Miss USA 1974 was the 23rd Miss USA pageant, televised live by CBS from Niagara Falls, New York on May 18, 1974.

The pageant was won by Karen Jean Morrison of Illinois, who was crowned by outgoing titleholder Amanda Jones, also of Illinois.

Judges included psychologist Joyce Brothers, actor George Peppard, football player Paul Hornung, fashion designer John Weitz, and Sylvia Hitchcock, who won Miss USA 1967 and Miss Universe 1967.

Morrison was the fourth woman from Illinois to win the Miss USA title (a record at the time), and went on to place as a semi-finalist at Miss Universe 1974. Coincidentally, first runner up at Miss USA 1973 was Miss New York. It happened again at Miss USA 1974 when Miss New York (Miss USA 1973 & Miss USA 1974 held in New York) was first runner up with both winner from Illinois.

Final Results	Contestant
Miss USA 1974	Illinois – Karen Jean Morrison
1st Runner-Up	New York – Barbara Cooper
2nd Runner-Up	Wisconsin – Mary Cook
3rd Runner-Up	California – Gayle Gorrell
4th Runner-Up	North Carolina – Marcia Burton
Top 12	Arizona – Carlys Peterson District of Columbia – Robin Utterback Florida – Cynthia Zach Louisiana – Karen Hoff Missouri – Dorothy McAlveen Nevada – Linda Dryden South Dakota – Debra Ann Brickley

Award	Contestant
Miss Amity (Congeniality)	Vermont – Donna Thornton
Miss Photogenic	New York – Barbara Cooper
Best State Costume	Kentucky - Charlesy Gulick

• Miss USA official website