# Miss USA 1955

Miss USA 1955 was the fourth Miss USA pageant, held at Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California on July 20, 1955.
At the end of the event, Miriam Stevenson of South Carolina crowned Carlene King Johnson of Vermont as Miss USA 1955. It is the first victory of Vermont in the pageant's history. Johnson later competed at Miss Universe and was named one of the fifteen semi-finalists.
Contestants from forty-three states and cities competed in the pageant. The competition was hosted by Bob Russell.

## Background
### Selection of participants

Contestants from forty-three states and cities were selected to compete in the pageant. The age requirement in this edition is still from 18 to 28, where women who are married and have children can also participate.
Marianne Marcus of Pennsylvania was initially disqualified by her local organizers after competing in the wrong type of swimsuit, as a swimsuit company was sponsoring the Miss Pennsylvania USA contest. However, the decision was reversed, and Marcus was allowed to compete at Miss USA after Don D'Carlo, promoter for the Miss Pennsylvania USA contest, consulted then-executive director of the Miss Universe contest Oscar Minehardt regarding the situation, which resulted in the rule being waived.

## Results
### Placements

| Placement | Contestant |
| Miss USA 1955 | Vermont – Carlene King Johnson |
| 1st runner-up | Arkansas – Margaret Anne Haywood |
| 2nd runner-up | Nebraska – Donna Streever |
| 3rd runner-up | California – Donna Schurr |
| 4th runner-up | Georgia – Carolann Connor |
| Top 15 | Colorado – Dorothy Bewley Florida – Marlies Gessler Illinois – Diane Daniggelis New Mexico – Joan Schwartz New York – Janet Kadlecik New York City – Patricia O'Kane South Carolina – Sara Stone Texas – Mary Daughters Washington – Shirley Givins Wisconsin – Jeanne Boulay |

## Pageant
### Format

From twenty-one semi-finalists in 1954, fifteen semi-finalists were chosen at the preliminary competition that consists of the swimsuit and evening gown competition. Each of the fifteen semi-finalists gave a short speech during the final telecast. Afterwards, the fifteen semi-finalists paraded again in their swimsuits and evening gowns, and the five finalists were eventually chosen.

### Selection committee

* Ginny Simms – American actress and singer

## Contestants

Forty-three contestants competed for the title.
| State/City | Contestant | Age | Hometown | Notes |
| Arizona | Patti Alexandria Marks | 19 | Glendale | |
| Arkansas | Margaret Anne Haywood | 19 | Jonesboro | Later Miss World United States 1955 1st runner-up at Miss World 1955 |
| California | Donna Schurr | 18 | Santa Ana | |
| Colorado | Dorothy Jean Bewley | 19 | Denver | |
| Connecticut | Jane Louise Bartolotta | 23 | Middletown | |
| Delaware | Helen Denise Blackwell | 21 | Wilmington | Previously Miss Delaware 1952 |
| Florida | Mariles Gessler | 20 | Tallahassee | |
| Georgia | Carolann Connor | 19 | Atlanta | |
| Illinois | Betty Diane Daniggelis | 18 | Chicago | Winner of the 1955 National Press Photographers Pageant |
| Indiana | Mary Ann Wasick | 19 | Gary | |
| Iowa | Jerri Jean Cole | 18 | Holstein | |
| Louisiana | Merlin Grace Garcia | 19 | Gretna | |
| Maryland | Gloria Ruth King | 19 | Baltimore | |
| Massachusetts | Jean Dernago | 18 | Springfield | |
| Miami Beach, Florida | Beverly Masters | 18 | Miami Beach | |
| Michigan | Martha Smith | 18 | Detroit | |
| Minnesota | Sally Ann Colombo | 18 | Stillwater | |
| Missouri | Janet Coker | 18 | Caruthersville | |
| Nebraska | Donna Jo Streever | 21 | Grand Island | |
| New Hampshire | Patricia Ann Mowry | 22 | Manchester | |
| New Jersey | Beverly Rogers | 19 | Maywood | |
| New Mexico | Joan Schwartz | 19 | Albuquerque | |
| New York | Janet Kadlecik | 18 | Johnson City | |
| New York City, New York | Patricia Anne O'Kane | 19 | Valley Stream | |
| North Carolina | Mary Grace Ratliffe | 18 | Wadesboro | |
| North Dakota | Joan Roberta Smith | 19 | Bismarck | |
| Ohio | Carol Hagerman | 20 | Columbus | |
| Oregon | Rose Karcha | 20 | Salem | |
| Pennsylvania | Marianne Marcus | 18 | McKees Rocks | |
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Doris Sommer Klein | 21 | Philadelphia | |
| Rhode Island | Beverly Jansen | 20 | Providence | |
| South Carolina | Sara Ella Stone | 20 | Florence | |
| South Dakota | Phyllis Elaine Choquette | 19 | Jefferson | |
| St. Louis, Missouri | Bennie Joan Pritchard | 20 | University City | |
| Tennessee | Barbara Gurley | 24 | Memphis | |
| Texas | Mary Miles Daughters | 19 | Kingsville | |
| Utah | Myrna Joy Rasmussen | 21 | Salt Lake City | |
| Vermont | Carlene King Johnson | 22 | Rutland | Top 15 at Miss Universe 1955 Previously Miss Vermont 1953 |
| Virginia | Jeannie Asble | 19 | Portsmouth | |
| Washington | Shirley Jean Givins | 20 | Seattle | |
| West Virginia | Barbara Jean Tucker | 19 | St. Albans | |
| Wisconsin | Jeanne Marianne Bouley | 19 | Fond du Lac | |
| Wyoming | Barbara Kaye Latta | 18 | Casper | |