Miss USA 1970

Miss USA 1970, the 19th Miss USA pageant, was televised live by CBS from Miami Beach, Florida on May 16, 1970.

Miss USA 1970
Date	May 16, 1970
Presenters	Bob Barker
Entertainment	Ricky Nelson and The Stone Canyon Band
Venue	Miami Beach, Florida
Broadcaster	CBS, WTVJ
Entrants	51
Placements	15
Winner	Deborah Shelton Virginia
Congeniality	Diane Swendeman
Photogenic	Deborah Shelton

The pageant was won by Deborah Shelton of Virginia, who was crowned by outgoing titleholder Wendy Dascomb, also of Virginia – the first time in Miss USA history that a state won back-to-back titles. Shelton went on to place as 1st runner-up at Miss Universe 1970. She later became an actress who appeared in the film Body Double and on a number of television series, including Dallas.

Results

Final Results	Contestant
Miss USA 1970	Virginia – Deborah Shelton
1st Runner-Up	South Carolina – Vicki Chesser
2nd Runner-Up	Nevada – Sheri Schruhl
3rd Runner-Up	Tennessee – Donna Marie Ford
4th Runner-Up	Georgia – Cherie Stephens
Top 15	Arkansas – Mary Jane Dial California – Linda Hall District of Columbia – Nikki Phillips Florida – Cheryl Johnson Maine – Margaret McAleer New York – Christina Tefft Ohio – Jane Harrison Oregon – Laura Smith Texas – Diane Swendeman Washington – Susan Hyde

Special awards

Award	Contestant
Miss Congeniality	Texas – Diane Swendeman
Miss Photogenic	Virginia – Deborah Shelton

Historical significance

• Virginia wins competition for the second time. Also it is the first time in Miss USA history that a state won back-to-back titles.
• South Carolina earns the 1st runner-up position for the third time. The last time it placed this was in 1956.
• Nevada earns the 2nd runner-up position for the fourth time. The last time it placed this was in 1968.
• Tennessee earns the 3rd runner-up position for the second time. The last time it placed this was in 1952.
• Georgia earns the 4th runner-up position for the third time. The last time it placed this was in 1958.
• States that placed in semifinals the previous year were California, Florida, Nevada, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
• California placed for the fourteenth consecutive year.
• Nevada and Virginia placed for the fourth consecutive year.
• New York and Washington placed for the third consecutive year.
• Florida, South Carolina and Texas made their second consecutive placement.
• Arkansas, Ohio and Tennessee last placed in 1968.
• District of Columbia and Oregon last placed in 1967.
• Georgia and Maine last placed in 1959.
• Connecticut, Hawaii and New Mexico break an ongoing streak of placements since 1968.
• Alabama breaks an ongoing streak of placements since 1967.

Delegates

The Miss USA 1970 delegates were:

Alabama - Kathy Bryant Alaska - Therese Press Arizona - Alicia Lein Arkansas - Mary Jane Dial California - Linda Lee Hall Colorado - Linda Hicklin Connecticut - Patricia Ann Matthews Delaware - Marilyn O'Neill District of Columbia - Nikki Phillips Florida - Cheryl Johnson Georgia - Cherie Stephens Hawaii - Donna Hartley Idaho - Kathy Cravens Illinois - Carol Pepoon Indiana - Mary McBride Iowa - Jacqueline Jochims Kansas - Norma Decker Kentucky - Joanna Smith Louisiana - Nadine Robertson Maine - Margaret McAleer Maryland - Beckie Price Massachusetts - Cheryl Stankiewicz Michigan - Daune Bergen Minnesota - Sally Strickland Mississippi - Susan Ladner Missouri - Suzette Grenham

Montana - Moreen Murphy Nebraska - Bonnie McElveen Nevada - Sheri Schruhl New Hampshire - Gail Eriksson New Jersey - Ellen Cream New Mexico - Theresa Phillips New York - Christina Tefft North Carolina - Susan Bodsford North Dakota - Nancy Jean Perry Ohio - Jane Harrison Oklahoma - Evelyn Walkup Oregon - Laura Smith Pennsylvania - Carol Cerully Rhode Island - Rebecca Galleshaw South Carolina - Vicki Chesser South Dakota - Cynthia Finley Tennessee - Donna Marie Ford Texas - Diane Swendeman Utah - Tamina Roark Vermont - Cindy Jurewicz Virginia - Deborah Shelton Washington - Susan Hyde West Virginia - Sharon Alberti Wisconsin - Joann Soller Wyoming - Ann Swarthout

Judges

• Wilhelmina Cooper
• Len Dawson
• Sue Downey
• Hy Gardner
• George Lindsey

External links

• Miss USA official website