Miss Universe 1956 Carol Morris - As A Guess In 'What's My Line' Show

The fifth edition of the Miss Universe pageant was held on 20 July 1956, at Long Beach Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, California, USA. They had 30 young ladies in the competition. Miss USA, 20-year-old Carol Morris, won the competition. She became the second American to win the Miss Universe competition.

Carol Ann Laverne Morris (born 1936), Miss Iowa USA, was the second Miss USA to win the Miss Universe title in the pageant's fifth edition in 1956.

Morris was born in Omaha, Nebraska the only child of a minister. The family first moved to Scott City, Kansas where she attended elementary school. After moving to Ottumwa, Iowa Miss Morris attended Ottumwa High School where she graduated 4th in her class of 300. Morris was a champion swimmer and worked as a lifeguard, sang in the church choir and played the violin. It is reported she dated Kenny Freeman in High School.[citation needed]

Morris developed into a 5-foot 7-inch young lady, with blue eyes and dark brown almost black hair, 131 pounds and 36-25-36-inch figure. The first beauty pagent she entered and won was the Miss Ottumwa contest. Morris was in high school and was sponsored by the South Ottumwa Boosters club. While attending Drake University she entered and won the Miss Iowa beauty contest. Morris then represented Iowa in the Miss America contest in 1954. In the talent portion of that competition she played the song Stardust on her violin.

Morris won the 1956 Miss USA contest that had 43 contestants and was held in Long Beach, California. She then competed and won against 71 contestants in the Miss Universe beauty pageant, also held in Long Beach. While reigning as Miss Universe Morris met Presidents Harry Truman and Herbert Hoover, and entertained U.S. troops with Bob Hope. She was also able to return home to the biggest celebration ever held in Ottumwa. A parade was organized in her honor, including Iowa's Governor Leo Hoegh and the 4 foot high Miss Universe trophy.

After completing her reign as Miss Universe she began an acting career. One of the awards for winning the Miss Universe title was a one year movie contract. Her first film was Crazy Love with co-star Jeff Chandler. She acted in many films and TV appearances. Morris last role was in Paradise Alley produced in 1962, not to be confused with the more famous 1978 film with the same name.

Morris married in June 1959, at age 23 she wed 45 year old Ed "Buzz" Burke a wealthy Texas oilman from Houston Texas. In April of 1960 it was reported that the couple had a baby boy. As of 2010 she is still living in Texas with her husband.

As of the year 2010, she was the only Miss Iowa USA to win the Miss USA crown. She is still active in the Miss Iowa USA pageant.

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Entertainment

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[preyn1980]

Proud to be from the same town she was, only because of her.