Miriam Stevenson

Miriam Jacqueline Stevenson (born July 4, 1933) is an American television host, actress, and former model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe 1954. She was the first American to win the title, and had previously been crowned Miss USA 1954. Prior to Miss USA, Stevenson was Miss South Carolina USA 1954, becoming the first woman from South Carolina to win Miss USA.[2][3] She also represented South Carolina in Miss America 1954 after winning Miss South Carolina 1953, where she placed in the top ten.

Miriam Stevenson
Born	Miriam Jacqueline Stevenson (1933-07-04) July 4, 1933 Winnsboro, South Carolina, U.S.
Education	Lander University
Height	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[1]
Title	Miss South Carolina 1953 Miss South Carolina USA 1954 Miss USA 1954 Miss Universe 1954
Spouse(s)	Donald Upton
Children	2
Beauty pageant titleholder
Hair color	Brown
Eye color	Blue
Major competition(s)	Miss America 1954 (Top 10) Miss USA 1954 (Winner) Miss Universe 1954 (Winner)

At Miss Universe, Stevenson received a tied final score with Martha Rocha of Brazil. In order to break the tie, the woman deemed to have the better physique was crowned the winner, due to a major sponsor of the pageant being Catalina Swimwear. This was determined to be Stevenson, due to having "fitter" hips than Rocha. She was crowned Miss Universe by outgoing titleholder Christiane Martel of France.[4] After winning the title, Stevenson decided to award part of her prize to Rocha, granting her the new car that she was awarded.[5] At the end of her reign, she crowned Hillevi Rombin of Sweden as Miss Universe 1955.

After acting at Universal Studios in Hollywood for one year through a film contract she won as part of her Miss Universe package, Stevenson made headlines in Variety when she announced that she would be returning home to South Carolina to finish her education at Lander University instead of continuing her work in Hollywood. In South Carolina, Stevenson found work hosting television programs for WIS, the local NBC affiliate in Columbia, South Carolina. Here she met her husband Donald Upton; they have two children together, with their son Donald Jr. being a former telecom executive and founder of the global economic development and public affairs firm Fairfield Index, Inc. Until the 1970s, Stevenson was active in the media as a model, television presenter, and actress in national commercials, and also participated as a judge at several Miss Universe competitions.

References

1. "South Carolina's Miriam Stevenson Wins "Miss Universe"; Miss Brazil Second". Spokane Daily Chronicle. 24 July 1954. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
2. "Miss South Carolina".
3. "Miriam Setevenson (USA) 1954". globalbeauties.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
4. "Judges are hep to hips". The Miami News. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
5. "Miss Universe 1954 -Miriam Stevenson". globalbeauties.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2011.

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Christiane Martel	Miss Universe 1954	Succeeded by Hillevi Rombin
Preceded by Myrna Hansen	Miss USA 1954	Succeeded by Carlene King Johnson
Preceded by Susan Day	Miss South Carolina USA 1954	Succeeded by Sara Stone
Preceded by Mary Griffin	Miss South Carolina 1953	Succeeded by Polly Suber