# Miss USA 1953

Miss USA 1953 was the second Miss USA pageant, held at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, California on July 16, 1953.
At the end of the event, Jackie Loughery of New York crowned Myrna Hansen of Illinois as Miss USA 1953. It is the first victory of Illinois in the pageant's history.
Contestants from forty-three states and cities competed in this year's pageant. The competition was hosted by Bob Russel.

## Background
### Selection of participants

Contestants from forty-three states and cities have been selected to compete in the competition. The age requirement in this edition is still from 18 to 28, where women who are married and have children can also participate.
Jeanne Vaughn Thompson of Louisiana, who competed last year and placed as first runner-up, competed once again in this edition, making her the first contestant from Miss USA who competed twice.
This edition saw the debuts of Iowa, Maryland, Miami, Myrtle Beach, Nebraska, New Hampshire, West Virginia, and Wyoming. The states of Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, New Mexico, Oregon, and Tennessee withdrew in this edition.

## Results
### Placements

| Placement | Contestant |
| Miss USA 1953 | Illinois – Myrna Hansen |
| 1st runner-up | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – Mary Kemp Griffin |
| 2nd runner-up | Alabama – Doris Edwards |
| 3rd runner-up | Washington – Nancy Petraborg |
| 4th runner-up | Utah – Shauna Wood |
| Top 20 | California – Marcella Roulette Colorado – Jeanie Carroll Iowa – Marilyn Shonka Kentucky – Mary Ann Stice Louisiana – Jeanne Thompson Maine – Jackie Lee Miami Beach, Florida – Kay Duggar Minnesota – Mary Ann Papke Nebraska – Berneta Nelson Nevada – Earlene Whitt New York – Reta Knapp Ohio – Eleanor Mack Pennsylvania – Jeri Bauer South Carolina – Susan Day Texas – Joan Bradshaw |

### Special awards

| Award | Contestant |
| Miss Congeniality | Louisiana – Jeanne Vaughn Thompson |
| Miss Body Beautiful | Kentucky – Mary Stice |

## Pageant
### Format

From ten semi-finalists in 1952, twenty semi-finalists were chosen at the preliminary competition that consists of the swimsuit and evening gown competition. Each of the twenty semi-finalists gave a short speech during the final telecast. Afterwards, the twenty semi-finalists paraded again in their swimsuits and evening gowns, and the five finalists were eventually chosen.

### Selection committee

* Jeff Chandler – American actor
* Rhonda Fleming – American actress and singer
* Arlene Dahl – American actress
* Constance Moore – American actress and singer
* Buddy Westmore – American moviemaker
* Varga – Artist

## Contestants

Forty-three contestants competed for the title.
| State/City | Contestant | Age | Hometown | Notes |
| Alabama | Doris Edwards | 25 | Birmingham | |
| Arizona | Eleanor Ruth Cross | 19 | Chandler | |
| Arkansas | Jackie Stucker | 19 | West Helena | |
| California | Marcella Roulette | 21 | Los Angeles | |
| Colorado | Jeanie Carroll | 18 | Denver | |
| Connecticut | Beverlee Burlant | 21 | Bridgeport | Previously Miss Connecticut 1951 |
| Idaho | Patricia Carter | 18 | Boise | |
| Illinois | Myrna Rae Hansen | 17 | Chicago | 1st runner-up at Miss Universe 1953 |
| Indiana | Edith Mae Krumme | 19 | Seymour | |
| Iowa | Marilyn Shonka | 18 | Sioux City | |
| Kentucky | Mary Stice | 19 | Paducah | |
| Louisiana | Jeanne Vaughn Thompson | 21 | Baton Rouge | Previously Miss Louisiana USA 1952 Placed 1st runner-up at Miss USA 1952 Previously Miss Louisiana 1951 |
| Maine | Jackie Lee | 22 | Cape Neddick | |
| Maryland | Diane Gale Durham | 22 | Silver Spring | |
| Massachusetts | Joan Daly | 20 | Somerville | |
| Miami Beach, Florida | Kay Duggar | 21 | Miami | |
| Michigan | Jo Ann Page | 20 | Detroit | |
| Minnesota | Mary Ann Papke | 20 | Minneapolis | |
| Mississippi | Jessie Wynn Morgan | 20 | Newton | Previously Miss Mississippi 1951 Top 15 at Miss America 1952 |
| Missouri | Donna Gardner | 18 | Portageville | |
| Montana | Billie Jean Tyrell | 21 | Billings | |
| Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | Mary Kemp Griffin | 23 | Florence | Later represented the USA at Miss World 1953 and placed 5th runner-up |
| Nebraska | Berneta Nelson | 20 | Clay Center | |
| Nevada | Earlene Whitt | 18 | Las Vegas | |
| New Hampshire | Muriel Roy | 24 | Nashua | |
| New Jersey | Susan Ruth Harris | 18 | Haddonfield | |
| New York | Reta Knapp | 23 | New York City | |
| North Carolina | Libby Walker | – | Wilton | |
| North Dakota | Marilyn Caufield | 19 | Jamestown | |
| Ohio | Eleanore Mack | 20 | Bellaire | |
| Oklahoma | Barbara Bond | 21 | Oklahoma City | |
| Pennsylvania | Jeri Hauer | 27 | Hatboro | |
| Rhode Island | Barbara Rose Deigman | 20 | Providence | |
| South Carolina | Susan Anthony Day | 18 | Greenville | |
| South Dakota | Kathleen Herman | 18 | Bowdle | |
| Texas | Joan Bradshaw | 17 | Houston | |
| Utah | Shauna Wood | 22 | Salt Lake City | |
| Vermont | Kathleen Marie Eugenia Surrel | 22 | Brooklyn, New York City | |
| Virginia | Dorothy Lee Bailey | 21 | Norfolk | |
| Washington | Nancy Petraborg | 18 | Seattle | |
| West Virginia | Fay Higley | 18 | South Charleston | |
| Wisconsin | Jacque Kimmel | 24 | Milwaukee | |
| Wyoming | Nancy Rogers | – | Cheyenne | |