Background
Encouraged to enter the competition by her mother, McDonald won Mission Pennsylvania United States of America title in early May 1971.
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Michele McDonald
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Later that month she then represented her state in the Mission United States of America pageant, held in Miami Beach, Florida. After losing 10 pounds in a crash diet encouraged by Mission Universe officials, McDonald represented the United States in the Mission Universe 1971 pageant broadcast in July, also held in Miami. A chaperone said that the McDonald was close to exhaustion as a result of the diet and a doctor complained about the method.
She missed her senior prom while competing in Mission United States of America and returned to Butler the weekend after winning the title to participate in her high school graduation, arriving from the airport in a motorcade and being greeted by thousands of people and dignitaries from her home town.
During her reign she visited thirty states, and international locations such as Brazil and the Bahamas. After passing on her title McDonald planned to attend nursing school.
McDonald"s high school boyfriend proposed to her in the last months of her reign.
Achievements
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McDonald won the nationally televised pageant, becoming the first woman from Pennsylvania to win the title. She advanced to the top fifteen in the pageant, which was won by Georgina Rizk of Lebanon. At eighteen and a senior at Knoch High School, McDonald was the first high school student to win the pageant and the youngest winner in almost ten years. Prior to competing at Mission United States of America McDonald had never travelled out of Pennsylvania or flown in an airplane.
Interests
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Born
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Nationality
United States
Awards
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Mission United States of America
The Mission United States of America beauty pageant has been held annually since 1952 to select the Americans entrant in the Mission Universe pageant.The Mission United States of America beauty pageant has been held annually since 1952 to select the Americans entrant in the Mission Universe pageant.