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