Ankeny, Iowa’s Madeline Erickson is Miss USA 2026 third runner-up

Madeline “Maddie” Fenimore Erickson competed in Miss Iowa Teen USA twice. She represented Iowa, United States in the 41st edition of Miss Teen USA and the 75th edition of Miss USA.

BIOGRAPHY

Voight is an American beauty queen from Ankeny, Iowa. Here are 12 more things about her:

1. She is Nicholas K. Erickson and Dawneen Fenimore Erickson‘s daughter.
2. She was born in 2004.
3. From 2019 to 2022, she attended Ankeny Centennial High School in Ankeny.
4. From 2022 to 2026, she attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA where she earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations with a minor in entrepreneurship.
5. In 2022, she was a sports intern at KCCI-TV in Des Moines, Iowa.
6. From 2022 to 2023, she was a part-time sports reporter at Louisiana State University’s Tiger TV.
7. She was Miss Iowa Teen USA 2022 third runner-up.
8. She won Miss Iowa Teen USA 2023.
9. She was a Miss Teen USA 2023 semifinalist.
10. From 2025 to 2026, she was the assistant director of external affairs of the student government of Louisiana State University.
11. She won Miss Iowa USA 2026.
12. She was Miss USA 2026 second runner-up.

TIMELINE

While in high school, Maddie worked at a prom dress. Her boss encouraged her to apply for the Jovani It-Girl competition.

2010s

• In August 2019, she entered Ankeny Centennial High School.

2020s

• From January 2022 to May 2022, she was a KCCI sports intern.
• On May 21, 2022, she represented Ankeny at Miss Iowa Teen USA 2022 at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown in Des Moines. She was third runner-up to Marisa Mathson of Dallas County.
• In June 2022, she graduated from Ankeny Centennial High School.
• On June 24, 2023, she won Miss Teen Iowa USA 2023 at the Staplin Performing Arts Center at Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa.
• On September 28, 2023, she represented Iowa at Miss Teen USA 2023 and competed against 50 other candidates at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, USA. She finished in the Top 20.
• In August 2022, she entered Louisiana State University and joined the university’s Tiger TV.
• In October 2025, she joined the student government of Louisiana State University.
• On May 15, 2026, she graduated from Louisiana State University.
• On May 30, 2026, she competed against five other Miss Iowa USA 2026 candidates at The Franklin Center in Des Moines and won the title.
• On August 27, 2026, she represented Iowa at Miss USA 2026 and competed against 50 other candidates at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida. She was third runner-up to Justus Kelley of Virginia, USA.