Miriam Stevenson

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Miriam Jacqueline Stevenson, of Winnsboro, South Carolina, won the Miss USA pageant as Miss South Carolina USA in 1954. She was the first Miss USA to hold the Miss Universe beauty crown.

Her win over Brazil's Martha Rocha was memorable for there was a tie between the two women for the crown. As Catalina was the major sponsor of the pageant in its early years, the tie-breaking judgment finally came down to who has the better body, which went to Miriam's favor, for she had the "fitter" hips over Martha Rocha.

Martha Rocha got the car that Stevenson won in her Miss USA prize package as a consolatory prize.

Stevenson was also Miss South Carolina 1953 as her state's delegate to the Miss America pageant.

Preceded by Myrna Hansen	Miss USA 1954	Succeeded by Carlene King Johnson
Preceded by Christiane Martel	Miss Universe 1954	Succeeded by Hillevi Rombin