Transformation of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem in 30+ Photos

The Pageant Past That Shaped Her
To those who now see her as the tough and uncompromising head of Homeland Security, Noem’s past as a beauty queen may come as a surprise. But back in 1990, she was, in fact, vying for a crown.

Kristi Noem speaks during the CPAC meeting held by the American Conservative Union on February 10, 2011, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images
Kristi Noem speaks during the CPAC meeting held by the American Conservative Union on February 10, 2011, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images

As a native of Hamlin County, Noem was crowned South Dakota Snow Queen. That moment would open doors she never expected and teach her how to carry herself on the public stage.

In a 2016 interview with Aberdeen News, she revealed that the judges weren’t just looking for the best answers or performances. “They wanted a well-rounded person who can handle themselves in a variety of situations,” she said.

Kristi Noem speaks during the House Republicans’ news conference on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act on April 25, 2012, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images
Kristi Noem speaks during the House Republicans’ news conference on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act on April 25, 2012, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images

That competition gave her the confidence to speak boldly and present herself with poise. Winning the title also came with a scholarship, which helped her begin her college education at Northern State University.

Kristi Noem and Carolyn Maloney conduct a news conference in the Capitol on legislation to reduce human trafficking on August 1, 2013, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images
Kristi Noem and Carolyn Maloney conduct a news conference in the Capitol on legislation to reduce human trafficking on August 1, 2013, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images

After two years, Noem married Bryon Noem. Her plan was to continue studying, but her father’s sudden death brought her back to the family farm. Politics soon followed, and she eventually earned her degree in Political Science in 2011 from South Dakota State University.

Her time in pageantry wasn’t only about stage experience or scholarship money. Noem made statewide connections she might never have gained through school activities like basketball or volleyball.

Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Kevin McCarthy, and Kristi Noem during a news conference after the House Republican Caucus at the U.S. Capitol on January 14, 2014, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images
Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Kevin McCarthy, and Kristi Noem during a news conference after the House Republican Caucus at the U.S. Capitol on January 14, 2014, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images

She met people from every corner of South Dakota and realized she wanted to represent them. That realization brought her back after her time in Washington, and in 2018, she became the first female governor in the state’s history.

A fierce supporter of President Donald Trump during his first term, Noem focused on tax cuts and refused to implement COVID-19 lockdowns. In 2025, after Trump returned to office, she was selected to lead the Department of Homeland Security.