Miss America 1948

Miss America 1948, the 22nd Miss America pageant, was held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 11, 1948.[1]

Miss America 1948
DateSeptember 11, 1948
PresentersBob Russell
VenueBoardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Entrants55
Placements15
WinnerBeBe Shopp
Minnesota Minnesota

The winner, BeBe Shopp, was the first Miss Minnesota to take the crown. Shopp performed a song on a Vibraharp during the talent competition. Later in life, she became an Episcopalian minister.

Third runner-up, Miss Kansas, Vera J. Ralston, and another finalist, representing Chicago, Lois Nettleton, went on to become a successful Hollywood actress.

Results
Final results Contestant
Miss America 1948
1st runner-up
2nd runner-up
3rd runner-up
4th runner-up
Top 15

Preliminary awards
Awards Contestant
Lifestyle and Fitness
Talent

Other awards
Awards Contestant
Miss Congeniality

Contestants
Title Name Hometown Age Talent Placement Awards Notes
Alabama Alabama Martha Ann Ingram Tarrant Classical Vocal, "Quando me'm vo'" 2nd Runner-up
Arizona Arizona Donna McElroy Phoenix Dramatic Monologue
Arkansas Arkansas Van Louis McDaniel Forrest City Monologue, "Spartan Parents"
Atlanta Atlanta Jerry Long Atlanta Tap Dance, "Cherokee" Top 15
Birmingham Marjorie Orr Birmingham
Boston Boston Barbara McGrath Boston
California California Reba Watterson Stockton
Canada Canada Betty Jean Ferguson Halifax
Chicago Chicago Lois Nettleton Chicago Dramatic Monologue from Saint Joan Top 15
Colorado Colorado Virginia Smith Pueblo
Connecticut Connecticut Fairfax Mason Bridgeport Classical Vocal, "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix"
Delaware Delaware Lorna Edwardson Dover Classical Vocal, "Un Bel Di" from Madama Butterfly
Detroit Doris Evelyn Johnson Detroit Vocal, "Worry, Worry, Worry" Top 15
Washington, D.C. District of Columbia Joann Miller 23 Vocal, "An Old, Old Castle in Scotland"
Florida Florida Rosemary Carpenter Miami Beach Classical Piano & Accordion, "Fantaisie-Impromptu" & "Two Guitars" Top 15
Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia Gwendolyn West Statesboro
Greater Philadelphia Betty Jane Bruce Philadelphia Vocal, "Fool That I Am" & "Mean to Me"
Hawaii Hawaii Yun Tau Zane Honolulu Hula Miss Congeniality First Asian-American to compete at Miss America
Illinois Illinois Viola Ruth Hutmacher Quincy Classical Vocal, "Italian Street Song"
Indiana Indiana Patti Grubbs Gary Vocal, "When You Are Away"
Kansas Kansas Vera June Ralston Wichita 18 Oratory 3rd Runner-up Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award Better known as actress Vera Miles
Kentucky Kentucky Mildred Joanne Hollinger Louisville
Maine Maine Muriel Applebee Enfield
Maryland Maryland Juanita Melrose Lookabaugh Cumberland Hawaiian Hula Dance & Dress Design
Massachusetts Massachusetts Barbara Laughton Reading Vocal, "The Moon Belongs to Everybody" Top 15
Memphis Lois Jeanette Welch Memphis Vocal & Fashion Design, "Gianni Mia" Top 15
Michigan Michigan Linda Carroll Grand Rapids Impersonations of famous people
Minnesota Minnesota BeBe Shopp Hopkins 18 Vibraharp, "Caprice Viennois" by Fritz Kreisler Winner Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award
Mississippi Mississippi Virginia Hollingsworth Kosciusko
Missouri Missouri Dorothy Smith Kansas City
Montana Montana Patti Luer Anaconda Vocal/Dance, "Gypsy Song" Top 15 Preliminary Talent Award
Nebraska Nebraska Betty Love Booth Fremont
New Hampshire New Hampshire Betty Taylor Rochester Dramatic Monologue
New Jersey New Jersey Barbara Anderson Bloomfield
New Mexico New Mexico Betha Young Cuba 22 Art Sculpture
New York (state) New York M. Yvonne Fix Niagara Falls Classical Vocal, "Un Bel Di" from Madama Butterfly
New York City New York City Connie Inge Ronde New York City Dramatic Reading, "State of the Union" Top 15
North Carolina North Carolina Patsy Osborne Lawndale Vocal & Piano
Ohio Ohio Maxine Waack Fairview Rumba Dance
Oklahoma Oklahoma Donna Briggs Tulsa Painting Display 4th Runner-up
Omaha Serena McKinney Omaha
Oregon Oregon Joyce Davis Bend Classical Vocal, "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix" Top 15
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Ruth Douglas Harrisburg Vocal Medley, "Let my Song Fill Your Heart" & "Lover"
Pittsburgh Sarah Cromwell Pittsburgh
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Irma Nydia Vázquez
South Carolina South Carolina Esther Greene Greenville
South Dakota South Dakota Myrna Clemenson Conde
Tennessee Tennessee Dorothy Free Chattanooga Vocal Medley, "Let my Song Fill Your Heart" & "Embraceable You"
Texas Texas Bonnie Jean Bland Orange Vocal/Art Display, "Put the Blame on Mame"
Utah Utah Marilyn Robinson Ogden Dramatic Monologue, "Tommy, Tommy, Tommy" Top 15 Preliminary Talent Award
Vermont Vermont Jean Peatman Montpelier
Virginia Virginia Bobby Joe Wilson Hillsville
Washington (state) Washington Lorraine Lowder Aberdeen Hula Dance
West Virginia West Virginia Jane Queen Huntington Vocal & Piano
Wisconsin Wisconsin Marvene Fischer Milwaukee 19
Wyoming Wyoming Carol Held Douglas Piano, Hungarian Opus 9 by Edward MacDowell 1st Runner-up

References
  1. Associated Press (1948-09-12). "Scholarship and Auto Prizes Go to New Miss America". Milwaukee Journal. p. 24.

Secondary sources
  • Saulino Osborne, Angela (1995). "Miss Americas and their Courts". Miss America The Dream Lives On. Taylor Publishing Company. ISBN 0-87833-110-7.
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