[1][2][3] When Simunek was 12 years old, she was chosen to represent South Dakota by her local American Legion Auxiliary unit and the South Dakota Department of the American Legion Auxiliary in recognition of her work promoting the ALA's remembrance poppy program.
[4] She was awarded the nationwide title of National Miss Poppy 2005 (junior division) in August 2005.
[5] Simunek earned $65 in combined prize money plus a chance to speak at the organization's national convention in Honolulu, Hawaii.
[6] She won the state title and represented South Dakota at the Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2008 pageant held in August 2007 in Orlando, Florida.
[10] On February 5, 2011, Simunek beat out 40 other entrants to win the Miss Rapid City 2011 title.
[26][27] She entered the Miss South Dakota pageant in June 2015 as one of 16 qualifiers for the state title.
[27][29] Simunek won the competition on Saturday, June 20, 2015, when she received her crown from outgoing Miss South Dakota titleholder Meridith Gould.
[28] Simunek was South Dakota's representative at the Miss America 2016 pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in September 2015.