13 things about Miss Universe 1954 Miriam Stevenson

Miriam Jacqueline Stevenson Breckenridge represented South Carolina, United States in the 27th edition of Miss America and the third edition of Miss USA. She represented the country in the third edition of Miss Universe.

BIOGRAPHY

Breckenridge is an American beauty queen from Columbia, South Carolina. Donald Niles Upton Sr. and Duncan Featherston Breckenridge Jr. were her first and second husbands, respectively.

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. 

Instead of pursuing an acting career, Miriam decided to go back to Lander College in Greenwood, South Carolina after her Miss Universe 1954 reign. The school became Lander University in 1992.

On July 4, 2025, Miriam turned 92. Here are 13 more things about her:

1. She was born in Winnsboro, South Carolina to Leonard O’Rion Stevenson Sr. and Lula Chappell Stevenson.
2. She and her siblings grew up on a dairy farm in Winnsboro.
3. Brought up a staunch Presbyterian, she believes thoroughly in predestination.
4. 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.
5. From 1951 to 1955, she attended Lander College.
6. Among the first beauty pageant titles she held were Miss Greenwood 1953 and Miss South Carolina 1953, which led her to Miss America 1954.
7. She was a Miss America 1954 finalist.
8. She was a senior Lander College student when she won Miss Universe 1954.
9. After graduating from Lander College in 1955, she worked for television shows in South Carolina as a host.
10. In 1956, she and Donald Sr. got married.
11. In 1959, she gave birth to Donald Niles Upton Jr.
12. In 1962, she gave birth to Miriam Eileen “Mimi” Upton, who became Steven Fulmer‘s wife.
13. In 1981, she and Duncan got married.

TIMELINE

Miriam is 5’6″ tall. She is the first Miss Universe from the U.S.

1950s

• On September 12, 1953, she 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.
• On July 24, 1954, she represented South Carolina at Miss USA 1954, competed against 43 other candidates in Long Beach, California, USA and won the title. Later that day, she 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. Among her prizes were a car, which she gave to Rocha, and a movie contract for $250 a week.
• On July 20, 1955, she crowned her successor Miss USA 1955 Carlene King Johnson of Vermont in Long Beach.
• 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”.
• On September 9, 1956, she and Donald Sr. got married.

1960s

• On December 5, 1962, she gave birth to Mimi.

2000s

• On May 16, 2009, her brother L.O. passed away at age 85.

2010s

• On June 19, 2011, she 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.
• On December 22, 2016, her brother Donald passed away at age 90.
• On November 16, 2019, her husband Duncan passed away at age 88.

2020s

• On May 1, 2022, her sister Emma passed away at age 102.