Miss USA 1972 was the 21st Miss USA pageant, held at Cerromar Beach Hotel in Dorado, Puerto Rico, on May 20, 1972. Tanya Wilson of Hawaii was crowned by outgoing titleholder Michele McDonald of Pennsylvania. This was the second time Hawaii has won the pageant.

Bob Barker (who later that year would begin a 35-year run as host of The Price Is Right on CBS) and singer Helen O'Connell hosted the pageant and the Everly Brothers were the guest entertainers.

Prior to the final competition contestants participated in a number of public appearances, including an official parade held in Ponce and a televised ceremony with Governor Luis Ferre.

This was the first time the pageant was held outside the continental United States. The event was marred by two bomb blasts at the hotel during the pageant, thought to have been caused by anti-American activists. There was severe property damage but no injuries were reported. Earlier that day the venue had been picketed by the Puerto Rican Socialist Party.

Results Final resultsContestantMiss USA 1972 Hawaii – Tanya Wilson1st Runner-Up New York – Alberta Phillips2nd Runner-Up California – Kim Christina Hobson3rd Runner-Up Florida – Coni Ensor4th Runner-Up Ohio – Kathleen KehlmierTop 12 Alaska – Patricia Lane District of Columbia – Janet Gail Greenawalt Louisiana – Bonnie Martin Michigan – Marilyn Ann Petty New Mexico – Donna Reel North Carolina – Deborah Falls South Carolina – Susan Gordon

Special awards AwardContestant(s) Miss Amity (Congeniality) Utah – Peggy Moore Miss Pixable (Photogenic) Texas – Susan Peters Best State Costume Alaska – Patricia Lane Miss Hospitality Deloris Cantu

Delegates The Miss USA 1972 delegates were:

Alabama – Elaine Barnhill Alaska – Patricia Lane Arizona – Marcia Banks Arkansas – Susan Tichenor California - Kim Christina Hobson Colorado – Patricia Cadigan Connecticut – Diane Stevens Delaware – Michele Voyer District of Columbia – Janet Gail Greenawalt Florida – Coni Ensor Georgia – Kaye Ayers Hawaii – Tanya Wilson Idaho – Lianne Fulmer Illinois – Jani Hall Indiana – Julie Clifford Iowa – Jennifer Jo Owen Kansas – Mona Guesnier Kentucky – Tamara Branstetter Louisiana – Bonnie Martin Maine – Cynthia Luce Maryland – Patty Townsend Massachusetts – Dale Carder Michigan – Marilyn Ann Petty Minnesota – Darlene Koskiniemi Mississippi – Debbie Pawlik Missouri – Janet Potter Montana – Mitriann Popovich Nebraska – Theresa Engels Nevada – Tracey Whitney New Hampshire – Cathy Davis New Jersey – Leila DeSantis New Mexico – Donna Reel New York – Alberta Phillips North Carolina – Deborah Falls North Dakota – Gail Schmeichel Ohio – Kathleen Kehlmier Oklahoma – Pam Vennerberg Oregon – Yvonne Philes Pennsylvania – Jeanie Zadrozny Rhode Island – Jeanne LeMay South Carolina – Susan Gordon South Dakota – Kathy Baky Tennessee – Linda Thompson Texas – Susan Peters Utah – Peggy Moore Vermont – Stacey Becker Virginia – Diane Elizabeth "Dede" Moore Washington – Connie Ambrose West Virginia – Diane McCutcheon Wisconsin – Suzan Nass Wyoming – Tamara Tulley

Judges A panel of 11 celebrities was chosen to judge the competition. Cindy Adams - broadcaster and columnist Cleveland Amory - author, critic, President of the Fund for Animals Connie Francis - singer Walt Frazier - New York Knicks basketball player Halston - designer Dong Kingman - artist William Knight - Senior Vice-President for Avis Rent a Car System Bob Lardine - feature writer for New York Sunday News Rita Moreno - Puerto Rican actress Ed Sullivan - entertainer Jacqueline Susann - author

See also Miss Universe 1972

References