Tanya Wilson

Background

After moving to Honolulu with her mother, Wilson won the Mission Hawaii United States of America title in early May 1972.

Career

Wilson placed second runner-up in the Mission Nevada pageant in 1969 and also competed in 1970. She was crowned by Michele McDonald of Pennsylvania, Mission United States of America 1971. This was the first time in the twenty-year history of the Mission United States of America pageant that it was held outside the continental United States and the only time that it has been held in a United States territory.

The event was marred by bomb explosions in the host hotel during the pageant which caused the coronation ball to be cancelled but no injuries were reported.

Wilson represented the United States in the Mission Universe pageant broadcast from the same city two months after winning her national title. She and her fiance intended to marry in June 1973 after passing on her title.

Achievements

• Two weeks later she represented her state in the Mission United States of America 1972 pageant, held in Dorado, Puerto Rico and won the Mission United States of America title. Wilson was the second of four women from Hawaii to win the Mission United States of America title. As with the Mission United States of America pageant, this was the first time that Mission Universe had been held outside the United States. Wilson placed in the semi-finals in the pageant, which was won by Kerry Anne Wells of Australia. A physical education major, Wilson was due to graduate from the University of Hawaii the weekend following the Mission United States of America pageant. She was forced to defer her planned engagement when she won the Mission United States of America title.