Miss America 1951

Miss America 1951, the 24th Miss America pageant, was held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 9, 1950. Based on the majority of Miss America's reign occurring during the year following her coronation, the pageant began referring to her title with the upcoming year. Thus, Yolande Betbeze, who was crowned in September 1950 would be called Miss America 1951. This continued until pageant activities moved from September to January in 2006. At that point, the queen would once again have the year of her title the same as the year in which she won. That change also marked the move away from its long-time base and point of origin, Atlantic City, to its new home in Las Vegas, Nevada.[1][2][3][4]

Miss America 1951
DateSeptember 9, 1950 (1950-09-09)
PresentersBob Russell
VenueBoardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Entrants54
Placements16
WinnerYolande Betbeze
Alabama

Results
Final results Contestant
Miss America 1951
1st runner-up
2nd runner-up
3rd runner-up
4th runner-up
Top 16

Preliminary awards
Awards Contestant
Lifestyle and Fitness
Talent

Other awards
Awards Contestant
Miss Congeniality
  • Hawaii - Dell'finn Kalaupaona Poaha

Contestants
Title Name Hometown Age Talent Placement Awards Notes
Alabama Yolande Betbeze Mobile 21 Classical Vocal, "Caro Nome" from Rigoletto Winner Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award Betbeze's refusal to pose in a swimsuit after her win lead to the pull-out of swimsuit sponsor Catalina & ultimately the creation of the Miss USA pageant
Alaska Maxine Cothern Fairbanks Speech, "Alaska"
Arizona Kathryn Lunsford Phoenix Modern Dance
Arkansas Mary Jennings Hot Springs Classical Vocal, "Un Bel Dì" from Madama Butterfly 3rd Runner-up Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award Was a featured soprano with the New York City Opera


Judged the Miss America 1989 and Miss America 1991 pageants

California Joanne Durant San Diego Vocal/Poetry Recitation, "Alice Blue Gown" Top 16 Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award
Canada Margaret Eleanore Bradford Windsor
Chicago Marjorie Adams Chicago Monologue, "To the Lovely Margaret" Top 16
Colorado Barbara Norrish Longmont Violin
Connecticut Renee Roy Hartford Comedy Sketch of a Cosmetic Demonstration and Vocal/Dance, "Charley, My Boy" Top 16 Preliminary Talent Award Later Miss New York City USA 1954
Delaware Lorna Edwardson Dover Classical Vocal, "Un Bel Dì" from Madama Butterfly
District of Columbia Sandra Stahl 21 Classical Vocal, "The Bell Song" from Lakmé Top 16 Preliminary Talent Award
Florida Janet Ruth Crockett St. Petersburg Vocal & Pantomime from The Perils of Pauline 2nd Runner-up
Georgia Louise Thomas Fitzgerald
Greater Philadelphia Janice Murray Philadelphia Classical Vocal, '''O Don Fatale" from Don Carlos Top 16
Hawaii Dell'Finn Kala'upaona Po'aha Honolulu Miss Congeniality
Idaho Barbara Norton Burley Vocal, "A Heart That's Free" from Two Weeks with Love
Illinois Catherine Kleinschmidt Granite City Vocal, "Come to the Fair"
Indiana Pat Berry Indianapolis Vocal, "I'm Falling in Love with Someone" from Naughty Marietta
Iowa Mary Virginia Lines Clarinda 18 Piano/Marimba, "Stardust"
Kansas Anabel Baker Wichita Dramatic Monologue from Macbeth
Kentucky Mary Louise Osborne Wheelwright Drama
Louisiana Rowena Taliaferro Winnsboro
Maine Jane Harragan Millinocket Dramatic Monologue, "The Corn is Green"
Maryland Ann Uri Baltimore Vocal/Piano
Massachusetts Britta Berg Boston
Michigan Bette Lou Pittman Owosso Monologue, "I Like Americans"
Minnesota Jeanne Traun Minneapolis Vocal
Mississippi Annie Roberts Hattiesburg
Missouri Beverly Rotroff Kansas City Vocal/Piano
Montana Donna Marie Buls Missoula
Nebraska Jinx Burrus Crete Baton Twirling
Nevada Tosca Masini Sparks Comedy Characterization Top 16
New Hampshire Betty Laurie Concord
New Jersey June Stephens Ship Bottom Comic Sketch, "The Older Set" Top 16
New Mexico Martha Rose Wilson Santa Fe
New York Marilyn Reynolds Syracuse Vocal, "I'll Take Romance"
New York City Phyllis Battleson New York City Classical Vocal, "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix" Top 16
North Carolina Carolyn Edwards Leaksville Monologue, "Rumba" by Dorothy Parker Top 16
North Dakota Joan Teets Minot Comedy Monologue, "Touch of Norway" Non-finalist Talent Award
Ohio Irene Farren Grand River Fashion Design
Oklahoma Louise O'Brien Tulsa Vocal, "'Twas Only an Irishman's Dream" 4th Runner-up
Oregon Elizabeth Ann Baker Monmouth Classical Piano, Clair de Lune
Pennsylvania Emilie Longacre Phoenixville Vocal, "You're My Everything"
Puerto Rico Evangelina Moragón
South Carolina Carolyn Fowler Lyman 17 Vocal, "Why Don't You Fall in Love with Me"
South Dakota Irene O'Connor Burbank Dramatic Monologue, "Dedication of the White Armor" from Saint Joan 1st Runner-up Preliminary Talent Award
Tennessee Greta Graham Memphis Organ, "Tico-Tico no Fubá"
Texas Margaret Sommers Dallas Classical Vocal, "Jealousy" Top 16
Utah Joanne Hinard Provo East Indian Dance
Vermont Eleanor Kangas Springfield
Virginia Gloria Fenderson Petersburg
Washington Karlyne Abele Des Moines Dramatic Reading, "The Flag" Top 16
Wisconsin Gloria Lange Milwaukee 20 Operatic Vocal, "Donkey Serenade" from The Firefly
Wyoming Lenore Hoffman Cheyenne

References
  1. United Press International (1950-09-11). "Miss America Would Rather Go To School Than Get Married". El Paso Herald-Post. p. 10.
  2. Associated Press (1950-09-11). "Brown-Haired Alabama Beauty Wins Miss America Crown". Portland Press Herald. p. 1.
  3. Associated Press (2005-08-26). "There She Isn't: Miss America Pageant Leaves Atlantic City". New York Times.
  4. "1950 Yolande Betbeze". Archived from the original on 2010-10-11. Retrieved 2010-08-29.

Secondary sources
  • Saulino Osborne, Angela (1995). "Miss Americas and their Courts". Miss America The Dream Lives On. Taylor Publishing Company. ISBN 0-87833-110-7.
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