I agree with most of your choices, but no one was beating Cothran that year ( and I had a family member competing) First off, she was drop dead gorgeous in person and had a swimsuit body that would not quit. Gown was gorgeous, talent was minimal but all she would have had to do was recite her ABC's. But most importantly, she had B. Don' Magness and that whole Texas powerhouse organization behind her. This was back when Texas was at it's most powerful. -- Pageant Guru Message Board

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Subject: I agree with most of your choices, but no one was beating Cothran that year ( and I had a family member competing) First off, she was drop dead gorgeous in person and had a swimsuit body that would not quit. Gown was gorgeous, talent was minimal but all she would have had to do was recite her ABC's. But most importantly, she had B. Don' Magness and that whole Texas powerhouse organization behind her. This was back when Texas was at it's most powerful.

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Date Posted: 15:25:23 01/29/26 Thu
Author Host/IP: 113.sub-174-216-10.myvzw.com/174.216.10.113
In reply to: 's message, "Forgot to add Shirley Cothran." on 15:04:58 01/29/26 Thu

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I think that, at 21, she already had a master's degree and used this scholarship towards her Ph.D. Many fans loved her talent performance. (NT) No name
(NoHost/163.116.145.66) 16:36:56 01/29/26 Thu

It was entertaining, but that year was overloaded on major talent. Shirley's was probably in the top 3rd of contestants, but not one of the Top 10 best, in my opinion. But like I said, she had the " Miss America" look and no one questioned her win.I met her at a local a few months later, and she put the stun in stunning. However, I don't know what they did to her at her farewell. They turned her into a grandmother. (NT) -- No name, 16:43:08 01/29/26 Thu (113.sub-174-216-10.myvzw.com/174.216.10.113)

Yes, they did. (NT) -- No name, 18:28:39 01/29/26 Thu (c-73-206-250-152.hsd1.tx.comcast.net/73.206.250.152)
Shirley came to our local (that was back in the day when locals could actually afford Miss America's booking fee) and I remember getting her autograph. She was gorgeous and so gracious. I felt that she was definitely deserving of the title, especially after the previous year when Rebecca King's win was a major surprise. (NT) -- No name, 23:15:00 02/26/26 Thu (184-97-16-1.lcrs.centurylink.net/184.97.16.1)

As I said above, I also saw her at a local. I was pretty young and it was onstage after the pageant. I wasn't watching where I was going and turned around and ran slam into her. She was wearing the gown she was crowned in. I was mortified that I had just bulldozed Miss America. I was stammering around going " I'm so sorry...." she just smiled the biggest smile and said "That's ok" and kept moving. She was unreal beautiful. In my opinion, one of the 2-3 most facially. beautiful winners ever (NT) -- No name, 14:27:37 02/28/26 Sat (77.sub-174-216-3.myvzw.com/174.216.3.77)

I would have much preferred Darlene Compton, Miss Kentucky being chosen Miss America. Darlene sang Mira from Carnival. She was amazingly beautiful, and won Preliminary Talent. (NT) No name
(NoHost/172.56.84.144) 17:05:41 01/29/26 Thu

I remember that talent. Beautiful voice. That same song had won talent for Allyn Warner (ME) a few years before. (NT) -- No name, 19:54:04 01/29/26 Thu (113.sub-174-216-10.myvzw.com/174.216.10.113)

I'm pretty by the book (hence the name hah) when scoring, so that year my choice was definitely California's Lucianne Buchanan because her talent made her a better all-around choice, but at the same time, I'm not surprised to hear this about Shirley. When I think of Miss Americas who chose a gown so perfect for them that the effect was magical, I think of 3 - Kimberly Aiken, Debra Maffett, and Shirley. Breathtaking beauty. (NT) Pageant Statistician
(99-74-180-249.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net/99.74.180.249) 06:47:58 01/30/26 Fri

I really think that worked to the detriment the next year for the 1st runner up, Susan Lawrence, Miss NC. She was another beauty, one of the prettiest faces ever at Miss America, but looked so close to Shirley from the year before, they went with Tawny instead. r (NT) -- No name, 10:57:32 01/30/26 Fri (113.sub-174-216-10.myvzw.com/174.216.10.113)

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