Miss America 1971

Miss America 1971, the 44th Miss America pageant, was held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 12, 1970.^[1][2] The Women's Liberation Front demonstrated at the event^[1] and Miss Iowa 1970, Cheryl Browne,^[3] was the first African American contestant in the history of the Miss America pageant.^[1][4][5] Miss South Dakota 1970 Mary Harum (Mary Hart) and Miss New Jersey 1970 Hela Yungst would both become media personalities.

Miss Texas 1970, Phyllis George, was crowned Miss America 1971. George would later become a noted media personality, featured on the CBS football program The NFL Today, as well as the First Lady of Kentucky from 1979 to 1983.

In August 1971, George traveled to Vietnam with Miss Nevada 1970, Vicky Jo Todd, Miss New Jersey 1970, Hela Yungst, Miss Arizona 1970, Karen Shields, Miss Arkansas 1970, Donna Connelly, Miss Iowa 1970, Cheryl Browne, and Miss Texas 1970 (George's replacement after she became Miss America), Belinda Myrick.^[6] They were participating in a 22-day United Service Organizations tour for American troops there. The tour began in Saigon.^[4][5][6] Browne later commented that she thought "it was one of the last Miss America groups to go to Vietnam."^[5]