Miss USA 1974 was the 23rd Miss USA pageant, televised live by CBS from Niagara Falls, New York on May 18, 1974.
The pageant was won by Karen Jean Morrison of Illinois, who was crowned by outgoing titleholder Amanda Jones, also of Illinois.
Judges included psychologist Joyce Brothers, actor George Peppard, football player Paul Hornung, fashion designer John Weitz, and Sylvia Hitchcock, who won Miss USA 1967 and Miss Universe 1967.
Morrison was the fourth woman from Illinois to win the Miss USA title (a record at the time), and went on to place as a semi-finalist at Miss Universe 1974. Coincidentally, first runner up at Miss USA 1973 was Miss New York. It happened again at Miss USA 1974 when Miss New York (Miss USA 1973 & Miss USA 1974 held in New York) was first runner up with both winner from Illinois.
Results Placements
Final resultsContestant Miss USA 1974 Illinois – Karen Jean Morrison 1st Runner-Up New York – Barbara Cooper 2nd Runner-Up Wisconsin – Mary Cook 3rd Runner-Up California – Gayle Gorrell 4th Runner-Up North Carolina – Marcia Burton Top 12 Arizona – Carlys Peterson District of Columbia – Robin Utterback Florida – Cynthia Zach Louisiana – Karen Hoff Missouri – Dorothy McAlveen Nevada – Linda Dryden South Dakota – Debra Ann Brickley
Special awards AwardContestant Miss Amity (Congeniality) – Donna Thornton Miss Photogenic – Barbara Cooper Best State Costume - Charlesy Gulick
Delegates The Miss USA 1974 delegates were:
Alabama – Wyna Lavas Alaska – Cyndi Dickerson Arizona – Carlys Peterson Arkansas – Gina Huddle California - Gayle Gorrell Colorado – Connie Larsen Connecticut – Valerie Ann Cappello Delaware – Cheryl Fetkenher District of Columbia – Robin Utterback Florida – Cynthia Zach Georgia – Vicki Lynn Ross Hawaii – Joan Marie Ottensmeyer Idaho – Darla Jan Dowden Illinois – Karen Jean Morrison Indiana – Lisa Childress Iowa – Susan Thompson Kansas – Lorraine Breckenridge Kentucky – Charlesy Ann Gulick Louisiana – Karen Hoff Maine – Rebecca Titcomb Maryland – Mary Jo Ruppert Massachusetts – Ethellean Hicks Michigan – Patricia Loftis Minnesota – Gail Ray Johnson Mississippi – Denise Clark Missouri – Dorothy "Tweedy" McAlveen Montana – Carole Aalseth Nebraska – Mary Wolff Nevada – Linda Dryden New Hampshire – June Tedeschi New Jersey – Patricia Sims New Mexico – Janice Lynn Nilson New York – Barbara Cooper North Carolina – Marcia Burton North Dakota – Judith Lynn Waltz Ohio – Kay Phillips Oklahoma – Yugonda Willits Oregon – Peggy Anne Gertie Pennsylvania – Dorisann Gatalski Rhode Island – Debra Anne Cerroni South Carolina – Carol Lynn Hollis South Dakota – Debra Ann Brickley Tennessee – Brin Annette Hendrix Texas – Debra Cronin Utah – Halene Petersen Vermont – Donna Sue Thornton Virginia – Hazel Thomas Washington – Charlene "Char" Rutledge West Virginia – Kim Nuzum Wisconsin – Mary Cook Wyoming – Debbie K. Petty
Judges Dr. Joyce Brothers - psychologist, author, TV personality Eileen Ford - President of the Ford Modeling Agency Pete Gogolak - New York Giants kicker Sylvia Hitchcock - Miss Universe 1967 Geoffrey Holder - actor, dancer, producer Paul Hornung - Green Bay Packers kicker Dong Kingman - artist George Peppard - actor Sylvia Sidney - actress Rodger Ward - racing driver John Weitz - fashion designer
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