Miss USA 1971 was the 20th Miss USA pageant, televised live by CBS hosted by Bob Barker from the Jackie Gleason Auditorium in Miami Beach, Florida on May 22, 1971.
| Miss USA 1971 | |
|---|---|
 Miss USA 1970 Deborah Shelton crowning Michele McDonald as Miss USA 1971 | |
| Date | May 22, 1971 |
| Presenters | Bob Barker |
| Venue | Jackie Gleason Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida |
| Broadcaster | CBS, WTVJ |
| Entrants | 51 |
| Placements | 12 |
| Winner | Michele McDonald Pennsylvania |
| Congeniality | Diane Knaub Colorado |
| Photogenic | Brenda Miller Virginia |
The pageant was won by Michele McDonald of Pennsylvania, who was crowned by outgoing titleholder Deborah Shelton of Virginia.[1] McDonald was the first – and to date only – woman from Pennsylvania to win the Miss USA title, and went on to place as a semi-finalist at Miss Universe 1971.
For the 1971 pageant, the number of semi-finalists called was reduced from 15 to 12. It would remain at this number until 1984, when it was cut again to 10.
Results
| Final Results | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss USA 1971[2] | |
| 1st Runner-Up[2] | |
| 2nd Runner-Up[2] | |
| 3rd Runner-Up[2] | |
| 4th Runner-Up[2] | |
| Top 12[3] |
|
† Indicates contestant Is deceased
Special awards
| Award | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss Congeniality |
|
| Miss Photogenic |
|
Delegates
The Miss USA 1971 delegates were:
Alabama - Renee Smith
Alaska - Katherine Hartman
Arizona - Susanne Pottenger
Arkansas - Paula Keith
California - Karin Morrell
Colorado - Diane Knaub
Connecticut - Diane Turetsky
Delaware - Nanette Crist
District of Columbia - Suzanne Pluskoski
Florida - Susan Deaton
Georgia - Jenny Andrews
Hawaii - Deborah Gibson
Idaho - Kristeen Riordan
Illinois - Paulette Breen
Indiana - Deborah Downhour
Iowa - Cindy Helmers
Kansas - Nancy Bishop
Kentucky - Patricia Barnstable
Louisiana - Diane Risenstein
Maine - Ruth McCleery
Maryland - Carol Theis
Massachusetts - April Dow
Michigan - Pat Glannan
Minnesota - Shirley Kittleson
Mississippi - Janey Gillis
Missouri - Nancy Rich
Montana - Rebecca Thomas
Nebraska - Lola Butler
Nevada - Anita Laurie
New Hampshire - Jane Laroche
New Jersey - Brenda White
New Mexico - Debbie Clary
New York - Barbara Lopez
North Carolina - Mary Rudroff
North Dakota - Joanne Engel
Ohio - Karen Haus
Oklahoma - Kim Hardesty
Oregon - Connie Oost
Pennsylvania - Michele McDonald
Rhode Island - Laurie Stahle
South Carolina - Eunice Campbell
South Dakota - Sonia Hart
Tennessee - Sue Collins
Texas - Brenda Box
Utah - Janet Montgomery
Vermont - Sandra Taft
Virginia - Brenda Miller
Washington - Christine McComb
West Virginia - Peggy Tennant
Wisconsin - Pamela Martin
Wyoming - Kay Heaton
Judges
References
- ^ a b c d e "Miss USA Breaks Date For Prom to Win Title". The Wichita Beacon. Associated Press. May 23, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Associated Press (24 May 1971). "For Miss USA Michele McDonald Winning Smile Natural". San Angelo Standard-Times. p. 13. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "The '10 Best', including Miss Iowa". Des Moines Tribune. 20 May 1971. p. 32. Retrieved 18 August 2024.