Miss USA 1956

Miss USA 1956 was the 5th Miss USA pageant, held at Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California on 18 July 1956.

Miss USA 1956
Miss USA 1956 Carol Morris
DateJuly 18, 1956
PresentersBob Russell
VenueLong Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California
Entrants43
WinnerCarol Morris
Iowa Iowa

At the end of the event, Carlene King Johnson of Vermont crowned Carol Morris as Miss USA 1956.[1] It is the first victory of Iowa in the pageant's history. Morris later competed at Miss Universe and won.[2]

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

Results

Placements
Placement Contestant
Miss USA 1956
1st runner-up
2nd runner-up
3rd runner-up
4th runner-up
Top 15

Contestants

Forty-three contestants competed for the title.[4]

State/City Contestant Age[lower-alpha 1] Hometown Notes
Arizona Maija Bertulson 18 Tucson
Arkansas Nancy McCollum 19 Stuttgart
California Shirlee Witty 20 Wilmington
Colorado Karen Keeler 21 Denver
Connecticut Dorothy Bailey 19 Bridgeport
Delaware Sandra McCabe 18 Selbyville
District of Columbia Joanne Holler 21 Washington
Florida Kim Meyer 26 Oceanway
Georgia Mary Ruff 19 Gainesville
Illinois Muriel Blair 23 Chicago
Indiana Beverly Mattox 19 Milroy
Iowa Carol Ann Laverne Morris 19 Ottumwa Previously Miss Iowa 1954
Miss Universe 1956
Louisiana Cecile Morris 19 Greenwell Springs
Maryland Charlene Holt 28 Annapolis
Massachusetts Elaine Murphy 21 Weston
Miami Beach, Florida Beverly Rogers 20 Miami
Michigan Barbara Sias 19 Detroit
Minnesota Marilyn Johnson 18 Minneapolis
Missouri Carol Thrower 18 Kemmett
Nebraska Shari Lewis 19 Lincoln
Nevada Marley Sanderson 21 Las Vegas
New Hampshire Rita Leclerc 21 Berlin
New Jersey Delores Winfield 21 Cranford
New Mexico Jackie Brown 21 Albuquerque
New York Kay Douglas 18 New York City
North Carolina Shirley Bagwell 18 Raleigh
North Dakota Mary Harroun 19 Bismarck
Ohio Eleanor Wood 18 Canton
Oregon Maralyn Turner 19 Portland
Pennsylvania Serena Kifer 20 Monaca
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Miriam Uniman 18 Philadelphia
Rhode Island Sandra Vozella 18 Point Judith
South Carolina Betty Lane Cherry 20 Orangeburg Later Miss World United States 1956
1st runner-up at Miss World 1956
St. Louis, Missouri Diana Stopke 18 St. Louis
Tennessee Stella Wilson 19 Covington
Texas Jo Dodson 18 Houston
Utah Cheryl Brown 18 Spanish Fork
Vermont Delores Wettack 21 Westminster
Virginia Audra Stark[5] 21 Virginia Beach
Washington June Svedin 20 Seattle
West Virginia Janet Cardi 24 Belle
Wisconsin Priscilla Perkins[6] 20 Milwaukee
Wyoming Marilyn Scott 19 Cheyenne

Notes
  1. Ages at the time of the pageant

References
  1. "Iowa beauty wins title of Miss U.S.A." Toledo Blade. Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press. 19 July 1956. p. 2. Retrieved 15 May 2023 – via Google News Archive.
  2. "Carol Morris, Iowa entry, wins Miss Universe title". Youngstown Vindicator. Warren, Ohio. 21 July 1956. p. 2. Retrieved 15 May 2023 – via Google News Archive.
  3. "Minister's daughter is U.S. representative". The Altus Times-Democrat. 19 July 1956. p. 8. Retrieved 10 October 2023 – via Google News Archive.
  4. "Globe's Most Beautiful Girls". Long Beach Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. 15 July 1956. p. 8. Retrieved 15 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Audra Stark is Miss Universe Entry". The Virginian-Pilot. Norfolk, Virginia. 18 June 1956. p. 1. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Wisconsin's Miss Universe". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, Wisconsin. 18 June 1956. p. 6. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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