Miss USA 1955

Miss USA 1955 was the fourth Miss USA pageant, held at Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California on July 20, 1955.

Miss USA 1955
Carlene Johnson
Date	July 20, 1955
Presenters	Bob Russell
Venue	Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California
Entrants	43
Placements	15
Winner	Carlene King Johnson Vermont
← 1954 1956 →

At the end of the event, Miriam Stevenson of South Carolina crowned Carlene King Johnson of Vermont as Miss USA 1955.^[1] It is the first victory of Vermont in the pageant's history. Johnson later competed at Miss Universe and was named one of the fifteen semi-finalists.^[2]

Contestants from forty-three states and cities competed in the pageant. The competition was hosted by Bob Russell.

Background

Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, the venue of Miss USA 1955

Selection of participants

Contestants from forty-three states and cities were selected to compete in the pageant. The age requirement in this edition is still from 18 to 28, where women who are married and have children can also participate.^[3]

Marianne Marcus of Pennsylvania was initially disqualified by her local organizers after competing in the wrong type of swimsuit, as a swimsuit company was sponsoring the Miss Pennsylvania USA contest.^[4] However, the decision was reversed, and Marcus was allowed to compete at Miss USA after Don D'Carlo, promoter for the Miss Pennsylvania USA contest, consulted then-executive director of the Miss Universe contest Oscar Minehardt regarding the situation, which resulted in the rule being waived.^[5]

Results

Placements

Placement	Contestant
Miss USA 1955	Vermont – Carlene King Johnson[6]
1st runner-up	Arkansas – Margaret Anne Haywood[6]
2nd runner-up	Nebraska – Donna Streever[6]
3rd runner-up	California – Donna Schurr[6]
4th runner-up	Georgia – Carolann Connor[6]
Top 15	Colorado – Dorothy Bewley[7] Florida – Marlies Gessler[7] Illinois – Diane Daniggelis[7] New Mexico – Joan Schwartz[7] New York – Janet Kadlecik[7] New York City – Patricia O'Kane[7] South Carolina – Sara Stone[7] Texas – Mary Daughters[7] Washington – Shirley Givins[7] Wisconsin – Jeanne Boulay[7]

Pageant

Format

From twenty-one semi-finalists in 1954, fifteen semi-finalists were chosen at the preliminary competition that consists of the swimsuit and evening gown competition.^[8] Each of the fifteen semi-finalists gave a short speech during the final telecast. Afterwards, the fifteen semi-finalists paraded again in their swimsuits and evening gowns, and the five finalists were eventually chosen.

Selection committee

• Ginny Simms – American actress and singer^[8]

Contestants

Forty-three contestants competed for the title.^[9]

State/City	Contestant	Age[a]	Hometown	Notes
Arizona	Patti Alexandria Marks[10]	19	Glendale
Arkansas	Margaret Anne Haywood[11]	19	Jonesboro	Later Miss World United States 1955[12] 1st runner-up at Miss World 1955[12]
California	Donna Schurr[13]	18	Santa Ana
Colorado	Dorothy Jean Bewley[7]	19	Denver
Connecticut	Jane Louise Bartolotta[14]	23	Middletown
Delaware	Helen Denise Blackwell[15]	21	Wilmington	Previously Miss Delaware 1952[16]
Florida	Mariles Gessler[17]	20	Tallahassee
Georgia	Carolann Connor[18]	19	Atlanta
Illinois	Betty Diane Daniggelis[19]	18	Chicago	Winner of the 1955 National Press Photographers Pageant
Indiana	Mary Ann Wasick[20]	19	Gary
Iowa	Jerri Jean Cole[21]	18	Holstein
Louisiana	Merlin Grace Garcia[22]	19	Gretna
Maryland	Gloria Ruth King[23]	19	Baltimore
Massachusetts	Jean Dernago[24]	18	Springfield
Miami Beach, Florida	Beverly Masters	18	Miami Beach
Michigan	Martha Smith[25]	18	Detroit
Minnesota	Sally Ann Colombo[26]	18	Stillwater
Missouri	Janet Coker[27]	18	Caruthersville
Nebraska	Donna Jo Streever[28]	21	Grand Island
New Hampshire	Patricia Ann Mowry[29]	22	Manchester
New Jersey	Beverly Rogers[30]	19	Maywood
New Mexico	Joan Schwartz[31]	19	Albuquerque
New York	Janet Kadlecik[32]	18	Johnson City
New York City, New York	Patricia Anne O'Kane[24]	19	Valley Stream
North Carolina	Mary Grace Ratliffe	18	Wadesboro
North Dakota	Joan Roberta Smith[33]	19	Bismarck
Ohio	Carol Hagerman	20	Columbus
Oregon	Rose Karcha[34]	20	Salem
Pennsylvania	Marianne Marcus[5]	18	McKees Rocks
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Doris Sommer Klein	21	Philadelphia
Rhode Island	Beverly Jansen[35]	20	Providence
South Carolina	Sara Ella Stone[36]	20	Florence
South Dakota	Phyllis Elaine Choquette[37]	19	Jefferson
St. Louis, Missouri	Bennie Joan Pritchard	20	University City
Tennessee	Barbara Gurley[38]	24	Memphis
Texas	Mary Miles Daughters[39]	19	Kingsville
Utah	Myrna Joy Rasmussen[40]	21	Salt Lake City
Vermont	Carlene King Johnson[41]	22	Rutland	Top 15 at Miss Universe 1955[2] Previously Miss Vermont 1953
Virginia	Jeannie Asble[42]	19	Portsmouth
Washington	Shirley Jean Givins	20	Seattle
West Virginia	Barbara Jean Tucker	19	St. Albans
Wisconsin	Jeanne Marianne Bouley[43]	19	Fond du Lac
Wyoming	Barbara Kaye Latta[44]	18	Casper

Notes

1. Ages at the time of the pageant