Miss USA 1962
Miss USA 1962 was the 11th Miss USA pageant, held at the Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida on July 12, 1962.
At the end of the event Sharon Brown of Louisiana crowned Macel Leilani Wilson of Hawaii as Miss USA 1962. It is the first victory of Hawaii in the pageant's history. Wilson is also the first Asian-American to win the title of Miss USA. Wilson later competed at Miss Universe and was named one of the fifteen semi-finalists.
Contestants from thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia competed in the pageant.
Results
Placements
| Placement | Contestant |
|---|---|
| Miss USA 1962 | |
| 1st runner-up |
|
| 2nd runner-up |
|
| 3rd runner-up |
|
| 4th runner-up |
|
| Top 16 |
|
Contestants
Forty contestants competed for the title.
| State/District | Contestant | Age | Hometown | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Jerolyn Ridgeway | 20 | Fort Payne | |
| Alaska | Teresa Hanson | 18 | Fairbanks | |
| Arizona | Jerri Michelson | 18 | Paradise Valley | |
| Arkansas | Linda Riggan | 20 | Leola | 2nd runner up at Miss American Beauty 1964 |
| California | Marilyn Tindall | 21 | Los Angeles | |
| Colorado | Penny James | 19 | Aurora | |
| Connecticut | Diane Zabicki | 19 | Middletown | |
| District of Columbia | Helen Sweeney | 20 | Washington, D.C. | |
| Florida | Sharon Conrad | 19 | Tampa | |
| Georgia | Genelda Odum | 18 | Jesup | Competed in the 1963 Miss Dixie Pageant |
| Hawaii | Macel Patricia Leilani Wilson | 19 | Honolulu | Top 15 semifinalist at Miss Universe 1962 |
| Idaho | Kinne Marie Holland | 18 | Nampa | |
| Illinois | Jean Donnelly | 20 | DeKalb | |
| Indiana | Sue Ekamp | 19 | Mishawaka | |
| Iowa | Regina Prusha | 19 | Cedar Rapids | |
| Kansas | Linda Light | 18 | Topeka | |
| Kentucky | Sally Margaret Carter | 19 | Lowes | |
| Louisiana | Diane DeClouet | 19 | Oak Ridge | Semi-finalist in Miss World USA 1962 |
| Maine | Karen J. Henderson | 20 | South Portland | |
| Maryland | Shelda Farley | 20 | Catonsville | |
| Massachusetts | Gail Pope | 18 | Wellesley | |
| Michigan | Judith Lamparter | 18 | Detroit | |
| Mississippi | Sandra Mazur | – | Jackson | Competed in the 1963 Miss Dixie Pageant |
| Missouri | Mikee Campbell | 21 | Springfield | |
| Nevada | Janet Hadland | 19 | Las Vegas | |
| New Hampshire | Sandra Kay | 18 | Plaistow | |
| New Jersey | Joyce Claire Thompson | – | Bellmawr | |
| New York | Sherrylyn Patecell | 21 | Flushing | |
| North Carolina | Brenda Joyce Smith | – | Charlotte | |
| Ohio | Joan Colucy | 22 | Massillon | |
| Oregon | Joyce Collin | 20 | Lebanon | |
| Pennsylvania | Margaret Lineman | 18 | Philadelphia | |
| Rhode Island | Marilyn Scott | 24 | Pawtucket | |
| South Carolina | Judy Clyburn | 20 | Camden | |
| Tennessee | Gail White | 21 | Chattanooga | |
| Texas | Jackie Faye Williams | 19 | Waxahachie | |
| Utah | Patricia Profaizer | 26 | Salt Lake City | |
| Vermont | Barbara Ann Kearney | 18 | Springfield | |
| West Virginia | Nickie Sue Gagalis | 19 | Beckley | |
| Wisconsin | Sherri Mathson | 20 | Milwaukee |