Miss USA 1972
21st Miss USA pageant
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Miss USA 1972 was the 21st Miss USA pageant, held at Cerromar Beach Hotel in Dorado, Puerto Rico, on May 20, 1972. Tanya Wilson of Hawaii was crowned by outgoing titleholder Michele McDonald of Pennsylvania.[1] This was the second time Hawaii has won the pageant.
| Miss USA 1972 | |
|---|---|
| Date | May 20, 1972 |
| Presenters | |
| Entertainment | Everly Brothers |
| Venue | Cerromar Beach Hotel, Dorado, Puerto Rico |
| Broadcaster | CBS |
| Entrants | 51 |
| Placements | 12 |
| Winner | Tanya Wilson Hawaii |
| Congeniality | Peggy Moore  Utah |
| Photogenic | Susan Peters  Texas |
Bob Barker (who later that year would begin a 35-year run as host of The Price Is Right on CBS) and singer Helen O'Connell hosted the pageant and the Everly Brothers were the guest entertainers.[2]
Prior to the final competition contestants participated in a number of public appearances, including an official parade held in Ponce and a televised ceremony with Governor Luis Ferre.[3]
This was the first time the pageant was held outside the continental United States.[2] The event was marred by two bomb blasts at the hotel during the pageant, thought to have been caused by anti-American activists.[4][5] There was severe property damage but no injuries were reported.[6][7] Earlier that day the venue had been picketed by the Puerto Rican Socialist Party.[8]
Results
| Final results | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss USA 1972[9] | |
| 1st Runner-Up[9] |
|
| 2nd Runner-Up[9] |
|
| 3rd Runner-Up[9] |
|
| 4th Runner-Up[9] |
|
| Top 12[10] |
|
Special awards
Delegates
The Miss USA 1972 delegates were:
Alabama – Elaine Barnhill
Alaska – Patricia Lane
Arizona – Marcia Banks
Arkansas – Susan Tichenor
California - Kim Christina Hobson
Colorado – Patricia Cadigan
Connecticut – Diane Stevens
Delaware – Michele Voyer
District of Columbia – Janet Gail Greenawalt
Florida – Coni Ensor
Georgia – Kaye Ayers
Hawaii – Tanya Wilson
Idaho – Lianne Fulmer
Illinois – Jani Hall
Indiana – Julie Clifford
Iowa – Jennifer Jo Owen
Kansas – Mona Guesnier
Kentucky – Tamara Branstetter
Louisiana – Bonnie Martin
Maine – Cynthia Luce
Maryland – Patty Townsend
Massachusetts – Dale Carder
Michigan – Marilyn Ann Petty
Minnesota – Darlene Koskiniemi
Mississippi – Debbie Pawlik
Missouri – Janet Potter
Montana – Mitriann Popovich
Nebraska – Theresa Engels
Nevada – Tracey Whitney
New Hampshire – Cathy Davis
New Jersey – Leila DeSantis
New Mexico – Donna Reel
New York – Alberta Phillips
North Carolina – Deborah Falls
North Dakota – Gail Schmeichel
Ohio – Kathleen Kehlmier
Oklahoma – Pam Vennerberg
Oregon – Yvonne Philes
Pennsylvania – Jeanie Zadrozny
Rhode Island – Jeanne LeMay
South Carolina – Susan Gordon
South Dakota – Kathy Baky
Tennessee – Linda Thompson
Texas – Susan Peters
Utah – Peggy Moore
Vermont – Stacey Becker
Virginia – Diane Elizabeth "Dede" Moore
Washington – Connie Ambrose
West Virginia – Diane McCutcheon
Wisconsin – Suzan Nass
Wyoming – Tamara Tulley
Judges
A panel of 11 celebrities was chosen to judge the competition.[2]
- Cindy Adams - broadcaster and columnist
- Cleveland Amory - author, critic, President of the Fund for Animals
- Connie Francis - singer
- Walt Frazier - New York Knicks basketball player
- Halston - designer
- Dong Kingman - artist
- William Knight - Senior Vice-President for Avis Rent a Car System
- Bob Lardine - feature writer for New York Sunday News
- Rita Moreno - Puerto Rican actress
- Ed Sullivan - entertainer
- Jacqueline Susann - author