Miss USA 1952
Jackie Loughery American Airlines press photo (cropped).jpg
Jackie Loughery, Miss USA 1952
DateJune 27, 1952
VenueLong Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California
Entrants42
Placements10
WinnerJackie Loughery
 New York
CongenialityValerie Jackson
 Montana
1953 →

Miss USA 1952 was the inaugural Miss USA pageant, held at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California on June 27, 1952.

At the end of the event, American actress and Miss America 1941 Rosemary LaPlanche crowned Jackie Loughery of New York as Miss USA 1952.[1][2] It is the first victory of New York in the pageant's history. Contestants from 42 states competed in this year's pageant.

Results

Placements

Placement Contestant
Miss USA 1952
1st Runner-up
2nd Runner-up
3rd Runner-up
4th Runner-up
Top 10

Special awards

Award Contestant
Miss Congeniality

Contestants

42 contestants competed for the title.[3]

State Name Age[a] Hometown Notes
Alabama Alabama Doris Edwards[4] 23 Gadsden
Arizona Arizona Charlene Hendricks[5] 18 Tempe
Arkansas Arkansas Barbara Wathen 20 Jonesboro
California California Gloria Maxwell[4] 20 Los Angeles
Colorado Colorado Josephine Barbie 22 Colorado Springs
Connecticut Connecticut Jo Kuhlmann[4] 22 Hartford
Delaware Delaware Sue Langton[4] 23 Wilmington
Florida Florida Yvonne Pearis[6] 23 Jacksonville
Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia Betty Jane Wood 18 Decatur
Idaho Idaho Cherrie Jean Lindsey Idaho Falls
Illinois Illinois Sherry Matulis 19 Peoria
Indiana Indiana Virginia Johnson[4] 19 Indianapolis
Kansas Kansas Bette Renick 18 Liberal
Kentucky Kentucky Jean Tingle 19 Lexington
Louisiana Louisiana Jeanne Thompson 20 Baton Rouge Later competed at Miss USA 1953.
Previously Miss Louisiana 1951
Maine Maine Jean Marie Lemire Old Town
Massachusetts Massachusetts Vel Dorne Boston
Michigan Michigan Judy Hatula[7] 19 Detroit
Minnesota Minnesota Jodell Stirmlinger[4] 20 St. Paul
Mississippi Mississippi Carolyn Thomas Jackson
Missouri Missouri Carolyn Carlew 18 Sikeston
Montana Montana Patricia McGinty Missoula
Nevada Nevada Barbara Jean Clark Las Vegas
New Jersey New Jersey Ruth Jane Hampton[4] 20 Merchantville
New Mexico New Mexico Kay Nail Albuquerque
New York (state) New York Jackie Loughery 21 Brooklyn Semi-finalist at Miss Universe 1952
North Carolina North Carolina Doris Stanley 23 Greensboro
North Dakota North Dakota Gloria Rowe 26 Fargo
Ohio Ohio Margie Broering Cincinnati
Oklahoma Oklahoma Trula Birchfield Oklahoma City
Oregon Oregon Beth Bailey La Grande
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Jeanne Ferguson Philadelphia
Rhode Island Rhode Island Delores Selinder Providence
South Carolina South Carolina Margie Allen Spartanburg
South Dakota South Dakota Marlene Rieb
Tennessee Tennessee Jean Harper 18 Memphis Previously Miss Tennessee 1951
Top 15 at Miss America 1952
Texas Texas Charlene McClary 25 Houston
Utah Utah Carol Jean Isbell[8] 20 Salt Lake City
Vermont Vermont Elizabeth Whitcomb Essex Junction
Virginia Virginia Elizabeth Glenn Roanoke
Washington (state) Washington Adele Slaybaugh 18 Kennewick
Wisconsin Wisconsin Jeannie Eleanor Huston 20 Milwaukee

Notes

  1. ^ Ages at the time of the pageant

References

  1. ^ "Brooklyn girl wins U.S. crown; seeks Miss Universe Title tonight". The Plain Speaker. 28 June 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 12 December 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Boro beauty named Miss U.S." The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 28 June 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 16 January 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "39 compete tonight for Miss United States". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 27 June 1952. p. 26. Retrieved 12 December 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Miss Universe Contest near final event". Arizona Republic. 27 June 1952. p. 31. Retrieved 16 January 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Beauty entry skips meet". Arizona Republic. 25 June 1952. p. 7. Retrieved 12 December 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Miss (Sh-h-h!) Florida". Independent. 22 June 1952. p. 78. Retrieved 16 January 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Horse falls: beauty queen cut on face". The Los Angeles Times. 10 March 1953. p. 25. Retrieved 16 January 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "These two beauties". The Terre Haute Tribune. 25 June 1952. p. 6. Retrieved 12 December 2022 – via Newspapers.com.