Michele McDonald
Encyclopedia
Michele McDonald is a pageant titleholder from Butler
, Pennsylvania
who held the Miss USA
1971 title.
Encouraged to enter the competition by her mother, McDonald won Miss Pennsylvania USA
title in early May 1971. Later that month she then represented her state in the Miss USA
pageant, held in Miami Beach, Florida
. McDonald won the nationally televised pageant, becoming the first woman from Pennsylvania to win the title. The day after winning the pageant she and her parents visited President Richard Nixon
and his wife Pat Nixon
at their summer home at Key Biscayne
.
After losing 10 pounds in a crash diet encouraged by Miss Universe officials, McDonald represented the United States
in the Miss Universe 1971
pageant broadcast in July, also held in Miami. A chaperone said that the McDonald was close to exhaustion as a result of the diet and a doctor complained about the method. She advanced to the top fifteen in the pageant, which was won by Georgina Rizk
of Lebanon
.
At eighteen and a senior at Knoch High School
, McDonald was the first high school student to win the pageant and the youngest winner in almost ten years. She missed her senior prom while competing in Miss USA and returned to Butler the weekend after winning the title to participate in her high school graduation, arriving from the airport in a motorcade and being greeted by thousands of people and dignitaries from her home town.
Prior to competing at Miss USA McDonald had never travelled out of Pennsylvania or flown in an airplane. During her reign she visited thirty states, and international locations such as Brazil
and the Bahamas. She won $5000 in cash, a $5000 mink coat and $5000 in appearance fees as part of her prize package.
After passing on her title McDonald planned to attend nursing school. McDonald's high school boyfriend proposed to her in the last months of her reign.
Butler, Pennsylvania
The city of Butler is the county seat of Butler County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, situated north of Pittsburgh. The population was 15,121 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
who held the Miss USA
Miss USA
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...
1971 title.
Encouraged to enter the competition by her mother, McDonald won Miss Pennsylvania USA
Miss Pennsylvania USA
The Miss Pennsylvania USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Pennsylvania in the Miss USA pageant.Michele McDonald is Pennsylvania's only Miss USA so far. At only eighteen, she was one of the youngest competitors ever to win the crown...
title in early May 1971. Later that month she then represented her state in the Miss USA
Miss USA
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...
pageant, held in Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
. McDonald won the nationally televised pageant, becoming the first woman from Pennsylvania to win the title. The day after winning the pageant she and her parents visited President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
and his wife Pat Nixon
Pat Nixon
Thelma Catherine "Pat" Ryan Nixon was the wife of Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States, and was First Lady of the United States from 1969 to 1974. She was commonly known as Patricia or Pat Nixon.Born in Nevada, Pat Ryan grew up in Los Angeles, California...
at their summer home at Key Biscayne
Key Biscayne
Key Biscayne is an island located in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay. It is the southernmost of the barrier islands along the Atlantic coast of Florida, and lies south of Miami Beach and southeast of Miami...
.
After losing 10 pounds in a crash diet encouraged by Miss Universe officials, McDonald represented the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the Miss Universe 1971
Miss Universe 1971
Miss Universe 1971, the 20th Miss Universe pageant, was won by Georgina Rizk of Lebanon. It took place on July 24, 1971 at the Miami Beach Auditorium in Miami Beach, Florida, United States.-Placements:-Special awards:-Contestants:...
pageant broadcast in July, also held in Miami. A chaperone said that the McDonald was close to exhaustion as a result of the diet and a doctor complained about the method. She advanced to the top fifteen in the pageant, which was won by Georgina Rizk
Georgina Rizk
Georgina Rizk was Lebanon's first and so far only Miss Universe.Rizk was born in Beirut to a Christian household. She was crowned in the Miss Universe pageant in 1971 in Miami Beach, Florida, USA. She was the first woman from the Middle East and the fourth woman from Asia to win the title...
of Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
.
At eighteen and a senior at Knoch High School
Knoch High School
Knoch High School is located in the South Butler County School District in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania. Athletic teams are known as the Knoch Knights. The Knoch Football team is a co champion of the Greater Allegheny Conference in 2007. The principal is Mr. Frank Moxie. The athletics play in AAA...
, McDonald was the first high school student to win the pageant and the youngest winner in almost ten years. She missed her senior prom while competing in Miss USA and returned to Butler the weekend after winning the title to participate in her high school graduation, arriving from the airport in a motorcade and being greeted by thousands of people and dignitaries from her home town.
Prior to competing at Miss USA McDonald had never travelled out of Pennsylvania or flown in an airplane. During her reign she visited thirty states, and international locations such as Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and the Bahamas. She won $5000 in cash, a $5000 mink coat and $5000 in appearance fees as part of her prize package.
After passing on her title McDonald planned to attend nursing school. McDonald's high school boyfriend proposed to her in the last months of her reign.