{{Short description|none}} {{pp-sock|small=yes}} {{Beauty pageant | winner = '''Marite Ozers<br>{{flagicon|Illinois|1915}} Illinois''' | image = Marite Ozers, Miss USA 1963.jpg | caption = Marite Ozers as Miss USA 1963 | date = July 17, 1963 | presenters = | venue = Miami Beach, Florida | broadcaster = CBS, WTVJ | congeniality = | withdraws = {{Hlist|Idaho|Minnesota|Montana|North Dakota|South Dakota|Virginia|Washington|Wyoming}} | photogenic = | placements = 15 | entrants = 43 | before = 1962 | next = 1964 }} '''Miss USA 1963''' was the 12th Miss USA pageant, held at the Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida on July 17, 1963. This was the first Miss USA to be broadcast on television, first aired on CBS.
At the end of the event, Macel Wilson of Hawaii crowned Marite Ozers of Illinois as Miss USA 1963.<ref name="Tri-City Herald">{{cite news |title=Miss Illinois Wins Miss U.S.A. Title |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/819719558/ |access-date=23 July 2023 |work=Tri-City Herald |agency=Associated Press |date=July 18, 1963}}</ref> Latvian-born Ozers was the first woman born outside the United States to win the title, and the second delegate from Illinois to do so. Ozers later competed at Miss Universe and was named one of the fifteen semi-finalists.<ref name="Messenger">{{cite news |date=21 Jul 1963 |title=Miss Brazil Is Miss Universe Contest Winner |language=en |page=1 |work=The Troy Messenger |agency=United Press International |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/554427239/ |access-date=5 September 2023}}</ref>
Contestants from forty-two states and the District of Columbia competed in the pageant.
== Results ==
=== Placements === {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;" !Placement !Contestant |- |'''Miss USA 1963''' | *'''Illinois''' – '''Marite Ozers<ref name="Tri-City Herald" />''' |- |1st runner-up | *District of Columbia – Michele Metrinko<ref name="Tri-City Herald" /> |- |2nd runner-up | *Missouri – Sandra Marlin<ref name="Tri-City Herald" /> |- |3rd runner-up | *Colorado – Rhea Looney<ref name="Tri-City Herald" /> |- |4th runner-up | *California - Francine Herack |- |Top 15 | *Alabama – Dinah Armstrong<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=18 July 1963 |title=Miss U.S.A. and 14 runners-up |pages=20 |work=Iowa City Press-Citizen |location=Iowa City, Iowa |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/iowa-city-press-citizen-1963-miss-usa-cl/121399153/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> *Arizona – Diane McGarry<ref name=":0" /> *Massachusetts – Sandra Smith<ref name=":0" /> *Michigan – Pamela Sands<ref name=":0" /> *Nevada – Kathee Francis<ref name=":0" /> *New Mexico – Sandra Fullingim<ref name=":0" /> *New York – Jeanne Quinn<ref name=":0" /> *Oklahoma – Roberta Mosier<ref name=":0" /> *South Carolina – Cecelia Yoder<ref name=":0" /> *Tennessee – Bobbie Morrow<ref name=":0" /> |}
== Contestants == Forty-three contestants competed for the title. {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;" |- ! width=120|State/District ! width=150|Contestant ! Age{{efn|Ages at the time of the pageant}} ! width=150|Hometown ! Notes |- |Alabama |Dinah Irene Armstrong |19 |Montgomery | |- |Alaska |Nina Whaley |19 |Fairbanks | |- |Arizona |Diane McGarry<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 July 1963 |title=Arizona's entry |pages=9 |work=Arizona Daily Star |location=Tucson, Arizona |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star/134342507/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |20 |Phoenix | |- |Arkansas |Cheryl Jane Bechtelheimer |19 |Camden | |- |California |Francine Cheryl Herack<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 June 1963 |title=Hollywood beauty takes state title |pages=2 |work=Los Angeles Evening Citizen News |location=Hollywood, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-angeles-evening-citizen-news/134318909/ |access-date=30 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |19 |Hollywood | |- |Colorado |Rhea Looney<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 July 1963 |title=Colorado's champion |pages=1 |work=The Memphis Press-Scimitar |location=Memphis, Tennessee |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-memphis-press-scimitar/134343866/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |19 |Denver | |- |Connecticut |Gail Dinan |19 |Hartford | |- |Delaware |Susan Kowalski<ref>{{Cite news |last=Burroughs |first=Betty |date=6 July 1963 |title=Pert pianist hits high beauty note |pages=13 |work=The Morning News |location=Wilmington, Delaware |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-news/134341390/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |18 |Newport | |- |District of Columbia |Michele Bettina Metrinko<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Winfrey |first=Lee |date=15 July 1963 |title=Manna from heavenly beauties |pages=29 |work=The Miami Herald |location=Miami, Florida |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/134343443/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |18 |Washington, D.C. |Later Miss USA World 1963<ref>{{Cite news|date=3 September 1963|title=Miss USA Pageant competition looms|language=en|pages=1|work=Beckley Post-Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113087946/beckley-post-herald/|access-date=31 October 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><br>Semi-finalist at Miss World 1963<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|date=7 November 1963|title=Carole J. Crawford fue electa nueva "Señorita Mundo"|language=es|trans-title=Carole J. Crawford was elected the new "Miss World"|pages=7|work=La Opinion|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Q3FEAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XbIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1314%2C4990641|access-date=31 October 2023|via=Google News Archive}}</ref><br>Sister of Marsha Metrinko, Miss Maryland USA 1963<br>Candidate for the Republican nomination in the 2010 U.S. House of Representatives election in Delaware for Delaware's at-large congressional district |- |Florida |Linda Egland<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lloyd |first=Harry |date=7 July 1963 |title=Conquers Florida, aims for Universe |pages=40 |work=The Miami Herald |location=Miami, Florida |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/134341604/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |18 |South Miami | |- |Georgia |Brenda Seagraves |19 |Winterville | |- |Hawaii |Susan Molina |18 |Honolulu |Later Miss Hawaii World 1963<br>Semi-finalist at Miss USA World 1963 |- |'''Illinois''' |'''Marite Ozers'''<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 June 1963 |title=Miss Illinois named in contest at Dolton |pages=1 |work=The Times |location=Munster, Indiana |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times/134318411/ |access-date=30 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |19 |Chicago |Previously Miss Chicago World 1962<br>Semi-finalist at Miss Universe 1963<ref name="Messenger" /> |- |Indiana |Vickie Little |20 |Indianapolis | |- |Iowa |Ramona Kathleen Meylor<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 June 1963 |title=Dr. Meylor reigns today as 'Miss Iowa' |pages=1 |work=Estherville Daily News |location=Estherville, Iowa |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/estherville-daily-news/134319102/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |23 |Le Mars | |- |Kansas |Diane Victoria Stalker<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zook |first=Carol |date=29 June 1963 |title=Kansas queens turn two faces east |pages=11 |work=The Wichita Eagle |location=Wichita, Kansas |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle/134340460/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |21 |Wichita | |- |Kentucky |Mary Ann Arnold<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 June 1963 |title=Calvert City girl is Miss Kentucky winner |pages=6 |work=The Paducah Sun |location=Paducah, Kentucky |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-paducah-sun-mary-ann-arnold-1963/25612225/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |20 |Calvert City | |- |Louisiana |Margaret Susan "Peggy" Romero<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 June 1963 |title=Miss Louisiana |pages=1 |work=The Daily Advertiser |location=Lafayette, Louisiana |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-advertiser/134340184/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |18 |Kaplan | |- |Maine |Laurel Ann Barker |21 |Portland | |- |Maryland |Marsha Barbara Metrinko<ref name=":1" /> |21 |Laurel |Later Miss New York City at Miss America 1964<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 August 1963 |title=The fairest of New York City |pages=12 |work=The Buffalo News |location=Buffalo, New York |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news/134344362/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><br>Sister of Michele Metrinko, Miss District of Columbia USA 1963 |- |Massachusetts |Sandra Smith<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=8 July 1963 |title=15 beauties reach Miss U.S.A. finals |pages=1–2 |work=The Miami Herald |location=Miami, Florida |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/134344064/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |23 |Newton Upper Falls | |- |Michigan |Pamela Lee Sands<ref>{{Cite news |last=Winfrey |first=Lee |date=14 July 1963 |title=Three queens lose duel with the Sun |pages=36 |work=The Miami Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/134343150/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |19 |Ludington | |- |Mississippi |Joan Kinnebrew |19 |Hattiesburg |Competed at Miss Dixie 1964 |- |Missouri |Sandra Lee Marlin<ref name=":2" /> |19 |Springfield | |- |Nebraska |Sandy Zimmer |– |Kearney |Replaced Cheryl Warden due to publicity issues<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 June 1963 |title=Beauty queen steps down, blaming 'challenge' fuss |pages=1 |work=Evening World-Herald |location=Omaha, Nebraska |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-world-herald-1963/119938792/ |access-date=30 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |- |Nevada |Kathee Francis<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 June 1963 |title=Nevada beauty |pages=12 |work=The Fresno Bee |location=Fresno, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee/134318683/ |access-date=30 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |20 |Las Vegas | |- |New Hampshire |Johnnye McLeod |18 |Hampton | |- |New Jersey |Judy Kay Ayers |– |Salem | |- |New Mexico |Sandra Fullingim<ref name=":2" /> |18 |Albuquerque | |- |New York |Jeanne Marie Quinn<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 June 1963 |title=Stately beauty |pages=109 |work=Daily News |location=New York, New York |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/134318875/ |access-date=30 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |19 |East Meadow | Later Miss USA World 1964<ref>{{Cite news|date=7 September 1964|title=Arms and the man|language=en|pages=5|work=The Progress-Index|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-progress-index-19647septtheprogre/281563/|access-date=31 October 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><br>Semi-finalist at Miss World 1964<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 November 1964 |title=British gal Miss World |pages=15 |work=The Telegraph-Herald |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xPxQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uLwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5429%2C1931680 |access-date=31 October 2023 |via=Google News Archive}}</ref><br>Named 1st runner up at Miss American Beauty 1964<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 June 1965 |title=Japan bound |pages=5 |work=Reading Eagle |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RA5XAAAAIBAJ&sjid=I0MNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5896%2C51238 |access-date=31 October 2023 |via=Google News Archive}}</ref> |- |North Carolina |Trudy Ann Cauthen |– |Newton | |- |Ohio |Gloria Jean McBride<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 July 1963 |title=She quit job to seek title |pages=37 |work=The Miami Herald |location=Miami, Florida |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/134342838/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |21 |Columbus |Replaced Andrea Getzlaff for being underage<ref>{{cite news |date=6 June 1963 |title=Andrea Getzlaff |publisher=The Akron Beacon Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-akron-beacon-journal/5496248/ |access-date=20 May 2023}}</ref> |- |Oklahoma |Roberta Ann Mosier<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 July 1963 |title=Tulsa girl wins state beauty title |pages=32 |work=The Daily Oklahoman |location=Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman/134341237/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |19 |Tulsa | |- |Oregon |Joset Fisher |20 |Portland | |- |Pennsylvania |Deborah Cardonick<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=15 July 1963 |title=Toe their mark |url=https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=wdr19630715-01.1.1 |access-date=30 September 2025 |work=Wellsville Daily Reporter |pages=1 |via=NYS Historic Newspapers}}</ref> |19 |Philadelphia | |- |Rhode Island |Rosemary Jane Dickinson |19 |Providence | |- |South Carolina |Cecelia Yoder<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 June 1963 |title=New queen |pages=14 |work=The Greenville News |location=Greenville, South Carolina |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenville-news/134318734/ |access-date=30 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |20 |Lancaster |Competed at Miss USA World 1963 |- |Tennessee |Bobbie Lynn Morrow<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 July 1963 |title=Tennessee's title chance |pages=1 |work=The Memphis Press-Scimitar |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-memphis-press-scimitar/134343767/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |26 |Memphis | |- |Texas |Cheryl Rene Wilburn<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 June 1963 |title=Anything for a picture |pages=1 |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |location=Fort Worth, Texas |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-1963-texas-clip/127586797/ |access-date=30 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |18 |Houston | |- |Utah |Carla Ann Dinius<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 July 1963 |title=Cottonwood girl seeks beauty title |pages=1 |work=The Neighbor |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-neighbor/134340797/ |access-date=31 October 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> |22 |Salt Lake City | |- |Vermont |Ellen Centerbar |– |North Bennington | |- |West Virginia |Nina Lou Denton<ref name=":4" /> |– |Marmet | |- |Wisconsin |Lynn Korchunoff |18 |Milwaukee | |}
== Notes == <references group="lower-alpha" responsive="1"></references>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.missusa.com|Miss USA official website}}
{{Miss USA}} 1963 Category:1963 in the United States Category:1963 beauty pageants