Miss USA 1957
Encyclopedia
Miss USA 1957, the sixth Miss USA
pageant, took place in Long Beach, California
on July 17, 1957 during the run-up to the year's Miss Universe
pageant. The 1957 Miss USA pageant is noted as marking the only occasion to date on which the winner was stripped of her title by pageant organizers.
of Maryland
was declared the winner and was crowned by the outgoing titleholder (and Miss Universe 1956) Carol Morris
of Iowa
. The following day however, rumors about Gage's past and current circumstances began to circulate, and it subsequently emerged that not only had Gage lied about her age (she was 18, not 21 as she had originally claimed), but she was also the twice-married mother of two children. As Gage had clearly broken a number of eligibility rules, pageant officials immediately disqualified her once the accusations against her had been checked and verified.
The crown and the associated prize package thus passed to the 1st runner-up, Charlotte Sheffield
of Utah
, with the other three finalists being moved up a place, and the highest-scoring semi-finalist, Kathryn Gabriel of Ohio
, being promoted to 4th runner-up. However, by the time the scandal broke publicly, the Miss Universe preliminary judging had already taken place (in which, ironically, Gage had been chosen as a semi-finalist by the judges, having been allowed by the organizers to participate while the allegations being made against her were investigated), so Sheffield was unable to compete in the pageant – the only time the USA has not been represented at Miss Universe. Later in the year, Sheffield was sent to London
as the USA delegate for Miss World 1957
, but failed to place.
States
Cities
Miss USA
The Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
pageant, took place in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
on July 17, 1957 during the run-up to the year's Miss Universe
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
pageant. The 1957 Miss USA pageant is noted as marking the only occasion to date on which the winner was stripped of her title by pageant organizers.
Scandal and dethronement
At the end of the pageant, Mary Leona GageMary Leona Gage
Mary Leona Gage was a beauty queen from Maryland who was crowned Miss USA 1957, the first, and so far, only woman from that state to capture the Miss USA crown...
of Maryland
Miss Maryland USA
The Miss Maryland USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Maryland in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant is directed by D&D Investments....
was declared the winner and was crowned by the outgoing titleholder (and Miss Universe 1956) Carol Morris
Carol Morris
Carol Ann Laverne Morris , Miss Iowa USA, was the second Miss USA to win the Miss Universe title in the pageant's fifth edition in 1956....
of Iowa
Miss Iowa USA
The Miss Iowa USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Iowa in the Miss USA pageant.While Iowa has not been greatly successful in the past four decades, they were one of the most consistent states in the first decade of the pageant's existence...
. The following day however, rumors about Gage's past and current circumstances began to circulate, and it subsequently emerged that not only had Gage lied about her age (she was 18, not 21 as she had originally claimed), but she was also the twice-married mother of two children. As Gage had clearly broken a number of eligibility rules, pageant officials immediately disqualified her once the accusations against her had been checked and verified.
The crown and the associated prize package thus passed to the 1st runner-up, Charlotte Sheffield
Charlotte Sheffield
Charlotte Sheffield was Miss USA 1957.After winning the Miss Utah USA crown, Sheffield, from Salt Lake City, Utah went on to become Utah's first representative to achieve the title of Miss USA, when Mary Leona Gage was stripped of her title days later during the Miss Universe 1957 competition...
of Utah
Miss Utah USA
The Miss Utah USA competition is the pageant who selects the representative for the state of Utah in the Miss USA pageant.Utah has been quite successful at Miss USA, with 20 placements as of 2009. Their most consistent period was in the 1950s and 1960s. Utah has produced one Miss USA in 1960...
, with the other three finalists being moved up a place, and the highest-scoring semi-finalist, Kathryn Gabriel of Ohio
Miss Ohio USA
The Miss Ohio USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Ohio in the Miss USA pageant.Ohio achieved success in the first decades of the Miss USA competition but has not done as well in recent years...
, being promoted to 4th runner-up. However, by the time the scandal broke publicly, the Miss Universe preliminary judging had already taken place (in which, ironically, Gage had been chosen as a semi-finalist by the judges, having been allowed by the organizers to participate while the allegations being made against her were investigated), so Sheffield was unable to compete in the pageant – the only time the USA has not been represented at Miss Universe. Later in the year, Sheffield was sent to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
as the USA delegate for Miss World 1957
Miss World 1957
Miss World 1957, the seventh annual Miss World pageant, was held on 14 October 1957 at Lyceum Theatre, London, United Kingdom. 23 contestants competed for the Miss World...
, but failed to place.
Results
| Final Results | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss USA 1957 |
|
| Miss USA 1957 |
 UtahMiss Utah USA The Miss Utah USA competition is the pageant who selects the representative for the state of Utah in the Miss USA pageant.Utah has been quite successful at Miss USA, with 20 placements as of 2009. Their most consistent period was in the 1950s and 1960s. Utah has produced one Miss USA in 1960... - Charlotte Sheffield Charlotte Sheffield Charlotte Sheffield was Miss USA 1957.After winning the Miss Utah USA crown, Sheffield, from Salt Lake City, Utah went on to become Utah's first representative to achieve the title of Miss USA, when Mary Leona Gage was stripped of her title days later during the Miss Universe 1957 competition... (successor) |
| 1st runner-up |
 West VirginiaMiss West Virginia USA The Miss West Virginia USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of West Virginia in the Miss USA pageant.West Virginia has not been greatly successful at Miss USA and they have never produced a winner... - Ruth Parr |
| 2nd runner-up |
 NevadaMiss Nevada USA The Miss Nevada USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Nevada in the Miss USA pageant.While Nevada did well in the early years of the Miss USA pageant, they only placed once from 1987 to 2000... - Joan Adams |
| 3rd runner-up |
 NebraskaMiss Nebraska USA The Miss Nebraska USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Nebraska in the Miss USA pageant.In 2002, Nebraska joined the Vanbros group of state pageants for the Miss USA and Teen USA system.... - Carolyn McGirr |
| 4th runner-up |
 OhioMiss Ohio USA The Miss Ohio USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Ohio in the Miss USA pageant.Ohio achieved success in the first decades of the Miss USA competition but has not done as well in recent years... - Kathryn Gabriel |
| Top 15 |
 ArkansasMiss Arkansas USA The Miss Arkansas USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Arkansas in the Miss USA pageant.The state pageant was directed by Premier Pageants from 2002 to 2007 before becoming part of the Vanbros organization in 2007... - Helen Garrott  CaliforniaMiss California USA Miss California USA is a pageant that selects the representative for the state of California in the Miss USA pageant.The current titleholder is Katie Blair. She succeeded Alyssa Campanella on June 25, 2011 after Campanella was crowned Miss USA 2011.... - Peggy Jacobson  IllinoisMiss Illinois USA The Miss Illinois USA pageant is a competition that selects the representative for the state Illinois in the Miss USA pageant.Illinois is one of the most successful states in the competition. It is one of only four states to have won four or more Miss USA titles and one of only three states to... - Marianne Gaba Marianne Gaba Marianne Gaba is an American model, actress and beauty queen. She was Miss Illinois USA 1957 and Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for its September 1959 issue.-Filmography:...  IowaMiss Iowa USA The Miss Iowa USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Iowa in the Miss USA pageant.While Iowa has not been greatly successful in the past four decades, they were one of the most consistent states in the first decade of the pageant's existence... - Judith Hall  MassachusettsMiss Massachusetts USA The Miss Massachusetts USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Massachusetts in the Miss USA pageant.... - Sandra Ramsey  New YorkMiss New York USA The Miss New York USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of New York in the Miss USA pageant. Amber Collins is the reigning Miss New York USA 2011... - Sanita Pelkey  South CarolinaMiss South Carolina USA The Miss South Carolina USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state South Carolina in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant has been produced by RPM Productions since 1980.... - Jean Spotts  TexasMiss Texas USA The Miss Texas USA competition is the pageant who selects the representative for the state Texas in the Miss USA pageant. In turn, the winner of Miss USA competes for the title of Miss Universe.... - Gloria Hunt  WashingtonMiss Washington USA The Miss Washington USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Washington in the Miss USA pageant.Washington has been moderately successful in terms of number of semi-finalists and placements, and has had one Miss USA... - Diana Schafer |
Delegates
The Miss USA 1957 delegates were:States
ArkansasMiss Arkansas USAThe Miss Arkansas USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Arkansas in the Miss USA pageant.The state pageant was directed by Premier Pageants from 2002 to 2007 before becoming part of the Vanbros organization in 2007...
- Helen Garrott
CaliforniaMiss California USAMiss California USA is a pageant that selects the representative for the state of California in the Miss USA pageant.The current titleholder is Katie Blair. She succeeded Alyssa Campanella on June 25, 2011 after Campanella was crowned Miss USA 2011....
- Peggy Jacobson
ColoradoMiss Colorado USAThe Miss Colorado USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Colorado in the Miss USA pageant. The event was held in Loveland from 2006 to 2008 and moved to Greeley in 2010....
- Mary Clapham
ConnecticutMiss Connecticut USAThe Miss Connecticut USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Connecticut in the Miss USA pageant. This pageant is directed by Crown Productions, who took over the pageant in 2003....
- Rosemary Galliotti
DelawareMiss Delaware USAThe Miss Delaware USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Delaware in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant is directed by D&D Investments....
- Patricia Ellingsworth
FloridaMiss Florida USAThe Miss Florida USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Florida in the Miss USA pageant.While Florida has been successful in terms of runners-up, finalists and semi-finalists, the state has never won the Miss USA pageant, although Cheryl Patton became Miss USA...
- Deanie Cates.svg.png)
GeorgiaMiss Georgia USAThe Miss Georgia USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Georgia in the Miss USA pageant.Historically, Georgia has been the eleventh most successful state at Miss USA and has performed in more recent years, placing eighth on the table of most successful states...
- Ruth Lycan
IllinoisMiss Illinois USAThe Miss Illinois USA pageant is a competition that selects the representative for the state Illinois in the Miss USA pageant.Illinois is one of the most successful states in the competition. It is one of only four states to have won four or more Miss USA titles and one of only three states to...
- Marianne GabaMarianne GabaMarianne Gaba is an American model, actress and beauty queen. She was Miss Illinois USA 1957 and Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for its September 1959 issue.-Filmography:...
IndianaMiss Indiana USAThe Miss Indiana USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Indiana in the Miss USA pageant.Nine Miss Indiana USA winners previously competed at Miss Teen USA. The state currently holds the record for the most Miss Teen USA state winners to win a Miss USA...
- Pat Dorsett
IowaMiss Iowa USAThe Miss Iowa USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Iowa in the Miss USA pageant.While Iowa has not been greatly successful in the past four decades, they were one of the most consistent states in the first decade of the pageant's existence...
- Judith Hall
LouisianaMiss Louisiana USAThe Miss Louisiana USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Louisiana in the Miss USA pageant.Louisiana is one of the most successful states at Miss USA and is one of only seven states to have had three or more Miss USAs.Three Miss Louisiana USA titleholders...
- Earlyn Regouffre
MaineMiss Maine USAThe Miss Maine USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Maine in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant has been directed by Mackenzie Davis, Miss Maine USA 2004, since 2007....
- Roberta Aymie
MarylandMiss Maryland USAThe Miss Maryland USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Maryland in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant is directed by D&D Investments....
- Mary Leona GageMary Leona GageMary Leona Gage was a beauty queen from Maryland who was crowned Miss USA 1957, the first, and so far, only woman from that state to capture the Miss USA crown...
(dethroned)
MassachusettsMiss Massachusetts USAThe Miss Massachusetts USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Massachusetts in the Miss USA pageant....
- Sandra Ramsey
MichiganMiss Michigan USAThe Miss Michigan USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Michigan in the Miss USA pageant.Michigan is recognized by as being within the top 15 states in terms of Miss USA success. Their first Miss USA victory was in 1990, and notable because Carole Gist...
- Sharon Moore
MinnesotaMiss Minnesota USAThe Miss Minnesota USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Minnesota in the Miss USA pageant.Despite a strong start in the first three years of competition at Miss USA, Minnesota has been largely unsuccessful overall...
- Mary Ford
MissouriMiss Missouri USAThe Miss Missouri USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Missouri in the Miss USA pageant. In 1993, Missouri joined the Vanbros group of state pageants for the Miss USA and Teen USA system....
- Judith Murback
NebraskaMiss Nebraska USAThe Miss Nebraska USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Nebraska in the Miss USA pageant.In 2002, Nebraska joined the Vanbros group of state pageants for the Miss USA and Teen USA system....
- Carolyn McGirr
NevadaMiss Nevada USAThe Miss Nevada USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Nevada in the Miss USA pageant.While Nevada did well in the early years of the Miss USA pageant, they only placed once from 1987 to 2000...
- Joan Adams
New HampshireMiss New Hampshire USAThe Miss New Hampshire USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of New Hampshire in the Miss USA pageant.New Hampshire has had little success at Miss USA, and has only placed four times...
- Lyla Moran
New JerseyMiss New Jersey USAThe Miss New Jersey USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of New Jersey in the Miss USA pageant.New Jersey has had only moderate success at Miss USA, and has never produced a winner. New Jersey's best streak was from 1989 to 1991 when they had two 2nd...
- Jeanne Lewis
New MexicoMiss New Mexico USAFor the state pageant affiliated with Miss America, see Miss New MexicoThe Miss New Mexico USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of New Mexico in the Miss USA pageant....
- Patricia Stafford
New YorkMiss New York USAThe Miss New York USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of New York in the Miss USA pageant. Amber Collins is the reigning Miss New York USA 2011...
- Sanita Pelkey
North CarolinaMiss North Carolina USAThe Miss North Carolina USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state North Carolina in the Miss USA pageant. This state is part of the RPM Productions group....
- Peggy Ann Dennis
North DakotaMiss North Dakota USAThe Miss North Dakota USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of North Dakota in the Miss USA pageant.North Dakota has had only three placements and have never won the Miss USA crown. Their highest placement was in 1966 when Judy Slayton placed 3rd runner-up to...
- Anne-Marit Studness
OhioMiss Ohio USAThe Miss Ohio USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Ohio in the Miss USA pageant.Ohio achieved success in the first decades of the Miss USA competition but has not done as well in recent years...
- Kathryn Gabriel
OklahomaMiss Oklahoma USAFor the article about the Miss America state pageant, see Miss OklahomaThe Miss Oklahoma USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Oklahoma in the Miss USA pageant....
- Rose Mary Raab
OregonMiss Oregon USAThe Miss Oregon USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Oregon in the Miss USA pageant.Oregon has only had limited success at Miss USA and has never won the competition. The highest placed Miss Oregon USA was Gail Atchison who finished 2nd runner-up to...
- Sonja Landsem
PennsylvaniaMiss Pennsylvania USAThe Miss Pennsylvania USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Pennsylvania in the Miss USA pageant.Michele McDonald is Pennsylvania's only Miss USA so far. At only eighteen, she was one of the youngest competitors ever to win the crown...
- Rosalie Culp
Rhode IslandMiss Rhode Island USAThe Miss Rhode Island USA competition is the beauty pageant that selects the representative for the state Rhode Island in the Miss USA pageant....
- Myrna Altieri
South CarolinaMiss South Carolina USAThe Miss South Carolina USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state South Carolina in the Miss USA pageant. The pageant has been produced by RPM Productions since 1980....
- Jean Spotts
South DakotaMiss South Dakota USAThe Miss South Dakota USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of South Dakota in the Miss USA pageant. This state pageant is currently directed by Future Productions....
- Gay Marshall
TennesseeMiss Tennessee USAThe Miss Tennessee USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Tennessee in the Miss USA pageant.Since 2001 the pageant has been held in the auditorium at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee....
- Patricia Prather
TexasMiss Texas USAThe Miss Texas USA competition is the pageant who selects the representative for the state Texas in the Miss USA pageant. In turn, the winner of Miss USA competes for the title of Miss Universe....
- Gloria Hunt
UtahMiss Utah USAThe Miss Utah USA competition is the pageant who selects the representative for the state of Utah in the Miss USA pageant.Utah has been quite successful at Miss USA, with 20 placements as of 2009. Their most consistent period was in the 1950s and 1960s. Utah has produced one Miss USA in 1960...
- Charlotte SheffieldCharlotte SheffieldCharlotte Sheffield was Miss USA 1957.After winning the Miss Utah USA crown, Sheffield, from Salt Lake City, Utah went on to become Utah's first representative to achieve the title of Miss USA, when Mary Leona Gage was stripped of her title days later during the Miss Universe 1957 competition...
VermontMiss Vermont USAThe Miss Vermont USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Vermont in the Miss USA pageant.Vermont is one of the least successful states, but they have produced a Miss USA - Carlene King Johnson in 1955...
- Marjorie Link
VirginiaMiss Virginia USAThe Miss Virginia USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Virginia in the Miss USA pageant.Virginia has been only moderately successful in terms of number of semi-finalists, they have had two Miss USAs. They are one of only three states to have had two Miss...
- Patricia Bush
WashingtonMiss Washington USAThe Miss Washington USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Washington in the Miss USA pageant.Washington has been moderately successful in terms of number of semi-finalists and placements, and has had one Miss USA...
- Diana Schafer
West VirginiaMiss West Virginia USAThe Miss West Virginia USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of West Virginia in the Miss USA pageant.West Virginia has not been greatly successful at Miss USA and they have never produced a winner...
- Ruth Parr
WisconsinMiss Wisconsin USAThe Miss Wisconsin USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Wisconsin in the Miss USA pageant. Since 2008 the state pageant has been directed by Future Productions of Savage, Minnesota....
- Natalie Lueck
WyomingMiss Wyoming USA, Miss Wyoming USA 2012]]The Miss Wyoming USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Wyoming in the Miss USA pageant. The Miss Wyoming USA pageant is currently produced by Future Productions....
- Marilyn Hawkins
Cities
- Miami Beach, FloridaMiami Beach, FloridaMiami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
- Faye Ray - Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
- Barbara Miller - St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
- Carole Learn