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Miss USA 1955
Carlene Johnson
Date	July 20, 1955
Presenters	Bob Russell
Venue	Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California
Entrants	43
Placements	15
Winner	Carlene King Johnson Vermont
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Miss USA 1955 was the fourth Miss USA pageant, held at Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California on July 20, 1955.

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

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

Background

Selection of participants

Contestants from forty-three states and cities were selected to compete in the pageant. The age requirement in this edition is still from 18 to 28, where women who are married and have children can also participate.

Marianne Marcus of Pennsylvania was initially disqualified by her local organizers after competing in the wrong type of swimsuit, as a swimsuit company was sponsoring the Miss Pennsylvania USA contest. However, the decision was reversed, and Marcus was allowed to compete at Miss USA after Don D'Carlo, promoter for the Miss Pennsylvania USA contest, consulted then-executive director of the Miss Universe contest Oscar Minehardt regarding the situation, which resulted in the rule being waived.

Results

Placements

Pageant

Format

From twenty-one semi-finalists in 1954, fifteen semi-finalists were chosen at the preliminary competition that consists of the swimsuit and evening gown competition. Each of the fifteen semi-finalists gave a short speech during the final telecast. Afterwards, the fifteen semi-finalists paraded again in their swimsuits and evening gowns, and the five finalists were eventually chosen.

Selection committee

• Ginny Simms – American actress and singer

Contestants

Forty-three contestants competed for the title.

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. ^ "Finalists". The Logan Daily News. 23 July 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 14 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
3. Williams, Vera (23 March 1952). "Pageant of Pulchritude". Long Beach Press-Telegram. p. 50. Retrieved 7 July 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Beauty winner now disqualified". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. July 11, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
5. ^ "Area beauty has a close call". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 12, 1955. p. 15. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Google Books.
6. ^ "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.
7. ^ "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.
8. ^ "Miss New Mexico favored to win Miss USA title". The Tuscaloosa News. July 20, 1955. p. 2. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Google Books.
9. "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.
10. "Beauty contestant". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. June 5, 1955. p. 5. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Beauties tell pet fads, foods". Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. July 15, 1955. p. 21. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ "Susanna Djuim (uit Venezuela) Miss World" [Susanna Djuim (from Venezuela) Miss World]. Het vrije volk (in Dutch). 21 October 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 22 June 2024 – via Delpher.
13. "Regal smile". The Bulletin. July 11, 1955. p. 7. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Google Books.
14. "Miss Connecticut". Hartford Courant. May 9, 1955. p. 6. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Helen Blackwell vies for "Miss Universe"". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. 12 July 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
16. "Miss Delaware due to leave Monday for beauty pageant". The News Journal. August 30, 1952. p. 10. Retrieved January 9, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Miss USA contestants". Orlando Evening Star. July 20, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
18. "Peach". Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. July 2, 1955. p. 9. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
19. "Illinois sends Diane". Independent. Long Beach, California. July 14, 1955. p. 48. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
20. "Represents Indiana". The Indianapolis News. July 5, 1955. p. 14. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
21. "Holstein's charming Jerri Jean Cole to represent state in Miss Universe competition at Long Beach". The Sioux City Journal. June 28, 1955. p. 6. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
22. "Miss Merlin Grace Garcia". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. July 14, 1955. p. 16. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
23. "2 Baltimoreans win beauty titles". The Evening Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. 30 June 1955. p. 34. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
24. ^ "Best pictures of the day". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. July 16, 1955. p. 5. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
25. "Long Beach next". The Daily Reporter. Greenfield, Indiana. June 29, 1955. p. 5. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
26. "She's a winner". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. June 28, 1955. p. 10. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
27. ""Miss Missouri" off to Los Angeles for "Miss Universe" try". The Democrat-Argus. Caruthersville, Missouri. July 15, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
28. "Best year for Nebraska beauties". Omaha World-Herald. Omaha, Nebraska. July 31, 1955. p. 97. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
29. "New England's beauty queens". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. July 3, 1955. p. 4. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
30. "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.
31. "Miss New Mexico". The Albuquerque Tribune. May 9, 1955. p. 4. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
32. "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.
33. "See a beauty queen crowned". The Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, North Dakota. July 5, 1955. p. 8. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
34. "Rose Karcha of Salem wins in beauty contest". The Capital Journal. June 25, 1955. p. 3. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
35. "Candidates for Miss Universe crown". The Telegraph. July 20, 1955. p. 11. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Google Books.
36. Raymond, Robert (July 3, 1955). "New S.C. queen". The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, North Carolina. p. 10. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
37. "Queenly reward". The Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, Iowa. September 2, 1955. p. 19. Retrieved January 9, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
38. "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.
39. "Miss Texas A&I". The Kilgore News Herald. Kilgore, Texas. p. 3. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
40. "Beautiful 'Miss Utah' off for world contest". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, Utah. July 14, 1955. p. 26. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
41. "Beauties meet". Standard-Speaker. Hazleton, Pennsylvania. July 16, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
42. Anderson, Dick (July 11, 1955). "Norfolk County model gets shot at Miss Universe title". The Virginian-Pilot. Norfolk, Virginia. p. 36. Retrieved January 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
43. "Contestant visits here". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Green Bay, Wisconsin. June 30, 1955. p. 14. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
44. "Salutes oil show". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyoming. 23 June 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

External links

• Miss USA official website

• Miss USA
• 1955 in the United States
• 1955 beauty pageants
• 1955 in California
• Miss World America