Miriam Stevenson

Miriam Jacqueline Stevenson[2] (born 1932 or 1933) is an American former actress, tv host, model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 1954. She was the first American to win the title and had previously been crowned Miss USA 1954. Prior to Miss USA, Stevenson was Miss South Carolina USA 1954. She also represented South Carolina in Miss America 1954 after winning Miss South Carolina 1953, where she placed in the top ten.

Stevenson (right) with husband Donald Upton in 1956

Miriam Stevenson
Stevenson in 1954
Born
Miriam Jacqueline Stevenson

1932 or 1933 (age 90–91)
Winnsboro, South Carolina, U.S.
EducationLander University
Height1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[1]
SpouseDonald Upton
Children2
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMiss South Carolina 1953
Miss South Carolina USA 1954
Miss USA 1954
Miss Universe 1954
Hair colorBrown
Eye colorBlue
Major
competition(s)		Miss South Carolina 1953
(Winner)
Miss America 1954
(Top 10)
Miss South Carolina USA 1954
(Winner)
Miss USA 1954
(Winner)
Miss Universe 1954
(Winner)

At Miss Universe, Stevenson received a tied final score with Martha Rocha of Brazil. In order to break the tie, the woman deemed to have the better physique was crowned the winner, due to a major sponsor of the pageant being Catalina Swimwear. This was determined to be Stevenson, due to having "fitter" hips than Rocha. She was crowned Miss Universe by outgoing titleholder Christiane Martel of France.[3] At the end of her reign, she crowned Hillevi Rombin of Sweden as Miss Universe 1955.

References
  1. "South Carolina's Miriam Stevenson Wins "Miss Universe"; Miss Brazil Second". Spokane Daily Chronicle. July 24, 1954. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  2. Riverol, Armando (1992). Live from Atlantic City: The History of the Miss America Pageant Before, After and in Spite of Television. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University Popular Press. p. 47. ISBN 0-87972-557-5.
  3. "Judges are hep to hips". The Miami News. Retrieved August 1, 2011.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.