Miss America 1976

Miss America 1976, the 49th Miss America pageant, was held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 6, 1975 and broadcast on NBC.

Miss America 1976
Date	September 6, 1975
Presenters	Bert Parks Phyllis George
Venue	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Broadcaster	NBC
Winner	Tawny Godin New York

The winner, Tawny Godin, representing New York, later became better known as Tawny Little, a television personality in Los Angeles who married actor John Schneider, star of the TV series The Dukes of Hazzard. She was the first woman with the title of Miss New York to take the crown, Bess Myerson having won the 1945 pageant entered as Miss New York City.

Result

Placements

Final results	Contestant
Miss America 1976	New York - Tawny Godin
1st runner-up	North Carolina - Susan Lawrence
2nd runner-up	California - Janet Carr
3rd runner-up	Ohio - Susan Banks
4th runner-up	Arizona - Stacey Petersen
Top 10	Florida - Ann Schmalzried Indiana - Cyndi Legler Massachusetts - Cynthia Mary Carpenter South Carolina - Cyndi Anthony Texas - Mary Ellen Richardson

Preliminary awards

Awards	Contestant
Lifestyle and Fitness	California - Janet Carr Arkansas - Paula Denise Roach Rhode Island - Debra Jean Cusick
Talent	Massachusetts - Cynthia Mary Carpenter Montana - Diane Lynn Pacini Ohio - Susan Banks

Other awards

Awards	Contestant
Non-finalist Talent	Delaware - Elaine Campanelli Georgia - Seva Celeste Day Kentucky - Marsha Ann Griffith Maryland - Veronica Marie Clarke Minnesota - Keri Thorne Pennsylvania - Connie Harness Wisconsin - Marilyn Sembell Wyoming - Trish Long

Judges

• Colonel Gilbert Mitchell
• Jeanne Meixell
• Frank DeFord
• Dorothy Alexander
• Joseph Campanella
• Lee Meriwether
• Don Galloway

External links

• Miss America official website