The pageant was won by Maria Remenyi of California , who was crowned by outgoing titleholder Sue Downey of Ohio . Remenyi was the second woman from California to win the Miss USA title , and went on to Top 15 at Miss Universe 1966 . Idaho and South Dakota did not send a delegate in 1966 , making this the last Miss USA pageant in which not all states were represented . ( The only subsequent pageant with fewer than 51 . . delegates in the live telecast &ndash; 1981 &ndash; resulted from a state representative being disqualified during the preliminary judging . ) The Miss USA 1966 delegates were :
Miss Universe 1966
Miss Universe 1966
Miss USA 1966