Miss USA 1974
| Miss USA 1974 | |
|---|---|
 Miss USA 1974 Karen Morrison the day after her victory | |
| Date | May 18, 1974 |
| Presenters | Bob Barker |
| Venue | Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center, Niagara Falls, New York |
| Broadcaster | |
| Entrants | 51 |
| Placements | 12 |
| Winner | Karen Morrison Illinois |
| Congeniality | Donna Thornton  Vermont |
| Photogenic | Barbara Cooper New York |
Miss USA 1974 was the 23rd Miss USA pageant, televised live by CBS from Niagara Falls, New York on May 18, 1974.
The pageant was won by Karen Jean Morrison of Illinois,[1] who was crowned by outgoing titleholder Amanda Jones, also of Illinois.
Judges included psychologist Joyce Brothers, actor George Peppard, football player Paul Hornung, fashion designer John Weitz, and Sylvia Hitchcock, who won Miss USA 1967 and Miss Universe 1967.[1]
Morrison was the fourth woman from Illinois to win the Miss USA title (a record at the time), and went on to place as a semi-finalist at Miss Universe 1974. Coincidentally, first runner up at Miss USA 1973 was Miss New York. It happened again at Miss USA 1974 when Miss New York (Miss USA 1973 & Miss USA 1974 held in New York) was first runner up with both winner from Illinois.
Results
Placements
| Final results | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss USA 1974 | |
| 1st Runner-Up | |
| 2nd Runner-Up | |
| 3rd Runner-Up |
|
| 4th Runner-Up |
|
| Top 12 |
|
Special awards
| Award | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss Amity (Congeniality) | |
| Miss Photogenic |
|
| Best State Costume |
|
Delegates
The Miss USA 1974 delegates were:
Alabama – Wyna Lavas
Alaska – Cyndi Dickerson
Arizona – Carlys Peterson
Arkansas – Gina Huddle
California - Gayle Gorrell
Colorado – Connie Larsen
Connecticut – Valerie Ann Cappello
Delaware – Cheryl Fetkenher
District of Columbia – Robin Utterback
Florida – Cynthia Zach
Georgia – Vicki Lynn Ross
Hawaii – Joan Marie Ottensmeyer
Idaho – Darla Jan Dowden
Illinois – Karen Jean Morrison
Indiana – Lisa Childress
Iowa – Susan Thompson
Kansas – Lorraine Breckenridge
Kentucky – Charlesy Ann Gulick
Louisiana – Karen Hoff
Maine – Rebecca Titcomb
Maryland – Mary Jo Ruppert
Massachusetts – Ethellean Hicks
Michigan – Patricia Loftis
Minnesota – Gail Ray Johnson
Mississippi – Denise Clark
Missouri – Dorothy "Tweedy" McAlveen
Montana – Carole Aalseth
Nebraska – Mary Wolff
Nevada – Linda Dryden
New Hampshire – June Tedeschi
New Jersey – Patricia Sims
New Mexico – Janice Lynn Nilson
New York – Barbara Cooper
North Carolina – Marcia Burton
North Dakota – Judith Lynn Waltz
Ohio – Kay Phillips
Oklahoma – Yugonda Willits
Oregon – Peggy Anne Gertie
Pennsylvania – Dorisann Gatalski
Rhode Island – Debra Anne Cerroni
South Carolina – Carol Lynn Hollis
South Dakota – Debra Ann Brickley
Tennessee – Brin Annette Hendrix
Texas – Debra Cronin
Utah – Halene Petersen
Vermont – Donna Sue Thornton
Virginia – Hazel Thomas
Washington – Charlene "Char" Rutledge
West Virginia – Kim Nuzum
Wisconsin – Mary Cook
Wyoming – Debbie K. Petty
Judges
- Dr. Joyce Brothers - psychologist, author, TV personality
- Eileen Ford - President of the Ford Modeling Agency
- Pete Gogolak - New York Giants kicker
- Sylvia Hitchcock - Miss Universe 1967
- Geoffrey Holder - actor, dancer, producer
- Paul Hornung - Green Bay Packers kicker
- Dong Kingman - artist
- George Peppard - actor
- Sylvia Sidney - actress
- Rodger Ward - racing driver
- John Weitz - fashion designer
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Illinois Girl Captures Crown In Miss U.S.A. Beauty Pageant". The Times Recorder. United Press International. May 20, 1974. p. 9. Retrieved 25 July 2023.