Miss USA 1970
| Miss USA 1970 | |
|---|---|
 Debbie Shelton being crowned 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 Texas |
| Photogenic | Deborah Shelton Virginia |
Miss USA 1970 was the 19th Miss USA pageant, 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[1] – 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 | |
| 1st Runner-Up |
|
| 2nd Runner-Up | |
| 3rd Runner-Up | |
| 4th Runner-Up | |
| Top 15 |
|
Special awards
| Award | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss Congeniality |
|
| Miss Photogenic |
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
- Mark Bertram “Bert” Bacharach
- Richard J. Knight
- Len Dawson
- Teresa Graves
- Hy Gardner
- Ben Novack
- George Lindsey
- Sue Downey
References
- ^ a b c d e "Miss USA title won by Virginia girl". Arizona Republic. Associated Press. 17 May 1970. p. 5. Retrieved 24 July 2023.