Miriam Stevenson biography: 13 things about Miss Universe 1954

Who is Miriam Stevenson?

Miriam Jacqueline Stevenson Breckenridge is an American beauty queen from Columbia, South Carolina, United States. She has two brothers Leonard O’Rion “L.O.” Stevenson Jr. and Donald Vernon Stevenson and one sister Emma Louise Stevenson Fellers, who married Levi Quincy Fellers.

On May 16, 2009, L.O. passed away at age 85 and on December 22, 2016, Donald passed away at age 90. On May 1, 2022, Emma passed away at age 102.

Breckenridge is an alumna of Lander College in Greenwood, South Carolina, which became Lander University in 1992. Here are 13 more things about her:

1. She is the third Miss Universe and the first from the United States to hold the title.
2. She was born in Winnsboro, South Carolina to Leonard O’Rion Stevenson Sr. and Lula Chappell Stevenson.
3. She and her siblings grew up on a dairy farm in Winnsboro.
4. Brought up a staunch Presbyterian, she believes thoroughly in predestination.
5. Donald Niles Upton Sr. and Duncan Featherston Breckenridge Jr. were her first and second husbands, respectively.
6. She is 5’6″ tall.
7. From 1951 to 1955, she attended Lander College.
8. She was a Miss America 1954 finalist.
9. When she was crowned Miss Universe 1954, she was a senior Lander College student.
10. As Miss Universe 1954, she won a movie contract for $250 a week.
11. Instead of pursuing an acting career after her reign as Miss Universe 1954, she decided to go back to Lander College.
12. After graduating from Lander College in 1955, she worked for television shows in South Carolina as a host.
13. On July 4, 2025, she will turn 92.

Miss America

Miss Greenwood 1953 and Miss South Carolina 1953 were among the first beauty pageant titles Miriam held. The titles led her to Miss America.

On September 12, 1953, Miriam represented South Carolina at Miss America 1954 and competed against 51 other candidates in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA. She finished in the Top 10.

Miss USA

On July 24, 1954, Miriam represented South Carolina at Miss USA 1954 and competed against 43 other candidates in Long Beach, California, USA. She won the title.

On July 20, 1955, Miriam crowned her successor Miss USA 1955 Carlene King Johnson of Vermont in Long Beach. On June 19, 2011, Miriam appeared in the Miss USA 2011 coronation ceremony in Paradise, Nevada, USA, which was also attended by Miss USA 1965 Sue Downey and Miss USA 1964 Bobbi Johnson.

Miss Universe

Right after winning Miss USA 1942 on July 24, 1954, Miriam represented the U.S. at Miss Universe 1954 in Long Beach where she competed against 32 other candidates including Martha Rocha of Brazil. She and Rocha received a tied final score.

However, Miriam was deemed to have the better physique so she was crowned the winner. One of her prizes was a car, which she gave to Rocha.

On July 22, 1955, Miriam crowned her successor Miss Universe 1955 Hillevi Rombin of Sweden in Long Beach. Later that year, they were both featured in John Sherwood‘s short documentary film “Queens of Beauty”.

Donald Upton Sr.

On September 9, 1956, Miriam and Upton got married. They have two children together.

In 1959, Miriam gave birth to Donald Niles Upton Jr. On December 5, 1962, she gave birth to Miriam Eileen “Mimi” Upton, who became Steven Fulmer‘s wife.

Duncan Breckenridge Jr.

Duncan and his first wife Mary Lewis Blackwell Breckenridge have three children together namely Sarah Breckenridge Bitting, Helen L. Breckenridge and Dr. Duncan F. Breckenridge III. Mary died in March 1980. 

In 1981, Duncan married Miriam. On November 16, 2019, he passed away at age 88.