Miss USA 1955

Miss USA 1955 was the 4th Miss USA pageant, held at Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California on July 20, 1955.

Miss USA 1955
Winner Carlene Johnson combing hair before first day of Miss Universe 1955
DateJuly 20, 1955
PresentersBob Russell
VenueLong Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California
Entrants43
Placements15
WinnerCarlene King Johnson†
 Vermont

At the end of the event, Miriam Stevenson of South Carolina crowned Carlene King Johnson of Vermont as Miss USA 1955.[1] It is the first victory of Vermont in the pageant's history. Johnson later competed at Miss Universe and was named one of the 15 semi-finalists.

Contestants from 43 states and cities competed in the pageant. The competition was hosted by Bob Russell.

Results

Placements
Placement Contestant
Miss USA 1955
1st runner-up
2nd runner-up
3rd runner-up
4th runner-up
Top 15

Contestants

43 contestants competed for the title.[4]

State/City Contestant Age[lower-alpha 1] Hometown Notes
Arizona Patti Alexandria Marks 19 Glendale
Arkansas Margaret Anne Haywood 19 Jonesboro Later Miss World United States 1955
1st runner-up at Miss World 1955
California Donna Schurr 18 Garden Grove
Colorado Dorothy Jean Bewley 19 Denver
Connecticut Jane Louise Bartolotta 23 Middletown
Delaware Helen Denise Blackwell[5] 21 Wilmington Previously Miss Delaware 1952
Florida Mariles Gessler 20 Tallahassee
Georgia Carolann Connor 19 Atlanta
Illinois Betty Diane Daniggelis 18 Chicago Winner of the 1955 National Press Photographers Pageant
Indiana Mary Ann Wasick 19 Gary
Iowa Jerri Jean Cole – Holstein
Louisiana Merlin Grace Garcia 19 Gretna
Maryland Gloria Ruth King[6] 19 Baltimore
Massachusetts Jean Dernago 18 Springfield
Miami Beach, Florida Beverly Masters 18 Miami Beach
Michigan Martha Smith 18 Detroit
Minnesota Sally Ann Colombo 18 Stillwater
Missouri Janet Coker 18 Caruthersville
Nebraska Donna Jo Streever 21 Grand Island
New Hampshire Patricia Ann Mowry 22 Manchester
New Jersey Beverly Rogers[7] 19 Maywood
New Mexico Joan Schwartz 19 Albuquerque
New York Janet Kadlecik[8] 18 Johnson City
New York City, New York Patricia Anne O'Kane 19 Valley Stream
North Carolina Mary Grace Ratliffe 18 Wadesboro
North Dakota Joan Roberta Smith 19 Bismarck
Ohio Carol Hagerman 20 Columbus
Oregon Rose Karcha 20 Salem
Pennsylvania Marianne Marcus – McKees Rocks
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Doris Sommer Klein 21 Philadelphia
Rhode Island Beverly Jansen 20 Providence
South Carolina Sara Ella Stone 20 Florence
South Dakota Phyllis Elaine Choquette 19 Jefferson
St. Louis, Missouri Bennie Joan Pritchard 20 University City
Tennessee Barbara Gurley[9] 24 Memphis
Texas Mary Miles Daughters 19 Kingsville
Utah Myrna Joy Rasmussen 21 Salt Lake City
Vermont Carlene King Johnson 22 Rutland Top 15 at Miss Universe 1955
Previously Miss Vermont 1953
Virginia Jeannie Asble 19 Portsmouth
Washington Shirley Jean Givins 20 Seattle
West Virginia Barbara Jean Tucker 19 St. Albans
Wisconsin Jeanne Marianne Bouley[10] 19 Fond du Lac
Wyoming Barbara Kaye Latta[11] 18 Casper

Notes
  1. Ages at the time of the pageant

References
  1. "Miss Vermont named Miss U.S.A." The Boston Globe. 21 July 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 5 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Blond Vermont jewelry maker named Miss U.S.A." St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 21 July 1955. p. 25. Retrieved 5 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "JC girls Miss U.S.A. finalist, Miss New Mexico is favorite". Press and Sun-Bulletin. 20 July 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 5 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Here's official list of Miss Universe charmers". Long Beach Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. 17 July 1955. p. 8. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Helen Blackwell vies for "Miss Universe"". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. 12 July 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "2 Baltimoreans win beauty titles". The Evening Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. 30 June 1955. p. 34. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Maywood beauty to represent NJ in Miss Universe contest". The News. Paterson, New Jersey. July 1, 1955. p. 27. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "JC Girl crowned state queen in Miss Universe beauty test". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, New York. 6 June 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Barbara Gurley winner over 20 for beauty title". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. July 2, 1955. p. 11. Retrieved May 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Contestant visits here". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, Wisconsin. June 30, 1955. p. 14. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Salutes oil show". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyoming. 23 June 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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