Jackie Loughery

The Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to
select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The
Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss
Teen USA.

The Miss USA pageant was formed in 1950 when Yolande Betbeze,
winner of the rival Miss America pageant, refused to pose for publicity
pictures while wearing a swimsuit. Pageant sponsor Catalina decided
to pull their sponsorship of the event and created their own.

The first Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants were held concurrently
in Long Beach, California in 1952.The first Miss USA winner was Miss
New York USA Jackie Loughery.There were thirty delegates in the first
year of competition, and many states did not compete every year during
the first two decades of the pageant’s history.

The pageant aired on CBS television from 1963 until 2002. John Charles
Daly hosted the show from 1963–1966, and Bob Barker from 1967 until
1987, when he quit over a dispute involving fur coats. 

John Charles Daly