Miss America 1954

Miss America 1954, the 27th Miss America pageant, was held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 12, 1953. Though four women from Pennsylvania had previously held the title (1924, 1935, 1936, 1940), Evelyn Margaret Ay was the first Miss Pennsylvania to be crowned Miss America, as the others represented cities.[1][2]

Miss America 1954
DateSeptember 12, 1953
VenueBoardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Entrants52
Placements5
WinnerEvelyn Margaret Ay
Pennsylvania

Actress and princess-to-be Grace Kelly was one of the year's judges.

A Top 10 finisher in the pageant, Miriam Stevenson, subsequently won the 1954 Miss USA pageant, representing South Carolina. She then proceeded to be crowned Miss Universe 1954.

Similarly, Carlene King Johnson, unsuccessful as Miss Vermont in the 1954 Miss America pageant, became Miss USA 1955.

Results
Contestants of the Miss America 1954 swimsuit competition, held during September 1953

Placements
Final results Contestant
Miss America 1954
1st runner-up
2nd runner-up
3rd runner-up
4th runner-up
Top 10

Preliminary awards
Awards Contestant
Lifestyle and Fitness
Talent

Other awards
Awards Contestant
Miss Congeniality
Non-finalist Talent

Contestants
State Name Hometown Age Talent Placement Awards Notes
Alabama Virginia McDavid Birmingham 18 Monologue, "Tara" from Gone with the Wind 3rd runner-up
Arizona Betty Lou Lindly Tempe Piano
Arkansas Helen Reed Fayetteville Tap Dance
California Patricia Johns Fresno Dramatic Monologue from The Country Girl Top 10 Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
Canada Kathleen "Kathy" Ann Archibald Kelowna
Chicago Carol Segermark Chicago Vocal
Colorado Mary Donclan Keenesburg Dramatic Monologue from Of Mice and Men
Connecticut Sally Middleton Hartford Dance
Delaware Lois Anne Alava Wilmington Piano, "Concerto in A Minor" Top 10 Preliminary Talent Award
District of Columbia Helen Smith Washington, D.C. 19 Dance
Florida Marjorie Simmons Tampa Dance, "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue"
Georgia Lucia Hutchinson Macon 22 Operatic Vocal, "Mon cœur s'oure à ta voix" & "Love is Where You Find it"
Hawaii Dorothy Leilani Ellis Lihue Hula
Idaho Jane Bostic New Plymouth Vocal, "All the Things You Are"
Illinois Jacquie Dumbauld Alton Piano/Dance
Indiana Violet Wratich East Chicago Vocal
Iowa Constance VerHoef Sheldon 18 Vocal
Kansas Joanne Milnar Hutchinson 23 Water Ballet
Kentucky Emily Rucker Berea Vocal
Louisiana Sonya Lee LeBlanc Baton Rouge Dance
Maine Karen Diane Thorsall Portland Vocal
Maryland Meta France Justice Crisfield Vocal, "Ave Maria"
Massachusetts Lois Feldman Natick Ballet
Michigan Velva Irene Robbins Dowagiac Speech, "Education"
Minnesota Idell Hulin Minneapolis Vocal
Mississippi Suzanne Dugger Picayune Vocal Medley & Dance, "Bill" & "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey" 4th runner-up
Missouri Laura Holmes Northwoods Dance
Nebraska Diana Louise Hann Lincoln Art
Nevada Jeannine McColl Las Vegas Dance
New Hampshire Elaine Ruggles New Castle Vocal
New Jersey Patricia Condon Maplewood Vocal Miss Congeniality
New York Jeannine Bowman Rome Drama
New York City Joan Kaible New York City Classical Vocal, "Qual fiamma avea nel guardo" from Pagliacci 1st runner-up
North Carolina Barbara Crockett Winston-Salem Vocal, "Shine"
North Dakota Marilyn Wentz Napoleon Vocal
Ohio Martha Zimmerman Salem Drama/Piano
Oklahoma Lorene Washburn Tulsa Vocal
Oregon Patti Throop Portland Dramatic Reading, "Patterns" Top 10
Pennsylvania Evelyn Margaret Ay Ephrata 20 Poetry Recitation, "Footsteps" from Leaves from a Grass-House by Don Blanding Winner Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
Puerto Rico Nydia Power
Rhode Island Joyce Sandberg Providence Drama Later Miss Rhode Island USA 1954
South Carolina Miriam Stevenson Winnsboro 20 Tap Dance Top 10 Later Miss South Carolina USA 1954, Miss USA 1954, & Miss Universe 1954


1st Miss USA to become Miss Universe

South Dakota Delores Jerde Spearfish Piano Preliminary Talent Award


Non-finalist Talent Award
Tennessee Ruth Ann Barker Trenton Vocal
Texas Paula Lane Cleburne Fashion Design & Speech
Utah Ina Lavon Brown Provo Drama
Vermont Carlene King Johnson Rutland Dance Later Miss Vermont USA 1955, Miss USA 1955, & semi-finalist at Miss Universe 1955
Virginia Anne Lee Ceglis Norfolk Classical Vocal, "Un Bel Di" from Madama Butterfly 2nd runner-up Preliminary Talent Award
Washington Geraldine Lindsey Seattle Vocal
West Virginia Patricia Stewart Pineville Vocal & Impersonations
Wisconsin Judith Jacobsen Wauwatosa 19 Vocal & Dance, "Make Believe" & "Come Back to Sorrento"
Wyoming Elaine Lois Holkenbrink Torrington Fashion Display Top 10 Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award

References
  1. "A Beaut Of A Victory". Toledo Blade. 1953-09-14. p. 2.
  2. Associated Press (1951-09-09). "Ephrata Beauty Reigns As Miss America". Lebanon Daily News. p. 1, 8.
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