Miss United States 1961

Miss United States 1961, also referred to as Miss World USA 1961, was the 4th edition of the Miss United States World pageant. It was held at Carnegie Hall in New York City, New York, and was won by Jo Ann Odum of West Virginia. Odum was crowned by outgoing titleholder, Judith Ann Achter of Missouri. Odum went on to represent the United States at the Miss World 1961 Pageant in London later that year. She finished in the Top 7 at Miss World.

Delegates
The Miss United States World 1961 delegates were:


 * Flag of Atlantic City, New Jersey.gif Atlantic City, NJ - Lonnie Bell
 * California - Marlena Loren
 * Connecticut - Jayne Burghardt
 * Delaware - Alicia Silver
 * District of Columbia - Patricia "Patti" Alice Buck
 * Florida - Lynne Shirley
 * Georgia - Sandra New
 * Idaho - Marva Jean Rich
 * Kentucky - Louise King
 * Flag of Louisville, Kentucky (1934–2003).svg Louisville, KY - Martha Shipp
 * Maine - Jennifer Farrell
 * Maryland - Diane Dolores White
 * Massachusetts - Sandra "Su Su" Smith
 * Michigan - Mikki Catsman
 * Mississippi - Diane Carpenter
 * Missouri - Barbara Kohler
 * New Jersey - Ione Williams
 * New York - Janet Boring
 * New York City, NY - Marilyn Chase
 * North Carolina - Betsy Medlin
 * Ohio - Judith Kay Tewalt
 * Oregon - Sharon Wiley
 * Pennsylvania - Marcia Freedman
 * Philadelphia, PA - Mary Lee Winton
 * Rhode Island - Paula Holmes
 * South Carolina - Judy Austin
 * Spartanburg, SC - Rita Souther
 * Tennessee - Christine McSwain
 * Texas - Cheryl Stubblefield
 * Vermont - Florene Mayette
 * Virginia - Laurie Mills
 * West Virginia - Jo Ann Odum
 * Wisconsin - Judith Greco

Did not Compete

 *  Alabama
 *  Alaska
 *  Arizona
 *  Arkansas
 *  Colorado
 *  Hawaii
 *  Illinois
 *  Indiana
 *  Iowa
 *  Kansas
 *  Louisiana
 *  Minnesota
 *  Montana
 *  Nebraska
 *  Nevada
 *  New Hampshire
 *  New Mexico
 *  North Dakota
 *  Oklahoma
 *  South Dakota
 *  Utah
 *  Washington (state)
 *  Wyoming

Crossovers
Contestants who competed in other beauty pageants:


 * Miss USA
 * 1959:  Connecticut: Jayne Burghardt
 * 1959:  Maryland: Diane Dolores White (Top 15)
 * 1960:  Tennessee: Christine McSwain
 * 1961:  Vermont: Florene Mayette (Top 15; as  Connecticut)
 * 1963:  Massachusetts: Sandra "Su Su" Smith (Top 15)