Miss Virginia USA Stevenson, became Miss Universe 1954. However, there was no rule until the 1960s that the 1st runner-up became Miss USA after the winner won Miss Universe. If that was true, 2nd runner-up, Miss New York USA, Karin Hultman would have become Miss USA 1954, as Ellen was disqualified due to being underage. Nine Miss Virginia USA winners have previously held the Miss Virginia Teen USA title and competed at Miss Teen USA. Virginia currently holds the record for the most Miss Teen USA state winners to win a Miss USA state title from the same state; it is second to
Mary Therese Friel Mary Therese Friel Mary Therese Friel (born February 10, 1959) is a beauty queen and business woman from New York who has held the title Miss USA 1979. Friel, who grew up in Pittsford, New York won the titles Miss New York USA and Miss USA. She was later a model, and opened her own modelling agency in 1987. She currently trains and represents a large number of models, as well as training beauty pageant participants. Friel, a student at St. John Fisher, first won the Miss New York USA title in 1978 and went on to represent her state