shy”) is Miss Minnesota USA 2015 and returning runner-up Hayden Hammond is Miss Minnesota Teen USA 2015! Both are the first winners from their towns, Jessica is from Prior Lake and Hayden from Maple Grove.

Jessica was first runner-up last year, and one of five of the 2012 top fifteen to win a Miss USA state title. She was also second runner-up in Teen in 2011 and a semi-finalist in 2008 and 2009. The others from that special 2012 group are Nitaya Panemalaythong (Miss Minnesota USA 2012), Danielle Hooper (Miss Minnesota USA 2013), Jessica Billings (Miss Pennsylvania USA 2013) and Chrissy Zamora (Miss Wisconsin USA 2015).

Jessica is the first returning 1RU since at least 1997 (when my records start) to win the Miss Minnesota USA title, no small feat considering there have been many returning first runners-up in recent years who have competed numerous times without winning the crown. Over seven pageants, from 2007 to 2013, the 1RU spot was shared between Danielle Epps (3 times), Brianne Anderson (twice) and Kristina Ferdig (twice), and Brianne & Kristina both competed numerous other times as well). You can see the full list of MN state results here.

Hayden was fourth runner-up last year and is the first returning contestant and first returning runner-up since 2010 (outgoing Miss MN USA 2014 Haley O'Brien!) to win Miss Minnesota Teen USA. She is only the fourth returning runner-up to win in the past 15 years.

Jessica and Hayden celebrate their wins. Photo by Michael Solberg.

In the Miss division, first runner-up went to Wynona Jane Schewe who herself is now a three-time runner-up, having placed 3RU in 2012 and 2013. Second runner-up went to newcomer Bridget Jacobs, third runner-up was Miss Minnesota Teen USA 2011 Hannah Corbett and fourth runner-up was 2014 semi-finalist Katie Stout. Fun fact: Jessica Scheu was 2RU to Hannah at Miss MN Teen USA. Miss Minnesota Teen USA 2007 Vanessa VonBehren, fourth runner-up last year, placed in the top 15. Both Hannah and Vanessa placed at Miss Teen USA.

First runner-up in Teen was Dasia Mestad and second runner-up was Brigitta Zosel. Both are past Teen 1RUs, Brigitta in 2014 and Dasia in 2013 (also a semi-finalist last year). Third runner-up was Sophia Primozich, a young newcomer who has oodles of potential and who I’m sure is destined for the crown in the coming years. Fourth runner-up was another newcomer, Camila Payan. Anna Korger was the only returning Teen runner-up to miss the top five, making the semi-finals.

Full results:

Miss Minnesota USA 2015 - Jessica Scheu (1RU 14, SF 12, 2RU MN TUSA 11, SF MN TUSA 09, SF MN TUSA 08)
1RU: Wynona Jane Schewe (3RU 13, 3RU 12)
2RU: Bridget Jacobs
3RU: Hannah Corbett (Miss Minnesota Teen USA 2011)
4RU: Katie Stout (SF 14)

Semi-finalists:
Alexis Adu-Bobi
Kayla Casciano (2RU 14)
Shelby Franklin
Emily Fredericks
Chloe Gunderson
Mary Petersen (SF 13)
Samantha Phillipi
Darbie Smith (SF MN TUSA 12)
Vanessa VonBehren (4RU 14, Miss Minnesota Teen USA 2007)
Alexandra West (SF 14)

Congeniality: Megan Micklos
Photogenic: Bridget Jacobs

Jessica Scheu, Jane Schewe, Bridget Jacobs, Hannah Corbett, Katie Stout

Miss Minnesota Teen USA 2015 - Hayden Hammond (4RU 14)
1RU: Dasia Mestad (SF 14, 1RU 13)
2RU: Brigitta Zosel (1RU 14)
3RU: Sophia Primozich
4RU: Camila Payan

Semi-finalists:
Jacqueline Burriss
Taylor Fondie
Sophie Gunderson
Betsy Jasper
Madeline Karlen
Anna Korger (2RU 14)
Isabel Peters
Ayla Richardson (NF 14)
Andrea Rustad (NF 14)
Brianna Smith

Congeniality: Brigitta Zosel
Photogenic: MacKenzie Hyatt