Miss USA 1972

Miss USA 1972 was the 21st Miss USA pageant, held at Cerromar Beach Hotel in Dorado, Puerto Rico, on May 20, 1972. Tanya Wilson of Hawaii was crowned by outgoing titleholder Michele McDonald of Pennsylvania. This was the second time Hawaii has won the pageant.

Bob Barker (who later that year would begin a 35-year run as host of The Price Is Right on CBS) and singer Helen O'Connell hosted the pageant and the Everly Brothers were the guest entertainers.

Prior to the final competition contestants participated in a number of public appearances, including an official parade held in Ponce and a televised ceremony with Governor Luis Ferre.

This was the first time the pageant was held outside the continental United States. The event was marred by two bomb blasts at the hotel during the pageant, thought to have been caused by anti-American activists. There was severe property damage but no injuries were reported. Earlier that day the venue had been picketed by the Puerto Rican Socialist Party.

Judges
A panel of ten celebrities was chosen to judge the competition.
 * Ed Sullivan - entertainer
 * Walt Frazier - New York Knicks basketball player
 * Jacqueline Susann - author
 * Halston - designer
 * Cindy Adams - broadcaster and columnist
 * Dong Kingman - artist
 * Rita Moreno - Puerto Rican actress
 * Bob Lardine - feature writer for New York Sunday News
 * Chuck Connors - actor
 * William Knight - Senior Vice-President for Avis Rent a Car System