Miriam Stevenson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Stevenson in 1954 | |
| Born | Miriam Jacqueline Stevenson 1932 or 1933 (age 91–92) |
| Education | Lander University |
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[1] |
| Spouse | Donald Upton |
| Children | 2 |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Title | Miss South Carolina 1953 Miss South Carolina USA 1954 Miss USA 1954 Miss Universe 1954 |
| Hair color | Brown |
| Eye color | Blue |
| 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) |
Miriam Jacqueline Stevenson[2] (born 1932 or 1933) is an American former actress, television 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.[citation needed] She also represented South Carolina in Miss America 1954 after winning Miss South Carolina 1953, where she placed in the top ten.[citation needed]
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.
- ^ "South Carolina's Miriam Stevenson Wins "Miss Universe"; Miss Brazil Second". Spokane Daily Chronicle. July 24, 1954. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Judges are hep to hips". The Miami News. Retrieved August 1, 2011.