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Miss America 1951 , the 24th Miss America pageant, was held at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 9, 1950. Traditionally, since a majority of Miss America's reign occurred during the year following her coronation, the pageant referred to her title with the upcoming year. Thus, Yolande Betbeze, who was crowned in September 1950, was called Miss America 1951. This practice continued until 2006, when pageant activities moved from September to January. From that point, the title year aligned with the year in which the titleholder won. This change also occurred recently in 2024, and it marked the transition from Atlantic City, the pageant's long-time base, to its new home in Las Vegas , Nevada .[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] [ 4]
Placement
Contestant
Miss America 1951
1st Runner-Up
2nd Runner-Up
3rd Runner-Up
4th Runner-Up
Top 16
Title
Name
Hometown
Age
Talent
Placement
Awards
Notes
Alabama Yolande Betbeze
Mobile
21
Classical Vocal, "Caro Nome" from Rigoletto
Winner
Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award
Betbeze's refusal to pose in a swimsuit after her win lead to the pull-out of swimsuit sponsor Catalina & ultimately the creation of the Miss USA pageant
Alaska Maxine Cothern
Fairbanks
Speech, "Alaska"
Arizona Kathryn Lunsford
Phoenix
Modern Dance
Arkansas Mary Jennings
Hot Springs
Classical Vocal, "Un Bel Dì " from Madama Butterfly
3rd Runner-up
Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award
Was a featured soprano with the New York City Opera
Miss America 1989 and Miss America 1991 pageants
California Joanne Durant
San Diego
Vocal/Poetry Recitation, "Alice Blue Gown "
Top 16
Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness Award
Canada Margaret Eleanore Bradford
Windsor
Chicago Marjorie Adams
Chicago
Monologue, "To the Lovely Margaret"
Top 16
Colorado Barbara Norrish
Longmont
Violin
Connecticut Renee Roy
Hartford
Comedy Sketch of a Cosmetic Demonstration and Vocal/Dance, "Charley, My Boy "
Top 16
Preliminary Talent Award
Later Miss New York City USA 1954
Delaware Lorna Edwardson
Dover
Classical Vocal, "Un Bel Dì " from Madama Butterfly
District of Columbia Sandra Stahl
21
Classical Vocal, "The Bell Song" from Lakmé
Top 16
Preliminary Talent Award
Florida Janet Ruth Crockett
St. Petersburg
Vocal & Pantomime from The Perils of Pauline
2nd Runner-up
Georgia Louise Thomas
Fitzgerald
Greater Philadelphia Janice Murray
Philadelphia
Classical Vocal, '''O Don Fatale" from Don Carlos
Top 16
Hawaii Dell'Finn Kala'upaona Po'aha
Honolulu
Miss Congeniality
Idaho Barbara Norton
Burley
Vocal, "A Heart That's Free" from Two Weeks with Love
Illinois Catherine Kleinschmidt
Granite City
Vocal, "Come to the Fair"
Indiana Pat Berry
Indianapolis
Vocal, "I'm Falling in Love with Someone" from Naughty Marietta
Iowa Mary Virginia Lines
Clarinda
18
Piano/Marimba, "Stardust"
Kansas Anabel Baker
Wichita
Dramatic Monologue from Macbeth
Kentucky Mary Louise Osborne
Wheelwright
Drama
Louisiana Rowena Taliaferro
Winnsboro
Maine Jane Harragan
Millinocket
Dramatic Monologue, "The Corn is Green"
Maryland Ann Uri
Baltimore
Vocal/Piano
Massachusetts Britta Berg
Boston
Michigan Bette Lou Pittman
Owosso
Monologue, "I Like Americans"
Minnesota Jeanne Traun
Minneapolis
Vocal
Mississippi Annie Roberts
Hattiesburg
Missouri Beverly Rotroff
Kansas City
Vocal/Piano
Montana Donna Marie Buls
Missoula
Nebraska Jinx Burrus
Crete
Baton Twirling
Nevada Tosca Masini
Sparks
Comedy Characterization
Top 16
New Hampshire Betty Laurie
Concord
New Jersey June Stephens
Ship Bottom
Comic Sketch, "The Older Set"
Top 16
New Mexico Martha Rose Wilson
Santa Fe
New York Marilyn Reynolds
Syracuse
Vocal, "I'll Take Romance"
New York City Phyllis Battleson
New York City
Classical Vocal, "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix "
Top 16
North Carolina Carolyn Edwards
Leaksville
Monologue, "Rumba" by Dorothy Parker
Top 16
North Dakota Joan Teets
Minot
Comedy Monologue, "Touch of Norway"
Non-finalist Talent Award
Ohio Irene Farren
Grand River
Fashion Design
Oklahoma Louise O'Brien
Tulsa
Vocal, "'Twas Only an Irishman's Dream"
4th Runner-up
Oregon Elizabeth Ann Baker
Monmouth
Classical Piano, Clair de Lune
Pennsylvania Emilie Longacre
Phoenixville
Vocal, "You're My Everything "
Puerto Rico Evangelina Moragón
South Carolina Carolyn Fowler
Lyman
17
Vocal, "Why Don't You Fall in Love with Me"
South Dakota Irene O'Connor
Burbank
Dramatic Monologue, "Dedication of the White Armor" from Saint Joan
1st Runner-up
Preliminary Talent Award
Tennessee Greta Graham
Memphis
Organ, "Tico-Tico no Fubá "
Texas Margaret Sommers
Dallas
Classical Vocal, "Jealousy"
Top 16
Utah Joanne Hinard
Provo
East Indian Dance
Vermont Eleanor Kangas
Springfield
Virginia Gloria Fenderson
Petersburg
Washington Karlyne Abele
Des Moines
Dramatic Reading, "The Flag"
Top 16
Wisconsin Gloria Lange
Milwaukee
20
Operatic Vocal, "Donkey Serenade" from The Firefly
Wyoming Lenore Hoffman
Cheyenne
^ United Press International (1950-09-11). "Miss America Would Rather Go To School Than Get Married". El Paso Herald-Post. p. 10. ^ Associated Press (1950-09-11). "Brown-Haired Alabama Beauty Wins Miss America Crown". Portland Press Herald. p. 1. ^ Associated Press (2005-08-26). "There She Isn't: Miss America Pageant Leaves Atlantic City". New York Times . ^ "1950 Yolande Betbeze" . Archived from the original on 2010-10-11. Retrieved 2010-08-29 .
Saulino Osborne, Angela (1995). "Miss Americas and their Courts". Miss America The Dream Lives On . Taylor Publishing Company. ISBN 0-87833-110-7
Alabama
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