‘Old-fashioned’ Miss America

Press, 15 September 1976, Page 9

‘Old-fashioned’ Miss America

NZPA Atlantic City, Miss America 1977, Miss Dorothy Benham, aged 20, of Minnesota (seen above being crowned by Miss Tawny Godin, the holder of the title last year), does not believe in smoking, gambling, drugs, abortion, or premarital sex. In a year when more of the 50 Miss America contestants were outspoken and “liberated,” a panel of judges turned to the

old-fashioned girl from St Paul as the new queen. “I have been raised in a very strict and old-fashioned home,” Miss Benham said at a news conference. “I think I should represent the young women of today who do lead an honest, good life.” Her stepfather, Mr Oscar Dahle, said that he thought she symbolised what a Miss America should be. Dorothy’s tenth-grade choir direc-

tor at South-West High School, St Paul, who married her mother two years ago after her father had died, also said: “Now we are going to see what a remarkable woman she is. She is just as beautiful inside as outside. “I will tell you what kind of girl she is. In spite of her enormous talent, the 450 people in her high school class did not elect her as the most talented, but as the most respected.”

Miss Benham follows the controversial reign of Miss Godin, aged 20, a chatty, witty girl who spoke out in favour of abortion and admitted that she smoked marijuana. During her news conference the new Miss America side-stepped questions on anything she considered personal. When asked whether her political leanings were Conservative or Liberal, she replied: “Probably both.”