Tanya Wilson
Encyclopedia
Tanya Wilson is a beauty queen from Honolulu, Hawaii
who held the Miss USA
1972 title.
Wilson placed second runner-up in the Miss Nevada
pageant in 1969 and also competed in 1970. After moving to Honolulu with her mother, Wilson won the Miss Hawaii USA
title in early May 1972. Two weeks later she represented her state in the Miss USA 1972
pageant, held in Dorado, Puerto Rico
and won the Miss USA title. She was crowned by Michele McDonald
of Pennsylvania
, Miss USA 1971. Wilson was the second of four women from Hawaii to win the Miss USA title.
This was the first time in the twenty-year history of the Miss USA pageant that it was held outside the continental United States and the only time that it has been held in a United States territory
. The event was marred by bomb explosions in the host hotel during the pageant which caused the coronation ball to be cancelled but no injuries were reported.
Wilson represented the United States in the Miss Universe
pageant broadcast from the same city two months after winning her national title. As with the Miss USA pageant, this was the first time that Miss Universe had been held outside the United States. Wilson placed in the semi-finals in the pageant, which was won by Kerry Anne Wells
of Australia.
A physical education major, Wilson was due to graduate from the University of Hawaii
the weekend following the Miss USA pageant. She was forced to defer her planned engagement when she won the Miss USA title. She and her fiance intended to marry in June 1973 after passing on her title.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
who held the Miss USA
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...
1972 title.
Wilson placed second runner-up in the Miss Nevada
Miss Nevada
The Miss Nevada competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Nevada in the Miss America pageant.- Winners :- External links :*...
pageant in 1969 and also competed in 1970. After moving to Honolulu with her mother, Wilson won the Miss Hawaii USA
Miss Hawaii USA
The Miss Hawaii USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Hawaii in the Miss USA pageant.Hawaii is the most recent state to start competing at Miss USA, as it first competed in 1962. Prior to this delegates were sent to Miss Universe...
title in early May 1972. Two weeks later she represented her state in the Miss USA 1972
Miss USA 1972
Miss USA 1972 was held at Cerromar Beach Hotel in Dorado, , on May 20, 1972. Tanya Wilson of Hawaii was crowned by outgoing titleholder Michele McDonald of Pennsylvania...
pageant, held in Dorado, Puerto Rico
Dorado, Puerto Rico
Dorado is a small tourist town in the northern coast of Puerto Rico, west of San Juan and is located in the northern region of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Toa Alta, east of Vega Alta, and west of Toa Baja. Dorado is spread over five barrios and Dorado Pueblo...
and won the Miss USA title. She was crowned by Michele McDonald
Michele McDonald
Michele McDonald is a pageant titleholder from Butler, Pennsylvania who held the Miss USA 1971 title.Encouraged to enter the competition by her mother, McDonald won Miss Pennsylvania USA title in early May 1971. Later that month she then represented her state in the Miss USA pageant, held in Miami...
of Pennsylvania
Miss Pennsylvania USA
The 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...
, Miss USA 1971. Wilson was the second of four women from Hawaii to win the Miss USA title.
This was the first time in the twenty-year history of the Miss USA pageant that it was held outside the continental United States and the only time that it has been held in a United States territory
United States territory
United States territory is any extent of region under the jurisdiction of the federal government of the United States, including all waters including all U.S. Naval carriers. The United States has traditionally proclaimed the sovereign rights for exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing its...
. The event was marred by bomb explosions in the host hotel during the pageant which caused the coronation ball to be cancelled but no injuries were reported.
Wilson represented the United States in the 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 broadcast from the same city two months after winning her national title. As with the Miss USA pageant, this was the first time that Miss Universe had been held outside the United States. Wilson placed in the semi-finals in the pageant, which was won by Kerry Anne Wells
Kerry Anne Wells
Kerry Anne Wells of Australia was the 1972 winner of the Miss Universe contest. She is from East Victoria Park, Western Australia.The 1972 pageant was the first to take place place outside the continental United States. That year, it was held in Dorado, Puerto Rico...
of Australia.
A physical education major, Wilson was due to graduate from the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
the weekend following the Miss USA pageant. She was forced to defer her planned engagement when she won the Miss USA title. She and her fiance intended to marry in June 1973 after passing on her title.