The Miss New York USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of New York in the Miss USA pageant. New York is one of the most successful states at Miss USA, and is ranked third in terms of number and value of placement across all years of competition.
New York’s strongest run was an unbroken string of placements from 1957 to 1966. New York also had a streak of 3 consecutive 1st runner-up placements from 1972 to 1974. Here are the beauties from New York City that marked the first years of the Miss USA pageant.
1952 – Jacqueline “Jackie” Loughery
Jackie Loughery was born on April 18, 1930 in Brooklyn, New York, USA as Jacqueline V. Loughery.
Loughery won the Miss USA title after a second ballot broke a first-place tie. Loughery, a redhead, went on to represent the USA at the first Miss Universe pageant, where she placed ninth.
Part of her prize package as Miss USA included a contract with Universal Pictures, which led to a career in movies and television. She adopted the stage name Evelyn Avery, but is more often credited with her own name (the name she used when she won the Miss USA title).
[vls_gf_album id=”3″]
Beauties from New York City:Jackie Loughery
Loughery appeared in several films, including the 1956 comedy Pardners with Martin and Lewis and the 1957 drama The D.I., with Jack Webb, whom she would marry. She was featured in 1957’s Eighteen and Anxious and top-billed in the following year’s The Hot Angel.
1953 – Rita Knapp
Rita Knapp passed away on Tuesday, November 28th 2017 at the age of 79. She is survived by her husband, James; her children, Michael Knapp, Kathleen (Kimm) Rhoades, Christopher Knapp and Patricia (Tracy) White.
[vls_gf_album id=”7″]
Beauties from New York City:Rita Knapp (in white)
1954 – Karin Hultman
Originally finished as 2nd runner-up. She later moved up to be 1st runner-up, as the original 1st runner-up, Miss Virginia USA was dethroned due to underage (she was 16). She became Miss World United States 1954 and 1st runner-up at Miss World 1954.
[vls_gf_album id=”11″]
Beauties from New York City:Karin Hultman (L)
1955 – Janet Kadlecik
Finished as 8th (semi-finalist) at Miss USA 1955.
1956 – Kay Douglas
This curvaceous beauty was 18 year old when she won the Miss New York State title. Kay Douglas was red hair beauty with blue-green eyes. Her measurements were near perfect 37-22-34.
[vls_gf_album id=”14″]
Beauties from New York City:Kay Douglas
1957 – Sanita Pelkey
Sanita Pelkey was born on November 20, 1935 in New York City as Sanita Elizabeth Pelkey. Sanita Pelkey was Miss New York, in the Miss USA (1957), the sixth Miss USA pageant. In 1957 she was a showgirl at New York’s famed Latin Quarter nightclub.
[vls_gf_album id=”17″]
Beauties from New York City:Sanita Pelkey
She was an actress, known for Missile to the Moon (1958), Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow (1959) and You Bet Your Life (1950). She was married to Rex Reason. She died on January 15, 1994 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
1958 – Virginia Fox
She finished 9th at Miss USA.
[vls_gf_album id=”22″]
Beauties from New York City:Virginia Fox
1959 – Arlene Nesbitt
She finished 4th runner-up at Miss USA.
[vls_gf_album id=”24″]
Beauties from New York City:Arlene Nesbitt (L)
Click here for other exceptional women from New York City.