Any woman who "walks the runway" as a State Titleholder should be rightfully proud of her extraordinary achievement and of the sisterhood that will be part of her life forever. Being able to add "Top Ten Finalist" to your "resume" gilds that precious lily.
Let's start the countdown of all-time Top 10 Placements at Miss America (1954-2013).
Remember, these statistics include the sixty (60) competitions between 1954 and 2013 (the television years).
Here's how to read the list:
STATE NAME - 10(5)-W,1,2,3,4
In this example, the state has made Top 10 ten times, with five of those women placing in the Top 5, including a Winner, a 1st Runner, a 2nd Runner-up, a 3rd Runner-up, and a 4th Runner-up.
The first number indicates the number of times a state has made the Top 10.
The number in parentheses indicates the number of times that state has placed in the Top 5.
W = Miss America winner
1 = 1st Runner-up
2 = 2nd Runner-up
3 = 3rd Runner-up
4 = 4th Runner-up
NFT=Non-Finalist Talent award
Why am I not including Top 15/16 Semi-Finalists awards from the last several years? Because the Miss America competition announced a Top 10 from 1952-2000 (49 years in a row). Non-Finalist Talent awards were also given but it was only a Top 10 for almost half a century. Since 2001, a Top 10 has been announced even if a larger group was first announced as Semi-Finalists on television. For consistency, I have only counted Top 10 placements. I will review and honor the larger group in another post.
#54* - CANADA - 2(0)
Did you know that Canada sent a representative to Miss A from 1946-1962?
*I list Canada as #54 since the country no longer sends a representative to Miss America.
Margaret Marshall won her Swimsuit Prelim in 1947 and placed as 2nd Runner-up. Margaret Munn won her Talent Prelim in 1949 and placed in the Top 15. A Non-Finalist Talent award followed in 1951, and then two women made the Top 10 during the modern/TV era: Dorothy Moreau, 1956 and Rosemary Keenan, 1959. Another Non-Finalist Talent award as Best Pop Vocalist followed in 1960 (which is strange because the Miss America program book states that her talent would be a presentation of her art work), completing Miss Canada's awards at Miss America.
Did you know that Canada sent a representative to Miss A from 1946-1962?
*I list Canada as #54 since the country no longer sends a representative to Miss America.
Margaret Marshall won her Swimsuit Prelim in 1947 and placed as 2nd Runner-up. Margaret Munn won her Talent Prelim in 1949 and placed in the Top 15. A Non-Finalist Talent award followed in 1951, and then two women made the Top 10 during the modern/TV era: Dorothy Moreau, 1956 and Rosemary Keenan, 1959. Another Non-Finalist Talent award as Best Pop Vocalist followed in 1960 (which is strange because the Miss America program book states that her talent would be a presentation of her art work), completing Miss Canada's awards at Miss America.
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| Rosemary Keenan Miss Canada 1959 Top 10 Finalist |
# 53 - VIRGIN ISLANDS - 0(0)
The Virgin Islands have yet to have a representative place in the Top 10 at Miss America, but then again, they've only been sending a representative to Miss America since 2004.
# 52 - PUERTO RICO - 0(0)
Although Puerto Rico has yet to have a representative place in the Top 10 at Miss America, Mimi Pabon, Miss Puerto Rico 2009 won her Swimsuit Preliminary at Miss America. After an almost 40 year absence, Puerto Rico started sending a representative to Miss America again in 2010. In 1962, Puerto Rico Rosita Guisti won a Non-Finalist Talent award as Best Classical Vocalist and was also named Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants. Between 1937-1957, Puerto Rico sent a representative to Miss America 11 times.
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| Mimi Pabon Miss Puerto Rico 2009 Swimsuit Prelim Winner |
# 51 - VERMONT - 0(0)
We have yet to hear Miss Vermont called for the Top 10, but Vermont can claim 12 Non-Finalist Talent Winners and a Non-Finalist Interview Winner (Drell Hunter in 2003) at Miss America. Vermont had its first preliminary win in history when Ashley Wheeler, Miss Vermont 2008 won a Talent Preliminary Award.
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| Ashley Wheeler Miss Vermont 2008 Talent Prelim Winner & Non-Finalist Talent Award |
# 50 - ALASKA - 1(0)
Alaskans cheered when Joslyn Tinker was named the state's first Top 10 Finalist in 1998 after winning a Preliminary Swimsuit award at Miss America. Alaska also has four NFTs and two special judges awards.
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| Josyln Tinker Miss Alaska 1998 Top 10 & Swimsuit Prelim Winner |
# 49 - WYOMING - 1(1)-3
Before the "modern/television era" began in 1954, Wyoming had a 1st Runner-up (Carol Held in 1948), and two Top 10 finalists (1953 & 1947). Now the Equality State has Lexie Madden's 3rd Runner-up placement at the January, 2013 competition to its credit.
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| Lexie Madden Miss Wyoming 2012 3rd Runner-up |
# 47 (tie) - SOUTH DAKOTA - 2(0)
South Dakota's two Top 10 Finalists include Mary Hart (nee Harum) in 1970, the long-time host of television's Entertainment Tonight who returned as a judge in 2013, and Barbara Guthmiller in 1974. The state can also claim a Top 15 Semi-Finalist (2008). In the "pre-modern era" South Dakota had a 1st Runner-up in 1950 (Irene O'Connor) and a Top 10 Finalist in 1951.
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| Mary Harum (Hart) Miss South Dakota 1970 Top 10 Finalist |
# 47 (tie) - MONTANA - 2(0)
Montana's first "modern era" Top 10 Finalist placement came in 1961 (Joanna Lester). Its second came in 1994 with Yvonne Dehner along with her Preliminary Talent win. The state took a Top 16 placement in the January, 2013 competition. There was also a Top 15 placement back in 1948.
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| Yvonne Dehner Miss Montana 1994 Top 10 Finalist and Talent Prelim Winner |
# 46 - NEW HAMPSHIRE - 2(1)-4
New Hampshire came on strong in 1966 with Nancy Naylor's Preliminary Swimsuit award and 4th Runner-up placement at Miss America. Another Preliminary Swimsuit award in 2003 foreshadowed Candace Glickman's Top 10 Finalist placement that same year. New Hampshire won Preliminary Talent and Non-Finalist awards in both 1993 and the September, 2013 competitions.
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| Nancy Naylor Miss New Hampshire 1966 4th Runner-up and Swimsuit Prelim Winner |
# 45 - RHODE ISLAND - 2(1)-3
When Rhode Island makes a splash, it makes a big one. In 1967, Marilyn Cocozza won her Talent Prelim and placed as 3rd Runner-up. In 2003 Laurie Gray also won her Talent Prelim and made Top 10. A third Talent Prelim was won by Miss Rhode Island 2010 and included a Top 15 Semi-Finalist placement. There were also Swimsuit Prelim wins in 1976 and 2007.
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| Marilyn Cocozza Miss Rhode Island 1967 3rd Runner-up and Talent Prelim Winner |
# 44 - IDAHO - 2(1)-1
Idaho's Karen Hurd placed as 1st Runner-up in 1971. There was also Marlene Coleman's Top 10 placement in 1960 (who developed laryngitis after prelims and was unable to perform on final night. Bert Parks brought her out on stage to make a speech to the audience in lieu of performing). Idaho can also claim a Swimsuit Prelim win in 1967, nine Non-Finalist Talent awards and a Non-Finalist Interview award.
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| Karen Herd Miss Idaho 1971 1st Runner-up |
# 43 - MAINE - 2(2)-2,4
In 1970, Maine's Karen Johnson took 2nd Runner-up at Miss America (see my post on opera singers for her photo). Then, in 1971 Allyn Warner won her Talent Prelim and took the 4th Runner-up spot. Maine can also proudly boast eight Non-Finalist Talent awards.
SPECIAL BONUS MISS MAINE
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| Allyn Warner Miss Maine 1971 4th Runner-up and Talent Prelim Winner |
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| Valerie Crooker Miss Maine 1980 |
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