Miss USA 1976
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| Miss USA 1976 | |
|---|---|
.jpg) US President Gerald Ford meets with Peterson in 1976 | |
| Date | May 15, 1976 |
| Presenters | Bob Barker |
| Entertainment | Engelbert Humperdinck |
| Venue | Niagara Falls, New York |
| Broadcaster | CBS, WBEN-TV |
| Entrants | 51 |
| Placements | 12 |
| Winner | Barbara Peterson Minnesota |
| Congeniality | Connie Clark KentuckyDorothy Westphal  South Dakota |
| Photogenic | Liz Wickersham Georgia |
Miss USA 1976 was the 25th Miss USA pageant, televised live by CBS from Niagara Falls, New York on May 15, 1976.
The pageant was won by Barbara Peterson of Minnesota, who was crowned by outgoing titleholder Summer Bartholomew of California. Peterson was the first – and to date only – woman from Minnesota to win the Miss USA title, and went on to participate at Miss Universe 1976, where she became the first Miss USA titleholder to fail to advance to the semi-final stage of the pageant.
Results[edit]
| Final Results | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss USA 1976 | |
| 1st Runner-Up |
|
| 2nd Runner-Up |
|
| 3rd Runner-Up |
|
| 4th Runner-Up |
|
| Top 12 |
|
Special awards[edit]
| Award | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss Congeniality |
|
| Miss Photogenic |
Historical significance[edit]
- Minnesota wins competition for the first time. Also becoming in the 18th state who does it for the first time.
- Michigan earns the 1st runner-up position for the first time.
- Oregon earns the 2nd runner-up position for the first time and it reaches it highest placement ever at the contest.
- South Carolina earns the 3rd runner-up position for the first time.
- Louisiana earns the 4th runner-up position for the first time.
- States that placed in semifinals the previous year were California, Missouri and Texas.
- California placed for the twentieth consecutive year.
- Missouri placed for the third consecutive year.
- Texas made their second consecutive placement.
- Illinois and Louisiana last placed in 1974.
- Michigan, New Mexico and South Carolina last placed in 1972.
- Georgia, Oregon and Washington last placed in 1970.
- Minnesota last placed in 1954.
- North Carolina breaks an ongoing streak of placements since 1974.
- District of Columbia breaks an ongoing streak of placements since 1970.
- Florida breaks an ongoing streak of placements since 1969.
Delegates[edit]
The Miss USA 1976 delegates were:
Alabama - Kyle Ellis
Alaska - Elizabeth Staib
Arizona - Curvy Walters
Arkansas - Sonia Jines
California - Joan Pennock
Colorado - Patricia Swean
Connecticut - Rozalyn Raplh
Delaware - Debbie Kucher
District of Columbia - Nancy Stitt
Florida - Leigh Walsh- Georgia - Liz Wickersham
Hawaii - Brenda Texeira
Idaho - Cheryl Gilbert
Illinois - Kathy Schmalen
Indiana - Annette Anderson
Iowa - Sheri Davenport
Kansas - Debbie Viter- Kentucky - Connie Clark
Louisiana - Robyn Sanders
Maine - Dawn St Clair
Maryland - Linda Potter
Massachusetts - Holly Hoyle
Michigan - Kevin Gale- Minnesota - Barbara Peterson
Mississippi - Teresa Camp
Missouri - Donna Hibbits
Montana - Teresa Klaus
Nebraska - Catherine Fricke
Nevada - Janice Carrell
New Hampshire - Sinceree Rowlette
New Jersey - Ginger Hagaman
New Mexico - Jonelle Bergquist
New York - Carol Doerr
North Carolina - Dianne Bowen
North Dakota - Linda Paulson
Ohio - Karen Myers
Oklahoma - Lori Hansen
Oregon - Gail Atchison
Pennsylvania - Marcy Zambelli
Rhode Island - Kathy Confreda
South Carolina - Virginia Murray- South Dakota - Dorothy Westphal
Tennessee - Jana Kerr
Texas - Candace Gray
Utah - Debbie Drecksel
Vermont - Susan Parsons
Virginia - Donna Dixon
Washington - Norene Gilbert
West Virginia - Cheryl Plants
Wisconsin - Susan Femrite
Wyoming - Murlie Colosky
Judges[edit]
- Richard Adler
- Ernest Borgnine - award-winning actor
- Maggie Daly
- Sue Downey - Miss USA 1965
- Barry Farber
- Alice Faye
- Melanie Kahane
- Derek Sanderson
- Zoltan "Zoli" Rendessy