Miss USA 1954 explained

Miss USA 1954 was the third Miss USA pageant, held at Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California on July 24, 1954.

At the end of the event, Myrna Hansen of Illinois crowned Miriam Stevenson of South Carolina as Miss USA 1954. It is the first victory of South Carolina in the pageant's history. Stevenson later competed at Miss Universe and won.[1]

Contestants from 45 states and cities competed in this year's pageant. The competition was hosted by Bob Russel.

Background

Selection of participants

Contestants from 45 states/cities were selected to compete in the pageant. The age requirement in this edition is still from 18 to 28, where women who are married and have children can also participate.[2] One contestant was selected to replace the original dethroned winner.

Waydine Nesbitt, runner-up to the Arkansas Maid 1954 pageant, was appointed to replace Arkansas Maid 1954 Sonya Ann McClure after giving up her crown in order to compete for the Miss Arkansas crown for Miss America.[3]

Several contestants were disqualified due to being underaged. Barbara Ann Eschenburg of Maryland was discovered to be only 16 during the time of the contest, forcing her to withdraw as the minimum age limit of that time was 18. Ellen Whitehead of Virginia was also underage, but was discovered only after the contest. Initially, Ellen Whitehead of Virginia stayed as the first runner-up despite being underage since the placement was only considered as "honorary" according to the pageant officials. However, Dr. Richard Eschenburg, the father of Miss Maryland USA, complained to the officials as to why his daughter was disqualified for being underage while Whitehead was not; despite being underage.[4] Whitehead was later disqualified by the pageant officials and was replaced by Karin Hultman of New York.

Elaine DuFeen of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was expected to compete in this edition. However, DuFeen dropped out of the pageant because another girl was chosen to represent her state and thought she wouldn't get an equal chance at the competition.[5]

Placements

Placements

PlacementContestant
Miss USA 1954
1st runner-up
  • Virginia – Ellen Whitehead
    (disqualified)
  • New York – Karin Hultman
    (assumed position)
2nd runner-up
3rd runner-up
  • Texas – Betty Lee
    (formerly fourth runner-up)
4th runner-up
Top 21

Contestants

45 contestants competed for the title.[9]

State/CityContestantAgeHometownNotes
ArizonaBonnie Johnson18Phoenix
ArkansasWaydine Nesbitt21Magnolia
CaliforniaSandra Constance[10] 18Los Angeles
ColoradoLorna Batterson19Denver
ConnecticutAndrea Todd[11] 22Milford
District of ColumbiaLaura Farley21Washington, D.C.
FloridaRosemary Talucci22Miami Beach
Front Royal, VirginiaCarol Hammack–Front Royal
IllinoisCeleste Ravel[12] 23Chicago
IndianaCecilia Dennis20Milan
IowaIone Lucken–Le Mars
KansasSue Ravenscroft18Liberal
KentuckyNikki Horner[13] 28Prospect
LouisianaSadie Vinson18New OrleansFinalist in the 1955 Miss Dixie Pageant
MarylandBarbara Ann Eschenburg[14] 16BerlinLater disqualified for being underage
MassachusettsNan Cowan–Sterling
Memphis, TennesseeJanice Beverly Bowles18Memphis
MichiganGerri Hoffman22Detroit
MinnesotaDawn Joyce[15] 20Minneapolis
MissouriAlice Jean Porritt[16] 19Cape Girardeau
Dawn Oney[17] 22Billings
NebraskaMargie Winkhoff–Grand Island
NevadaMary Jane Arnold18Las Vegas
New HampshireMyrna Louise Smith18–
New JerseyEvelyn Orowitz[18] 20Collingswood
New YorkKarin Hultman[19] 22New York CityBecame 1st runner-up after Miss Virginia USA was disqualified.
Later became Miss World United States 1954
1st runner-up at Miss World 1954[20]
New York City, New YorkRenee Roy23New York City
North CarolinaAnn Pickett22Charlotte
North DakotaJane Hewitt19Fargo
OhioBarbara Randa[21] 19Painesville
OregonCharlotte Miller18Toledo
PennsylvaniaHelen Vidovich[22] 18Beaver Valley
Pleasure Beach, ConnecticutViolet Fuchs––
Rhode IslandJoyce Anne Sandberg21WarwickPreviously Miss Rhode Island 1953
As wife of Philip Noel, served as the First Lady of Rhode Island from 1973 to 1977.[23]
South CarolinaMiriam Jacqueline Stevenson[24] 20WinnsboroMiss Universe 1954[25]
Previously Miss South Carolina 1953
Top 10 at Miss America 1954
South DakotaBarbara Ann Brown––
St. Louis, MissouriJo Ann Lynde––
TennesseeBarbara Holly21Nashville
TexasBetty Lee[26] 20Houston
UtahLaverna Laub22Salt Lake City
VermontGeorgia Laurise24New Haven
VirginiaEllen Whitehead[27] 17ChathamLater disqualified due to being underage
WashingtonDarlene Shride––
West VirginiaSandra Waggy––
WisconsinRita Delores Younger[28] 21Baraboo
WyomingFaith RadenbaughHeart Mountain

Notes

  1. News: 24 July 1954 . South Carolina's Miriam Stevenson Wins "Miss Universe"; Miss Brazil Second . 1; 5 . The Dispatch . 16 July 2023 . Google News Archive.
  2. News: Williams . Vera . 23 March 1952 . Pageant of Pulchritude . 50 . . 7 July 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  3. News: 24 June 1954 . 'Arksansas Maid' gives up title, seeks new crown . 11 . Tulsa Daily World . Tulsa, Oklahoma . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  4. News: 23 July 1954 . Miss Virginia is disqualified; she's nearly 17, should be 18 . 14 . The Roanoke World-News . Roanoke, Virginia . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  5. News: 13 August 1954 . Miss Philadelphia's papa takes over . 37 . Albuquerque Journal . Albuquerque, New Mexico . 20 July 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  6. News: 22 July 1954 . Coed named Miss U.S.A. . en . 21 . Reading Eagle . 16 July 2023 . Google News Archive.
  7. News: 24 July 1954 . 16 semifinalistas para el titulo de Miss Universo . es . 16 semifinalists for the title of Miss Universe . 24 . La Nacion . 16 July 2023 . Google News Archive.
  8. News: 22 July 1954 . Pick finalists for Miss USA . 16 . The Philadelphia Inquirer . Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  9. News: Official Entry List Shows How Beauties Measure Up . 26 July 2023 . Long Beach Press-Telegram . 18 July 1954 . 22.
  10. News: 30 June 1954 . Model picked as 'Miss U.S.' contestant . 1 . Citizen-News . Hollywood, California . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  11. News: 7 July 1954 . Candidate . 9 . The Evening Sun . Hanover, Pennsylvania . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  12. News: 20 May 1955 . Miss Illinois tops as spectacle model . 3 . The Times-News . 16 July 2023 . Google News Archive.
  13. News: 9 July 1954 . 'Spur-of-moment' entry named Miss Kentucky . 23 . The Courier-Journal . Louisville, Kentucky . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  14. News: 23 July 1954 . Maryland and Virginia raging over beauty contest mix-up . 1 . Buffalo Evening News . Buffalo, New York . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  15. News: 2 July 1954 . City girl named state's Miss Universe . 1 . . Minneapolis, Minnesota . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  16. News: 2 April 1954 . First legs . 7 . The Ferdinand News . Ferdinand, Indiana . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  17. News: 20 July 1954 . Montana's Marilyn Monroe? . 1 . Great Falls Tribune . Great Falls, Montana . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  18. News: 10 July 1954 . No title . 3 . The Daily Reporter . Greenfield, Indiana . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  19. News: 8 July 1954 . Rochester blonde wins beauty test . 16 . Press and Sun-Bulletin . Binghamton, New York . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  20. News: 20 October 1954. Meet 'Miss World'. en. 1. The Straits Times. 26 August 2023. National Library Board.
  21. News: 8 July 1954 . She's "Miss Ohio" . 11 . News-Journal . Mansfield, Ohio . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  22. News: 14 July 1954 . Miss Pennsylvania, Beaver Valley Girl, leaves for contest . 3 . Ellwood City Ledger . Ellwood City, Pennsylvania . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  23. News: Miller . G. Wayne . 15 February 2019 . Former R.I. First Lady Joyce Anne Noel has died . . 27 December 2019.
  24. News: 3 July 1954 . Miss Universe crowned . 3 . The State . Columbia, South Carolina . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  25. News: 24 July 1954 . Miss USA captures Miss Universe title . en . 1 . . New London, Connecticut . 25 July 2023 . Google News Archive.
  26. News: 9 July 1954 . U. of T. sophomore to be Miss Universe candidate . 4 . . Fort Worth, Texas . 11 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  27. News: Wagner . Al . 14 June 1954 . Chatham beauty, 17, wins Legion Contest at Mosque . 1 . Richmond Times-Dispatch . Richmond, Virginia . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  28. News: 10 August 1954 . Miss Wisconsin in Hollywood . 8 . . Madison, Wisconsin . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.

References

  1. News: 24 July 1954 . South Carolina's Miriam Stevenson Wins "Miss Universe"; Miss Brazil Second . 1; 5 . The Dispatch . 16 July 2023 . Google News Archive.
  2. News: Williams . Vera . 23 March 1952 . Pageant of Pulchritude . 50 . . 7 July 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  3. News: 24 June 1954 . 'Arksansas Maid' gives up title, seeks new crown . 11 . Tulsa Daily World . Tulsa, Oklahoma . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  4. News: 23 July 1954 . Miss Virginia is disqualified; she's nearly 17, should be 18 . 14 . The Roanoke World-News . Roanoke, Virginia . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  5. News: 13 August 1954 . Miss Philadelphia's papa takes over . 37 . Albuquerque Journal . Albuquerque, New Mexico . 20 July 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  6. News: 22 July 1954 . Coed named Miss U.S.A. . en . 21 . Reading Eagle . 16 July 2023 . Google News Archive.
  7. News: 24 July 1954 . 16 semifinalistas para el titulo de Miss Universo . es . 16 semifinalists for the title of Miss Universe . 24 . La Nacion . 16 July 2023 . Google News Archive.
  8. News: 22 July 1954 . Pick finalists for Miss USA . 16 . The Philadelphia Inquirer . Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  9. News: Official Entry List Shows How Beauties Measure Up . 26 July 2023 . Long Beach Press-Telegram . 18 July 1954 . 22.
  10. News: 30 June 1954 . Model picked as 'Miss U.S.' contestant . 1 . Citizen-News . Hollywood, California . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  11. News: 7 July 1954 . Candidate . 9 . The Evening Sun . Hanover, Pennsylvania . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  12. News: 20 May 1955 . Miss Illinois tops as spectacle model . 3 . The Times-News . 16 July 2023 . Google News Archive.
  13. News: 9 July 1954 . 'Spur-of-moment' entry named Miss Kentucky . 23 . The Courier-Journal . Louisville, Kentucky . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  14. News: 23 July 1954 . Maryland and Virginia raging over beauty contest mix-up . 1 . Buffalo Evening News . Buffalo, New York . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  15. News: 2 July 1954 . City girl named state's Miss Universe . 1 . . Minneapolis, Minnesota . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  16. News: 2 April 1954 . First legs . 7 . The Ferdinand News . Ferdinand, Indiana . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  17. News: 20 July 1954 . Montana's Marilyn Monroe? . 1 . Great Falls Tribune . Great Falls, Montana . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  18. News: 10 July 1954 . No title . 3 . The Daily Reporter . Greenfield, Indiana . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  19. News: 8 July 1954 . Rochester blonde wins beauty test . 16 . Press and Sun-Bulletin . Binghamton, New York . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  20. News: 20 October 1954. Meet 'Miss World'. en. 1. The Straits Times. 26 August 2023. National Library Board.
  21. News: 8 July 1954 . She's "Miss Ohio" . 11 . News-Journal . Mansfield, Ohio . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  22. News: 14 July 1954 . Miss Pennsylvania, Beaver Valley Girl, leaves for contest . 3 . Ellwood City Ledger . Ellwood City, Pennsylvania . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  23. News: Miller . G. Wayne . 15 February 2019 . Former R.I. First Lady Joyce Anne Noel has died . . 27 December 2019.
  24. News: 3 July 1954 . Miss Universe crowned . 3 . The State . Columbia, South Carolina . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  25. News: 24 July 1954 . Miss USA captures Miss Universe title . en . 1 . . New London, Connecticut . 25 July 2023 . Google News Archive.
  26. News: 9 July 1954 . U. of T. sophomore to be Miss Universe candidate . 4 . . Fort Worth, Texas . 11 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  27. News: Wagner . Al . 14 June 1954 . Chatham beauty, 17, wins Legion Contest at Mosque . 1 . Richmond Times-Dispatch . Richmond, Virginia . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.
  28. News: 10 August 1954 . Miss Wisconsin in Hollywood . 8 . . Madison, Wisconsin . 10 May 2023 . Newspapers.com.

External links

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