During the mid 1950s Miss Universe organisation sent delegates through the Miss USA system to compete at Miss World ( 1953 – 57 ) . Alfred Patricelli of Bridgeport , Connecticut , was the Executive Director of the Miss World USA during its existence from 1958 to 1977 . From 1958 to 1961 , the winner of Miss United States competed at Miss World . Then from 1962 to 1966 Alfred Patricelli organized the Miss USA World pageant annually . In 1967 , the pageant was renamed Miss World USA and was held every year until 1977 . During this time , Miss World USA 1969 Gail Renshaw was the first person to resign from the title of " Miss World USA " after competing in Miss World 1969 in order to get married . Also in 1973 , Marjorie Wallace won the Miss World title and became the first American woman to win the Miss World title . Between 1978 through 1980 , BBS Productions , Inc. , based in New York City , was given the franchise for the Miss World pageant where Griff O'Neil was the organizer , during this time the pageant was named " Miss World America "
Miss World
Miss World 1973
United States representatives at Miss World