Miss USA 1953

Miss USA 1953 was the 2nd Miss USA pageant, held at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California on July 16, 1953.

Miss USA 1953
Myrna Hansen, Miss USA 1953, in 1957
DateJuly 16, 1953
PresentersBob Russell
VenueLong Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California
Entrants43
Placements20
Debuts
Withdrawals
WinnerMyrna Hansen
 Illinois
CongenialityJeanne Vaughn Thompson
 Louisiana

At the end of the event, Jackie Loughery of New York crowned Myrna Hansen of Illinois as Miss USA 1953.[1][2] It is the first victory of Illinois in the pageant's history.

Contestants from 43 states and cities competed in this year's pageant. The competition was hosted by Bob Russel.

Results

Placements
Placement Contestant
Miss USA 1953
1st Runner-up
2nd Runner-up
3rd Runner-up
4th Runner-up
Top 20

Special awards
Award Contestant
Miss Congeniality
Miss Body Beautiful

Pageant

Selection committee

Contestants

43 contestants competed for the title.[5]

State/City Contestant Age[lower-alpha 1] Hometown Notes
Alabama Alabama Doris Edwards 25 Birmingham
Arizona Arizona Eleanor Ruth Cross 19 Chandler
Arkansas Arkansas Jackie Stucker 19 West Helena
California California Marcella Roulette 21 Los Angeles
Colorado Colorado Jeanie Carroll 18 Denver
Connecticut Connecticut Beverlee Burlant 21 Bridgeport
Idaho Idaho Patricia Carter 18 Boise
Illinois Illinois Myrna Hansen 17 Chicago 1st runner-up at Miss Universe 1953[6]
Indiana Indiana Edith Mae Krumme 19 Seymour
Iowa Iowa Marilyn Shonka[7] 18 Sioux City
Kentucky Kentucky Mary Stice[8] 19 Paducah
Louisiana Louisiana Jeanne Thompson 21 Baton Rouge Previously Miss Louisiana USA 1952 and placed 1st runner-up at Miss USA 1952[9]
Previously Miss Louisiana 1951
Maine Maine Jackie Lee 22 Cape Neddick
Maryland Maryland Diane Gale Durham 22 Silver Spring
Massachusetts Massachusetts Joan Daly[10] 20 Somerville
Miami Miami Beach Kay Duggar[11] 21 Miami
Michigan Michigan Jo Ann Page 20 Detroit
Minnesota Minnesota Mary Ann Papke 20 Minneapolis
Mississippi Mississippi Jessie Wynn Morgan 20 Newton Previously Miss Mississippi 1951[12]
Top 15 at Miss America 1952
Missouri Missouri Donna Gardner[13] 18 Portageville
Montana Montana Billie Jean Tyrell[14] 21 Billings
South Carolina Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Mary Kemp Griffin[15] 23 Florence Later represented the USA at Miss World 1953 and placed 5th runner-up
Nebraska Nebraska Berneta Nelson[16] 20 Clay Center
Nevada Nevada Earlene Whitt 18 Las Vegas
New Hampshire New Hampshire Muriel Roy 24 Nashua
New Jersey New Jersey Susan Ruth Harris[17] 18 Haddonfield
New York (state) New York Reta Knapp 23 New York City
North Carolina North Carolina Libby Walker[18] – Wilton
North Dakota North Dakota Marilyn Caufield[19] 19 Jamestown
Ohio Ohio Eleanore Mack[20] 20 Bellaire
Oklahoma Oklahoma Barbara Bond[18] 21 Oklahoma City
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Jeri Bauer 27 Philadelphia
Rhode Island Rhode Island Barbara Rose Deigman 20 Providence
South Carolina South Carolina Susan Anthony Day 18 Greenville
South Dakota South Dakota Kathleen Herman 18 Bowdle
Texas Texas Joan Bradshaw 17 Houston
Utah Utah Shauna Wood 23 Salt Lake City
Vermont Vermont Kathleen Marie Eugenia Surrel 22 Brooklyn, New York City
Virginia Virginia Dorothy Lee Bailey[21] 21 Norfolk
Washington (state) Washington Nancy Petraborg[22] 18 Seattle
West Virginia West Virginia Fay Higley 18 South Charleston
Wisconsin Wisconsin Jacque Kimmel 24 Milwaukee
Wyoming Wyoming Nancy Rogers[19] – Cheyenne

Notes
  1. Ages at the time of the pageant

References
  1. Belser, Emily (17 July 1953). "Chicagoan named Miss USA in Miss Universe contest". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 15. Retrieved 16 January 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Curvy Blonde holds U.S. Universe hopes". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, New York. 16 July 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Miss Illinois wins title as top beauty of the nation". Long Beach Press-Telegram. 16 July 1953. p. 3. Retrieved 16 January 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Beauties vie for "Miss Universe" title". The Knoxville Journal. 12 July 1953. p. 34. Retrieved 16 January 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Miss Universe pageant Tableau of Beauty". Long Beach Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. 12 July 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 8 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "'Miss Universe' title is taken by brunette Parisian model". The Ponca City News. Ponca City, Oklahoma. 19 July 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Iowa loses to Illinois". The Des Moines Register. 16 July 1953. p. 8. Retrieved 16 January 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Murray College coed, 19, named Miss Kentucky". The Courier-Journal. 5 July 1953. p. 8. Retrieved 16 January 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Brooklyn girl wins U.S. crown; seeks Miss Universe Title tonight". The Plain Speaker. 28 June 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 12 December 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Untitled". The Boston Globe. 12 July 1953. p. 32. Retrieved 6 February 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Daggone! Here's Florida gal who likes it here!". Long Beach Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. 9 July 1953. p. 3. Retrieved 8 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Helps Dimes Drive". Enterprise-Journal. 27 December 1951. p. 1. Retrieved 8 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "From Missouri and shows 'em". The Daily News-Journal. Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 26 February 1953. p. 8. Retrieved 8 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Miss Montana". Great Falls Tribune. 15 July 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 8 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "South Carolina girl, 'Miss U.S.' finalist, wants to be a cop". The Index-Journal. 22 July 1953. p. 8. Retrieved 16 January 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Clay Center miss, 20, to represent Nebraska in 'Miss Universe' Contest". The Lincoln Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. 1 July 1953. p. 11. Retrieved 8 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Haddonfield Girl Awarded Title of Miss New Jersey". Courier-Post. 30 May 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 8 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "Untitled". The Charlotte News. 13 July 1953. p. 15. Retrieved 16 January 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "At the Miss Universe contest". Casper Star-Tribune. 19 July 1953. p. 16. Retrieved 16 January 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Beauty to represent Ohio". The Springfield Daily News. Springfield, Ohio. 5 July 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 8 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. "Beauty rewarded at Sand Festival". Norfolk Virginian-Pilot. Norfolk, Virginia. 28 June 1953. p. 19. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  22. "Untitled". The Troy Messenger. Troy, Alabama. 12 July 1953. p. 6. Retrieved 8 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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