Miss USA 1971
| Miss USA 1971 | |
|---|---|
 Miss USA 1970 Deborah Shelton crowning Michele McDonald as Miss USA 1971 | |
| Date | May 22, 1971 |
| Presenters | Bob Barker |
| Venue | Jackie Gleason Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida |
| Broadcaster | CBS, WTVJ |
| Entrants | 51 |
| Placements | 12 |
| Winner | Michele McDonald Pennsylvania |
| Congeniality | Diane Knaub Colorado |
| Photogenic | Brenda Miller Virginia |
Miss USA 1971 was the 20th Miss USA pageant, televised live by CBS hosted by Bob Barker from the Jackie Gleason Auditorium in Miami Beach, Florida on May 22, 1971.
The pageant was won by Michele McDonald of Pennsylvania, who was crowned by outgoing titleholder Deborah Shelton of Virginia.[1] McDonald was the first – and to date only – woman from Pennsylvania to win the Miss USA title, and went on to place as a semi-finalist at Miss Universe 1971.
For the 1971 pageant, the number of semi-finalists called was reduced from 15 to 12. It would remain at this number until 1984, when it was cut again to 10.
Results
| Final Results | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss USA 1971[2] | |
| 1st Runner-Up[2] | |
| 2nd Runner-Up[2] | |
| 3rd Runner-Up[2] | |
| 4th Runner-Up[2] | |
| Top 12[3] |
|
† Indicates contestant Is deceased
Special awards
| Award | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss Congeniality |
|
| Miss Photogenic |
|
Delegates
The Miss USA 1971 delegates were:
Alabama - Renee Smith
Alaska - Katherine Hartman
Arizona - Susanne Pottenger
Arkansas - Paula Keith
California - Karin Morrell- Colorado - Diane Knaub
Connecticut - Diane Turetsky
Delaware - Nanette Crist
District of Columbia - Suzanne Pluskoski
Florida - Susan Deaton
Georgia - Jenny Andrews
Hawaii - Deborah Gibson
Idaho - Kristeen Riordan
Illinois - Paulette Breen
Indiana - Deborah Downhour
Iowa - Cindy Helmers
Kansas - Nancy Bishop
Kentucky - Patricia Barnstable
Louisiana - Diane Risenstein
Maine - Ruth McCleery
Maryland - Carol Theis
Massachusetts - April Dow
Michigan - Pat Glannan
Minnesota - Shirley Kittleson
Mississippi - Janey Gillis
Missouri - Nancy Rich
Montana - Rebecca Thomas
Nebraska - Lola Butler
Nevada - Anita Laurie
New Hampshire - Jane Laroche
New Jersey - Brenda White
New Mexico - Debbie Clary
New York - Barbara Lopez
North Carolina - Mary Rudroff
North Dakota - Joanne Engel
Ohio - Karen Haus
Oklahoma - Kim Hardesty
Oregon - Connie Oost- Pennsylvania - Michele McDonald
Rhode Island - Laurie Stahle
South Carolina - Eunice Campbell
South Dakota - Sonia Hart
Tennessee - Sue Collins
Texas - Brenda Box
Utah - Janet Montgomery
Vermont - Sandra Taft- Virginia - Brenda Miller
Washington - Christine McComb
West Virginia - Peggy Tennant
Wisconsin - Pamela Martin
Wyoming - Kay Heaton
Judges
- Willis Reed
- Willa Meda
- Burt Bacharach, Sr.
- Richard J. Knight
- Jane Kean
- Ben Novak
- Bobbi Johnson
- George Lindsey
- Hy Gardner
- Cindy Adams
References
- ^ a b c d e "Miss USA Breaks Date For Prom to Win Title". The Wichita Beacon. Associated Press. May 23, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Associated Press (24 May 1971). "For Miss USA Michele McDonald Winning Smile Natural". San Angelo Standard-Times. p. 13. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "The '10 Best', including Miss Iowa". Des Moines Tribune. 20 May 1971. p. 32. Retrieved 18 August 2024.