Instrumentalists (non-Piano)

Did you know that the 1970s saw 17 women make Top 10 at Miss America playing a musical instrument other than the piano?  During the television years (1954-present) Top 10 talents have included women playing flute, clarinet, saxophone, harp, violin/fiddle, cello, banjo, and marimba.

Five of our Miss Americas in the television years have played a musical instrument (other than piano) in talent. (See below).

1979 was THE record year for instrumentalists:
1st Runner-up - Tana Carli, Ohio, accordion (Talent Prelim Winner)-Tea for Two & Dizzy Fingers
2nd Runner-up - Michelle Whitson, Kansas, harp-Never On Sunday
3rd Runner-up - Susan Wilson, Missouri, piano-Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu
4th Runner-up - Marti Phillips, Florida, clarinet-Rhapsody in Blue & Begin the Beguine
Top 10 Finalist - Lori Froeling, Iowa, Flute-Carnival of Venice
Even Miss America, Cheryl Prewitt, Mississippi, accompanied herself on the piano when she sang 'Don't Cry Out Loud.

Instrumentalists in Top 10 by Decade
1950s - 4
1960's - 2
1970's - 17
1980s - 7
1990s - 5
2000s - 6
2010s - 0 

In the television era (1954-2014), states have sent an average of four (4) women to Miss America who played a musical instrument other than piano for talent.

States with most instrumentalists in the television era (1954-2014)
Idaho - 15
Minnesota - 12
Colorado - 8
Iowa - 8
Wisconsin - 8

States with fewest instrumentalists in the television era (1954-2014)
Virginia - 0
North Carolina - 0
Arizona - 1
Georgia - 1
Indiana - 1
Nebraska - 1
West Virginia - 1

States with the most Top 10 Finalists playing instruments
Texas-5
Wisconsin-4
South Carolina-3

Top 10 Finalists by Instrument (1954-2014)
As you will see from their selections, it helps to play Csardas, no matter what instrument.

Violin/Fiddle-14
Five women have played Orange Blossom Special in Top 10
1970-Oklahoma-Judy Adams-Top 10 & Tal-Hot Canary by Florian ZaBach
1973-Texas-Judy Mallett-Top 10-Csardas & Orange Blossom Special
1978-Kansas-Lori Bergen-Top 10 & Tal-Csardas & Orange Blossom Special
1983-Missouri-Barbara Webster-Top 10 & Tal-Listen to the Mockingbird & Orange Blossom Special
1985-Texas-Jonna Fitzgerald-2nd Runner-up & Tal-Csardas & Orange Blossom Special
1986-Michigan-Kelly Lynn Garver-3rd Runner-up & Tal-New Country & Orange Blossom Special
1988-MINNESOTA-GRETCHEN CARLSON-MISS AMERICA 1989 & Tal-Zigeunerweisen
1993-Wisconsin-Tania Ziegler-Top 10-Bruch's Concerto No 1 in G minor
1999-Pennsylvania-Susan Spafford-2nd Runner-up-Polish Caprice
2002-Maryland-Camille Lewis-4th Runner-up & Tal-Victory
2003-Rhode Island-Laurie Gray-Top 10 & Tal-Concerto in E minor, Opus 64
2006-Utah-Katie Millar-Top 10-Souvenirs d'Amerique & Variations on Yankee Doodle
2007-Wisconsin-Christina Thompson-Top 8-Praeludium & Allegro by Fritz Kreisler
2013 - Minnesota-Rebecca Yeh-4th Runner-up & Tal-Scherzo Tarantella by Henryk Weiniawski

Flute-8
1959-Pennsylvania-Lois Piercy-Top 10 & Tal-original composition Rain On the City (w/art display)
1969-Minnesota-Judy Mendenhall-4th Runner-up & Tal-Swiss Shepherd's Song by Pietro Morlachi
1973-Wisconsin-Judy Hieke-1st Runner-up-Medley incl Cuanto Le Gusta
1974-TEXAS-SHIRLEY COTHRAN-MISS AMERICA 1975-Bumble Boogie & Swingin Shepherd Blues
1977-Oregon-Suzanne Bunker-Top 10-Fantasie for Flute
1979-Iowa-Lori Froeling-Top 10-Carnival of Venice
1989-Colorado-Debbie Riecks-2nd Runner-up-Shenandoah & Duelin' Banjos
2002-Texas-Lisa Dalzell-Top 10-Shenandoah & Duelin' Banjos

Marimba-5

1963-Alabama-Judy Short-Top 10 & Tal-Horst Toccata

1989-MISSOURI-DEBBYE TURNER-MISS AMERICA 1990 & Tal-Flight of the Bumble Bee, Csardas, Can-Can

1990-South Carolina-Mary Gainey-1st Runner-up-Scherzo for Marimba in C

1992-South Carolina-Carrie Lee Davis-Top 10-Csardas

1999-Alabama-Julie Smith-Top 10-Flight of the Bumble Bee & Csardas

Accordion-5
1954-Florida-Ann Gloria Daniel-1st Runner-up-Lady of Spain
1957-California-Lorna Anderson-3rd Runner-up-Dark Eyes
1971-Nevada-Joan Burachio-Top 10-Csardas
1979-Ohio-Tana Carli-1st Runner-up & Tal-Tea for Two & Dizzy Fingers
1981-Indiana-Pam Carlberg-3rd Runner-up-Sabre Danse & Ritual Fire Dance

Harp-4
1970-New York-Katherine Karlsrud-Top 10-Whirlwind by Carlos Salzedo
1974-California-Lucianne Buchanan-1st Runner-up-Concerto in B flat
1979-Kansas-Michelle Whitson-2nd RU-Never On Sunday
1984-UTAH-SHARLENE WELLS-MISS AMERICA 1985-Mis Noches Sin Ti (w/Vocal)

Organ-2
1957-COLORADO-MARILYN VAN DERBUR-MISS AMERICA 1958-Tea for two & Tenderly
1971-Idaho-Karen Herd-1st Runner-up-Ebb Tide & Espana Cani

Saxophone-2
1976-Texas-Carmen McCullom-2nd Runner-up & Tal-Wabash Cannonball, If He Walked Into My Life, Yakety Sax
1977-South Carolina-Catherine hinson-2nd Runner-up-What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life & Flight '76

Banjo-1972-Delaware-Catherine Lawton-Top 10-Banjo Memories
Cello-2003-Wisconsin-Tina Sauerhammer-2nd Runner-up & Tal-The Swan
Clarinet-1979-Florida-Marti Phillips-4th Runner-up-Rhapsody in Blue & Begin the Beguine


Questions, corrections, feedback, or suggestions?  Post on the CROWNED Facebook page or email me at crownedmissa@gmail.com.

Piano Players

Classical and popular pianists have been a consistent staple in the Top 10.  Over the last 60 years (1954-2014, the television era), states have sent an average of 8 piano players to Miss America.  Utah has sent 16, and New Hampshire has only sent 2.

Except for a slight dip in 2000's, each decade starting with the 60's has seen between 12-15 pianists make Top 10, which is an average of 1 or 2 each year:

1954-1959:        2
1960-1969:      12
1970-1979:      15
1980-1989:      15
1990-1999:      14
2000-2009:   9
2010-2014:     7 (the decade is on track to see 13-14 piano players in Top 10 by 2019)

We've had three pianists make Top 10 in five (5) separate years:
1969 (Sheryl Akaka-Hawaii, Georgina Hossfeld-Massachusetts, and Cheryl Carter-New Jersey)
1975 (Tawny Godin-New York, Ann Shmalzried-Florida, Cynthia Carpenter-Masschusetts)
1976 (Barbara Jennings-Maryland, Donna Grotberg-North Dakota,  and Lavinia Cox-South Carolina)
1989 (Virginia Cha-Maryland, Leah Kay Lyle-Texas, Jennifer Wall-Washington)
1990 (Marjorie Vincent-Illinois, Cynthia White-Oklahoma, and Shannon DePuy-Virginia).

Years with no pianists in Top 10: 54, 55, 56, 59, 60, 62, 71, 80, 87, 92, 93, 98, 07, 08, 09

Miss Americas who played piano in talent competition
Bess Myerson (Miss New York City 1945) Concerto in A minor (Grieg) & Summertime (on flute)
Neva Jane Langley (Miss Georgia 1952)  Toccata (Khachaturian), Talent Prelim Winner
Debra Dene Barnes (Miss Kansas 1967) Born Free
Phyllis George (Miss Texas 1970) Promises, Promises & Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head
Tawny Godin (Miss New York 1975) Images in Pastels (original composition)
Marjorie Vincent (Miss Illinois 1990) Fantasie Impromptu (Chopin), Talent Prelim Winner
Teresa Scanlan (Miss Nebraska 2010) White Water Chopped Sticks (Calvin Jones), Talent Prelim Winner
*I have chosen to NOT include Cheryl Prewitt or Kellye Cash since I consider them to be primarily vocalists who accompanied themselves on the piano.

States with the MOST piano players (1954-2014-the tv era)
UTAH-16
including Top 10 Finalist Jaclyn Hunt (2001), Top 16 Semi-Finalist Kara Arnold (2012), and Non-Finalist talent award winners Sally Peterson (1972), Lynn Lambert (1983), Sophia Symko (1988-also a Preliminary Talent Winner), Elizabeth Anne Johnson (1991), Amanda Moody (1995-also a Preliminary Talent Winner), Mary McDonough (1997), and Jami Palmer (2000).
IDAHO-14
including Non-Finalist Talent award winners: Judith Steubbe (1964), Stephanie Kambitsch (1981), Sadie Quigley (2007), and Whitney Wood (2012).
VIRGINIA-14
including 1st Runner-up Cullen Johnson (1995), Top 10 Finalists-Shannon DePuy (1990), and Nancy Redd (2003); and Non-Finalist Talent award winners Terri Bartlett (1977), Lora Flattum (1992), and Michelle Kang (1996).
WASHINGTON-12
including Top 10 Finalists Jennifer Wall (1989) & SoYoung Kwon (1991) and Top 15 Semi-Finalist Amanda Beers (2002).
WISCONSIN-12
including Top 10 Finalist Keungsuk Kim (1981), Top 12 Semi-Finalist Paula Kuiper (2013), and Non-Finalist Talent award winners Tricia Luedtke (1990), Maria Kim (1987-also a Preliminary Talent Winner), Marilyn Sembell (1975), and Lynn Holden (1956).

States with the FEWEST piano players (1954-2014-the tv era)
4 each-CALIFORNIA(but all four made Top 10 at Miss America), COLORADO,  GEORGIA, & OHIO
3 each-CONNECTICUT & WEST VIRGINIA, 
2-NEW HAMPSHIRE

States with the MOST pianists in TOP 10
ALABAMA-7-Leigh Sherer 1995, Jenny Jackson 1988-4th RU, Angela Callahan-1986, Pam Battles-1983-2nd RU, Yolanda Fernandez-1982-3rd RU, Dellynne Catching-1968, Delores Hodgens-1961, 
TEXAS-6-Kendall Morris-2011, Jamie Story-2004, Michelle Martinez-1996, Leah Kay Lyle-1989, Sandi Miller-1978, Phyllis George-1970, 
CALIFORNIA-4-Rita Ng-2000-2nd RU, Susan Shipley-1973, Charlene Dallas-1966-1st RU, Sandra Jennings-1958
MASSACHUSETTS-4-Lauren Kuhn-2014-4th RU, Marcia Turner-1995, Cynthia Carpenter-1975, Georgina Hossfeld-1969

WHAT DID THEY PLAY?
(Chopin and Gershwin, mostly)

CHOPIN (12 selections)
Fantasie Impromptu-Missouri 1979-Top 10; Alabama-1982-3rd RU; Illinois 1990-Miss America & Tal Prelim; Tennessee 2001
Etude in C# minor, # 4, Opus 10-Minnesota 1984 & Talent Prelim; Illinois 1999
Polonaise in G# minor-New Mexico 1985; Georgia 2005
Revolutionary Etude-Virginia 1990
Scherzo # 2 in B flat minor-Oregon 1997
Ballade # 1 in G minor-Texas 1996
Etude # 1, Opus 25-Maryland 1989 & 1st RU

GERSHWIN (7 selections)
Medley of Gershwin songs-Pennsylvania 1972 & Tal Prelim; Pennsylvania 1977 & Tal Prelim; Alabama 1983 & 2nd RU
Rhapsody in Blue-Tennessee 1963 & Mississippi 2002
Second Concerto in F minor-Texas 1978
Gershwin Prelude-West Virginia 1964

RACHMANINOFF (5 selections)
Second Concerto-Utah 2001
Prelude in G minor, Opus 23-North Dakota 1997
Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini-Oklahoma 1990
Polichinelle-Maryland 1976
Prelude in E flat Major-Hawaii 1969

Other selections/composers
Malaguena-California-1973, Massachusetts 1975 & Talent Prelim; Virginia 2003
Warsaw Concerto-Iowa-1968, Alabama 1988
Debussy's Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum-Maryland 1967; Alabama 1968
Debussy's Fireworks-Oklahoma 1982
Debussy's Clare de Lune-California 1958
Debussy's Gardens in the Rain-Florida 1975
Grieg's Concerto in A minor-Massachusetts 1969 (w/Bumble Boogie); Nevada 1957
Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody-Alabama 1961, Iowa 1991 & Talent Prelim
Liszt's Totentantz-North Carolina 1995 (Lisa Bamford-Talent Prelim & Non-Finalist Talent Award)
Beethoven's Sonata No. 23 (Appassionata)-California 1990, Tal Prelim
Beethoven's Sonata No. 8 (Pathetique)-Virginia 1994
Tchaikovsky's Concerto in B minor-Ohio 1974 & Talent Prelim
Khachaturian's Toccata-California 1966 & Talent Prelim
Liszt's Mephisto Waltz-Washington 1991
Copland's The Cat and The Mouse-North Dakota 1976
Kabalevsky's Preludes-Wisconsin 1981
Prokofiev's Toccata-Oregon 1981
Ginastera's Sonata in C, 4th mvmt-Texas 1989
Gottschalk's Souvenirs d'Andalousie-Massachusetts 1995
Mendelssohn's Concerto No 1 in G minor-Texas 2004
Dvorak's New World Symphony-Texas 2012
Dance of the Bullfighter-New York 1984 & Talent Prelim
Toccata (Tauriello) and Nocturne (Grieg)-Nebraska 1978 & Talent Prelim

Chopsticks/Classical medley-Ohio 1985 & Talent Prelim
Whitewater Chopped Sticks-Nebraska 2011-Miss America & Talent Prelim
Valse Dramatico-Massachusetts 2014-4th RU
I Want You Back-South Carolina 2012-1st RU
Hallelujah Chorus-Louisiana 2010-3rd RU
El Cumbanchero-Mississippi 2006-3rd RU
Theme from The Apartment-Mississippi 2000-3rd RU
Theme from The Piano-Connecticut 1999
Carmen medley-Alabama 1995 (with classical vocal)
Opus 706-Washington 1989
Windmills of Your Mind-Alabama 1986
Medley of classical music-Arkansas 1986 (with vocal)
The Man I Love & Sunny-South Carolina 1976-1st RU
Stardust-New Jersey 1973-2nd RU
Promises, Promises & Raindrops Keep Fallin On My Head-Texas 1970-Miss America
Theme from An Affair to Remember-New jersey 1969-2nd RU
Born Free-Kansas 1967-Miss America
Variations on There She Is, Miss America-South Carolina 1965-1st RU & Talent Prelim

Original compositions-Wyoming 2013-3rd RU; Louisiana 1996-1st RU; New York 1975-Miss America

Questions, corrections, feedback, or suggestions?  Post on the CROWNED Facebook page or email me at crownedmissa@gmail.com.

How many women participate at each state competition?

Have you ever wondered which state program is the largest?  And if those rankings have changed over the years?

In 1989 (in the dark ages before the internet), I was in Atlantic City as part of the Miss Texas delegation, and I actually went to the Miss America offices where they had a copy of each state's program in the lobby.  I sat in the lobby and went through EVERY program and counted the number of contestants. Yeah, I'm that nerdy and statistic-obsessed.

Then the internet became available to the general public, and research became MUCH easier!

State competitions as we know them today began in 1945 when Lenora Slaughter, Miss America's ED from 1935 through her retirement in 1967, approached the North Carolina Jaycees about starting a state program.  Texas followed two months later and soon each state had an official program that selected a representative for Miss America, many run by Jaycees chapters.  City winners going directly to Miss America started being phased out, and by 1959 every state was finally sending a winner to Atlantic City.

For many years NORTH CAROLINA conducted the largest state program in the country.  1964 & 1965 both saw 93 contestants at state and the number rose to 98 (!) in 1966 & 1968 before dropping to 70 in 1970 (MINNESOTA had the largest state program in 1970 with 72 contestants).

TEXAS averaged in the teens in the 1940s, ranged from the high teens to the low 40s in the 1950s (14 in 1952 and 42 in 1959), hit the 50s and 60s in the 1960s, stayed in the upper 50s and the 60s during the 1970s, and reached its peak in 1982 when it had 82 local winners competing over four nights of preliminary competition (and they all had to be Ziegfeld girls for the opening number - legend has it that Dawan McPeak, who would later became Miss New York 1986,  had live birds in birdcages hanging from her head dress). Texas stayed in the 60s for most of the 1980s.  In the mid and late 1990s the numbers dipped back into the upper 40s, and the numbers kept dropping in the 2000s bottoming out at 32 in 2007.  In the 2010s Texas has grown back into one of the largest state programs in the nation.  Randy Pruett's "A Dream As Big As Texas" (2010) provided a few contestants totals that I didn't already have.

FLORIDA (which had 38 contestants in 1963) hit the 50 contestant level in the early 80's and stayed in the 47-53 contestant range through 1996.  The contestant total then dropped into the upper 30s and low 40s, but Florida has brought its contestant total back into that 47-53 range in the last several years.

INDIANA averaged in the 20s throughout the 1960s and 70's, peaking at 29 contestants in 1969. In the 1990s the state dropped into the teens, bottoming out at 14 contestants in 1997.  Since then the state has grown consistently under new leadership and has had more than 30 contestants for five years straight.  2015 will be Indiana's largest program in history with 35 contestants.

Here is a comparison of the number of contestants in each state in 2015, 2010, 1999, and 1989. What's interesting is that 25+ years ago there were very few locals that awarded more than one title, and today there are few locals that DON'T award more than one title.

The rankings were determined by averaging the total contestants over the four representative years (or three, if I don't have the current total).

SEND ME UPDATES for states I don't have totals for yet, or if I have any numbers wrong.  Post on the CROWNED Facebook page or email me at crownedmissa@gmail.com.

Rank	STATE	2015	2010	1999	1989	Average
1	UTAH	53	54	58	60	56
2	TEXAS	57	33	54	69	53
3	ALABAMA	50	48	47	57	51
4	CALIFORNIA	53	56	49	42	50
5	SOUTH CAROLINA	55	50	42	43	48
6	ARKANSAS	46	44	46	48	46
7	FLORIDA	47	46	40	50	46
8	OKLAHOMA	47	43	42	48	45
9	GEORGIA	44	40	47	47	45
10	MISSISSIPPI	30	45	37	40	38
11	NORTH CAROLINA	37	28	35	47	37
12	TENNESSEE	36	37	30	40	36
13	LOUISIANA	35	29	26	40	33
14	PENNSYLVANIA	40	35	26	26	32
15	MISSOURI	26	24	32	40	31
16	MICHIGAN	34	30	26	31	30
17	KENTUCKY	32	30	31	27	30
18	OHIO	22	26	30	38	29
19	VIRGINIA	27	30	26	31	29
20	ILLINOIS	31	24	24	32	28
21	NEW JERSEY	28	27	21	26	26
22	INDIANA	35	29	17	19	25
23	WISCONSIN	26	25	23	25	25
24	COLORADO	30	28	11	22	23
25	NEW YORK	29	20	21	20	23
26	NORTH DAKOTA	22	20	24	22	22
27	MARYLAND	24	22	21	20	22
28	KANSAS	22	20	18	26	22
29	MASSACHUSETTS	23	22	18	23	22
30	MINNESOTA	27	20	15	24	22
31	NEW HAMPSHIRE	27	27	15	15	21
32	OREGON	21	24	21	17	21
33	WEST VIRGINIA	20	25	22	14	20
34	DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA	18	17	16	22	18
35	ARIZONA	24	21	16	12	18
36	HAWAII	28	22	10	12	18
37	WASHINGTON	21	19	14	18	18
38	IOWA	16	18	17	17	17
39	CONNECTICUT	13	18	11	22	16
40	NEBRASKA	13	14	18	18	16
41	IDAHO	12	22	12	15	15
42	NEW MEXICO	23	23	7	7	15
43	DELAWARE	10	16	17	15	15
44	RHODE ISLAND	12	11	13	19	14
45	SOUTH DAKOTA	13	13	14	15	14
46	ALASKA	13	12	15	12	13
47	NEVADA		14	16	9	13
48	MONTANA		15	6	14	12
49	WYOMING		9	16	8	11
50	VERMONT	9	12	10	11	11
51	MAINE	7	13	8	10	10
52	PUERTO RICO			n/a	n/a	0
53	VIRGIN ISLANDS	n/a		n/a	n/a	0
	TOTALS	1368	1350	1231	1385	1342

Miss Universe Stats & Trivia

Did you know that two of our Miss Americas can be credited with the inspiration to create the Miss Universe Organization?

The morning after she was selected, Yolande Betbeze, Miss America 1951, announced that she would not pose for photographs in a swimsuit. A few months later, Yolande's predecessor, Jacque Mercer, was making an appearance for Catalina, the Miss America swimsuit sponsor, and EB Stewart, the president of Catalina, was complaining about Yolande's refusal to pose.  Jacque said to Mr. Stewart "Why don't you start your own pageant?"  She suggested the title Miss United Nations which remained the working title until Universal Pictures (the film company) got involved and the name was changed.  Rosemary LaPlanche, Miss America 1941 (from California), crowned the first winner in Long Beach in 1952.

The pageant was held in Long Beach, California from 1952 to 1959 and the Miss USA Pageant was held at the beginning of the week.  Miss USA was crowned midweek and started competing in Miss Universe the very next day. Miss Universe was crowned on Saturday night.

The pageant moved to Miami Beach, Florida in 1960 where it remained until 1971.  This was also when Miss USA started being held approximately six weeks prior to Miss Universe.

Advances in satellite television capabilities allowed the pageant to start traveling around the world in 1972 when the pageant was held in Puerto Rico. Subsequent host cities through 1980 were Athens, Manila, San Salvador, Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic, Acapulco, Perth, and Seoul.

Depending on how you count various titles, between 160-165 different countries have competed at Miss Universe over the last 64 years. For example, Ceylon becoming Sri Lanka in 1972 is pretty straight forward, but England competed along with Scotland and Wales until 1990 when they were combined into the title of United Kingdom and later Great Britain.

The total number of contestants hovered in the low 30's in the 1950s, rose from the 40s into the low 60's by the end of the 1960's, finally reached the mid-70s by the end of the 1970s, fluctuated between the mid-60s and the low 80's during the 1980s, ranged from the low 70s to the low 80s throughout the 1990s & 2000s, and has been solidly in the upper 80s for the last four years.

Notice Miss India, third photo down in the left column.  That's Persis Khambatta who went on to star in the first Star Trek movie in 1979 with the shaved head.

Did you know that Iraq sent a rep in 1972 and that Cuba (listed as Free Cuba) competed 14 times between 1952-1967 (with a 3rd RU and a Top 15 SF)?

I'll admit it, I learned much of my world geography from watching Miss Universe, and I still miss the team of Bob Barker and Helen O'Connell as hosts.

This blog has three lists for your enjoyment:
Best Records: which countries have the best records of making the semi-finals or better
Highest Participation: which countries have sent representatives to Miss Universe most often
Predicting this year's semi-finalists: which countries have been doing well recently

Best Records
Key - 20(5)-W,1,2,3,4 means that the country has made the semi-finals at Miss Universe 20 times with five of those women placing.  In this situation, the country can boast a Miss Universe Winner, a 1st Runner-up, a 2nd Runner-up, a 3rd Runner-up, and a 4th Runner-up.
Note - there have been several years where a Top 6 or a Top 5 were called as Finalists but not everyone was named as a Runner-up.  These will be indicated with a "5" or a "6."
Ties are broken first by the number of finalists and then by the actual placement of those finalists.
1. USA - 59(35)-W,W,W,W,W,W,W,W,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,3,4,4,4,4,4,5,5,6,6,6,6
2. Venezuela - 40(29)-W,W,W,W,W,W,W,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,3,3,3,3,3,4,4,5,6,6,6
3. Brazil - 33(15)-W,W,1,1,1,1,1,2,3,3,4,4,4,4,4
4. Colombia - 31(13)-W,W,1,1,1,1,2,2,3,3,3,4,5
5. Sweden -29(13)-W,W,W,1,2,2,3,3,3,4,4,4,4
6. Germany - 21(7)-W,1,3,3,4,4,4
7. India - 22(7)-W,W,1,2,3,4,6
8. Puerto Rico - 20(12)-W,W,W,W,W,1,2,2,3,4,5,6
9*. England/Great Britain/UK - 20(9)-1,2,2,2,3,3,3,4,4
I counted Great Britain's Top 10 placement in 2013 since she was born in London.  Scotland and Wales have an additional five semi-finalist placements EACH, and three runners-up EACH as well.  In fact, all three countries made the semi-finals together or in 1961, 1976, and 1979.  No contestant from the British isles has ever won Miss Universe, however, Miss United Kingdom has won Miss World five times (Miss World is based in London and was founded in 1951, one year prior to Miss Universe's founding).
10. Israel - 20(7)-W,2,3,3,4,4,4
11. South Africa - 20(6)-W,1,2,3,3,5
12. Philippines - 19(12)-W,W,1,1,1,3,3,3,3,4,5,6
13. Finland - 18(12)-W,W,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,3,4
14. Japan - 18(9)-W,W,1,2,3,3,4,4,4
15. Greece - 18(4)-W,1,2,3
16. Australia - 17(11)-W,W,1,2,2,2,3,3,4,4,6
17. Mexico - 17(9)-W,W,2,3,3,4,5,6,6
18. Spain - 17(8)-W,1,1,2,2,2,3,4
19. Norway - 17(3)-W,1,2
20*. France - 17(1)-W
20*. Peru - 17(1)-W
France and Peru have the best records of making the semi-finals but with only a single Top 5 Finalist so far, and that Finalist became Miss Universe: Christiane Martel, 1953 (France) and Gladys Zender; 1957 (Peru); Other nations with only a single Top 5 Semi-Finalist, who happened to be names Miss Universe include: Lebanon-Georgina Rizk, 1971; Namibia-Mchelle McLean-1992; Botswana-Mpule Kwelagobe-1999; and Angola-Leila Lopes, 2011.
22. Canada - 16(5)-W,W,1,2,5
23. Italy - 15(5)-1,1,2,4,6
24. Argentina - 15(3)-W,2,4
25. Netherlands/Holland - 13(5)-W,1,3,4,6
26. Chile - 13(2)-W,6

Highest participation
Only four (4) countries have sent a representative to EVERY Miss Universe Pageant in the last 64 years (including this year).  Here's the list of the 25 countries that have sent reps most often:

USA - 64 years
Canada - 64
France - 64
Germany - 64
Greece - 63 (no rep in 1988)
Israel - 63 (no rep in 1953)
Japan - 62 (no rep in 1996 or 1997)
Venezuela - 62 (no reps in 1954 or 1959)
Brazil - 61 (no reps in 1952, 1953, or 1990)
Italy - 61 (no reps in 1969, 1992, or 2006)
Peru - 61 (no reps in 1955, 1973, or 1974)
Sweden - 61 (no reps in 2005, 2007, or 2008)
Costa Rica - 60 (no reps in 1952, 1953, 1961, or 1969)
Finland - 60 (no reps from 1956-1959)
Korea - 60 (no reps in 1952, 1953, 1956, or 1969)
Philippines - 60 (no reps from 1958-1961)
Puerto Rico - 60 (no reps from 1958-1960 or in 1969)
Belgium - 59 (no reps in 1966, 1969, 1987, 1990, or 1995)
Uruguay - 59 (no reps in 1966, 1969, 1995, 2003, or 2013)
Ecuador - 58 (no reps in 1952-1954, 1967, 1969, or 1974)
Argentina - 57 (no reps in 1952, 1953, 1965, 1995, 2002, 2004, 2005)
Colombia - 57 (no reps in 1952-1957, 1971)
Mexico -  57 (no reps in 1960-1964, 1966, 1969)
Norway -  57 (no reps in 1956, 1957, 1974, 1975, 1997, 1999, 2011)
Bolivia - 56 (no reps in 1952-1958, or 1969)


Predicting the Semi-Finalists (What countries are "On-A-Roll?")
We all know that you should automatically put the USA and Venezuela in your Top 15 but who else should we really watch during the Parade of Nations?  Here are countries that have done well in recent years
Australia-Australia has made the semi-finals in six of the last seven years, including five years straight from 08-12 with three Top 10s and three RUs plus Jennifer Hawkins' win in 04 before this streak started.
Brazil-Brazil has made the semi-finals the last four consecutive years with three consecutive RUs in 2011, 2012, & 2013, plus Brazil is 3rd overall historically.
Colombia-Paulina Vega became Colombia's second Miss Universe last year, and lost its first Miss Universe, Luz Marina Zuluaga (1957) on December 2nd. Colombia had five semi-finalists in 8 years (between 2004-2011, including 1st RU in 2008), and the country is 4th overall historically.
Dominican Republic-Amelia Vega's win in 03 and then three RUs and a Top 10 in the last ten years.
France-Four consecutive Semi-Finalists from 2009-2012.
India-India has made the semi-finals the last three consecutive years. India had eleven (!) consecutive semi-finalists between 92-02 including two wins (Sushmita Sen in 94 and Lara Dutta in 2000), four finalists, and five semi-finalists.
Kosovo-Competing only seven of the last eight years, Kosovo has had four semi-finalists, including a runner-up.
Mexico-Seven semi-finalists between 2004-2012 including Ximena Navarrete's win in 2010 and two RUs.
Philippines-Philippines has made the Semi-Finals the last five consecutive years, including four Top 5 Finalists between 2010-2013.
Puerto Rico-Thirteen (13) semi-finalists in the last 22 years, including Dayanara Torres' and Zuleyka Rivera's wins in 93 and 06 respectively, along with five more runners-up/finals placements.
Russia-Four semi-finalists between 2006-2012 including one runner-up.
Ukraine-Six semi-finalists (and three runners-up/Top 5 finalists) in the last nine years.
USA-The USA has only NOT made the semi-finals four (4) times EVER (76, 99, 02, and 10).
Venezuela-Venezuela started doing well in 1967 with its first Top 5 placement (1st RU). Over 11 years (67-77), they produced six semi-finalists, including three RUs.  Then Maritza Sayalero (one of my all-time favorites) kicked Venezuela into its highest gear by winning in 79.  Irene Saez' win followed just two years later in 81. Then, starting in 83, Venezuela made the semi-finals 21 years straight (83-03) with 16 runners-up and two more wins (Barbara Palacios Teyde in 86 and Alicia Machado in 96).  In fact, within that time period, Venezuela made the Finals/Tops 5 an incredible 13 years straight (91-03).  Most recently, the country can boast seven semi-finalists in the last nine years, including three runners-up and three more winners (Dayana Mendoza in 08, Stefania Fernandez in 09, and Gabriela Isler in 2013).

Maritza Sayalero
Miss Venezuela 1979
Miss Universe 1979

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Remembering Bess Myerson, Miss America 1945

Bess Myerson, Miss America 1945.  The first woman to win a scholarship as Miss America.  You've hopefully read the many tributes and online life accounts.  Here are a few more facts about her year as Miss America.

In 1945, a total of 41 women competed at Miss America; 28 held state titles, 12 held city titles, and the final contestant's title was Miss Northern British Columbia (in Canada), who was also named Miss Congeniality.  Bess was a double prelim winner in both Swimsuit and Talent (the only double prelim winner that year).  Interestingly, 9 of the 12 city title holders came from states that also sent state winners to Miss America (Atlanta & Georgia; Boston & Massachusetts; Chicago & Illinois; Cincinnati & Ohio; Detroit & Michigan; Miami Beach & Florida; New York City & New York State; Philadelphia & Pennsylvania; San Diego & California). AND, only 6 of the 41 contestants came from west of the Mississippi River.

As we remember and honor Bess Myerson, Miss America 1945, I would like to share a few anecdotes from 'There She Is, The life and Times of Miss America," by Frank Deford (1970):

From Chapter 4 "How to Be 36-24-26 in a Swimsuit":

Bess Myerson, in 1945, held the first Miss America scholarship, presumably because she was so talented musically, but Miss Myerson has often credited a tight bathing suit with playing a large part in her victory.  She wanted to wear a size 34 white suit, but her hostess was a bit put off by the tight fit and suggested Bess wear a lime-colored size 36.  She appeared in this suit at an impromptu veterans' hospital show that was staged the day before the Pageant officially began. "They hooted and hollered at the other girls," Bess said.  "When I passed they politely flipped their hands together."

back at her hotel that night, Bess conferred with her two sisters, and it was decided that Sylvia, who was a size 36, would sleep in the white 34 to stretch it just a bit.  This Sylvia did, but the next morning they still couldn't get the straps to fit Bess, so her sisters sewed the straps shut.  Bess had to wear the suit under her evening gown and other performing clothes when she was sewn back into it for the competition.  She was a smashing victory.

From Chapter 9 "Up from Cheesecakery":

Bess Myerson once said of Lenora Slaughter, "She picked the Pageant up by its bathing suit straps and put it in an evening gown."

(Need your comments/thoughts on this next part considering the five Miss America winners since this was written in 1970): The national press, located in New York, has always looked down smugly on Miss America, and treated it, automatically, with contempt.  Nevertheless, the New York/national press has taken pains to separate its own Miss America from these indignities.  Bess has always been dealt with seriously.  Her case, of course, is only one example of the New York bias that runs through every element of the New York/national press.  The Pageant has been rather unlucky that no New York girl has won in the last quarter century, for it is nearly predictable that if one ever did, Miss America's image-which is weak in metropolitan areas, especially the more titled East-would be instantly repaired. (Thoughts?)

Without question Bess remains the most famous of all Miss Americas-although Lee Meriwether, 1955, has been making a late run on the outside as a movie and TV actress.

Bess first was quoted telling this story in 1950,...,and she repeated the tale nine years later for another newspaper.

"After I won the title, I toured vaudeville.  I came out in a high-neck gown and played The Fire Dance and Malaguena on the piano and flute.  I could hear the boys up front complaining and muttering. 'Where's the bathing suit?' so in the finale I came out in a white bathing suit, and the boys would cheer.  Toward the end of the tour, I realized they didn't want to hear my music, so I just came out in a bathing suit.  Finally, I was losing weight and not filling out the bathing suit, so I quit."

Bess remains, however, the most famous of the breed.  generally, in the quarter of a century before her, girls entered Miss America as a way to get to Hollywood.  In the quarter of a cenury past, they have entered as a way to get a scholarship. And, unquestionably the girls have fared better in college than in the movies.  In this respect, anyway, scholarships have certainly occasioned an improvement in the Pageant, and Bess, as Exhibit A, provided a rare visibility for a Miss America that surely heightened the advance.

***
Bess, thank you for your leadership and your service.

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Remembering Mary Ann Mobley, Miss America 1959

It is with a sad heart that I return to this blog for the first time since September's competition.  This post features photos of Mary Ann from the 1959 Miss America program book (the oldest one I own).

In a few days I will grab screen shots of Mary Ann in competition (the 1958 competition is the oldest VHS tape I own as well) and post those along with statistics, history, and trivia relevant to Mary Ann and the 1958 competition.

Cover of the 1959 Miss America program

Mary Ann's page

(l. to r.) North Carolina, Betty Lane Evans (4th RU & SS); Oklahoma (2nd RU); MISSISSIPPI, MARY ANN (Tal); Iowa, Joanne Lucille MacDonald (1st RU); California, Sandra Lee Jennings (3rd RU & SS)

Toni "Twins" Advertisement

Inside Back Cover-Pepsico Ad

Back Cover-Joseph Bancroft & Sons Co

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Fun Facts about the 2014 Competition

Every year I make a list of interesting (at least to me) statistics I notice about the Miss America competition.

Here are my random musings from this year's competition:

Congratulations to OHIO's Mackenzie Bart (and Roxy) for breaking the Buckeye state's 21-year dry spell.  Mackenzie (and Roxy's) Top 10 Finalist placement was Ohio's first since 1994.

Mackenzie Bart
Miss Ohio 2014
Top 10 Finalist & Talent Prelim winner
photo from Miss Ohio Scholarship program Facebook page

This is MASSACUSETTS' first-EVER 4th Runner-up placement.  Over 88 competitions Massachusetts has had three (3) 1st Runners-up, two (2) 2nd Runners-up, and a 3rd Runner-up.  Lauren brought Massachusetts its seventh (7th) Top 5 placement and its first in the 4th Runner-up spot.

Lauren Kuhn
Miss Massachusetts 2014
4th Runner-up
photo by Steve Smith Photography via the Miss Massachusetts MAO Facebook page

KIRA competed in the Alpha 7 spot (Monday afternoon Interview-2nd group; Tues night Talent-1st talent group) and was only the second woman to make Top 10 from that spot in 23 years.

Kira Kazantsev
Miss New York 2014
MISS AMERICA 2015
photo from Miss New York organization Facebook page

This is the 6th CONSECUTIVE year that TEXAS has at least made the semi-finals, and the 13th year out of the last 16.  Texas has not gone two years in a row without making the semi-finals in that period.

Monique Evans
Miss Texas 2014
Top 16 Semi-Finalist
photo from Miss Texas Pageant, Inc. Facebook page

FLORIDA's Tori Cowen gave the Sunshine State its 7th set of back-to-back Top 5 Finalists (1978 & 1979; 1977 & 1978; 1950 & 1951; 1944 & 1945; 1943 & 1944; 1937 & 1938).

Victoria "Tori" Cowen
Miss Florida 2014
3rd Runner-up & Swimsuit Prelim winner
photo from Miss Florida 2014 Victoria Cowen Facebook page

Both ALABAMA and MISSISSIPPI made Top 10 for first time in eight (8) years.

Caitlin Brunell
Miss Alabama 2014
Top 10 Finalist
photo from Miss Alabama Pageant, Inc. Facebook page

Jasmine Murray
Miss Mississippi 2014
Top 10 Finalist
photo from Miss Mississippi Pageant Facebook page

OKLAHOMA has made the semi-finals or better for six (6) consecutive years and twelve (12) of the last fourteen (14) years.

Alex Eppler
Miss Oklahoma 2014
Top 10 Finalist & Swimsuit Prelim winner
photo from Leigh Thompson Photography via the Miss Oklahoma Facebook page

KENTUCKY has made the semi-finals six (6) of the last seven (7) years.

Ramsey Carpenter
Miss Kentucky 2014
Top 12 Semi-Finalist & Talent Prelim winner
photo from Miss Kentucky Pageant Facebook page

NEVADA's Non-Finalist Talent award is the state's first award in 10 years, since Elizabeth Muto's Non-Finalist Interview win in 2004.

Ellie Smith
Miss Nevada 2014
Non-Finalist Talent award winner
photo from Ellie Smith (Miss Nevada) Facebook page

PENNSYLVANIA won its first awards in eight (8) years.

Amanda Smith
Miss Pennsylvania 2014
Non-Finalist Talent award winner & Talent Prelim winner
photo from Matt Boyd Photography via Miss Pennsylvania Scholarship Organization Facebook page

IDAHO'S America's Choice Top 16 Semi-Finalist spot is the state's first award since a Non-Finalist Talent award in 2008.

Sierra Sandison
Miss Idaho 2014
Top 16 Semi-Finalist & America's Choice winner
photo from Miss Idaho organization Facebook page

ARKANSAS' Ashton Campbell gave the Razorback State its 13th Semi-Finalist (or better) in the last 22 years (59%).

Ashton Campbell
Miss Arkansas 2014
2nd Runner-up

Although it's not unusual, having the entire Top 5 come from only two regions of the country doesn't happen too often.  Recently, here's when it's happened (6 of the last 23 years):
2014 - South-3 (Virginia, Arkansas , & Florida) & Northeast-2 (New York & Massachusetts)
2010 - South-4 (Virginia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Kentucky) & West-1 (California)
2007 - South-5(!!!)(Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama)
2006 - South-4 (Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia) & Northeast-1 (District of Columbia)
1998 - South-4 (Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Kentucky) & Midwest-1 (Missouri)
1992 - South-2 (Florida & Oklahoma) & Midwest-3 (Iowa, Indiana, Kansas)

Top 5 at Miss America, September, 2013
(l. to r.-Arkansas, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia)

This is the first time since 1995 (Tiffany Stoker-Miss California 1995 & Swimsuit Prelim winner) that the highest a prelim winner has placed has been at the 3rd Runner-up spot.  The only other time it has happened was in 1955 (Clara Arnold-Miss North Carolina 1955 & Swimsuit Prelim winner),
AND
This is the first time since 2008 (Kristen Haglund-Swimsuit-MISS AMERICA) that only one prelim winner has made Top 5. The only others years in which a single prelim winner made Top 5 were 1999 (Heather French-MISS AMERICA) and 1993 (Titilayo Adedokun-2nd RU).

Tori Cowen
Miss Florida 2014
3rd Runner-up & Swimsuit Prelim winner

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