Beauty pageant titleholder | |
Born |
Deborah Shelton November 21, 1948 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
---|---|
Other names | Debbie Shelton |
Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
Hair color | Brown |
Eye color | Green |
Title(s) |
Miss Virginia USA 1970 Miss USA 1970 |
Major competition(s) |
Miss USA 1970 (Winner) (Miss Photogenic) Miss Universe 1970 (1st runner-up) |
Deborah 'Debbie' Shelton (born November 21, 1948) is an American beauty queen and actress who held the Miss USA title and appeared on Dallas for three seasons and a special guest return in 2013.
In 1970, Shelton competed in the Miss Virginia USA pageant to spite her then boyfriend. She won the title and represented Virginia in the Miss USA 1970 pageant held in Miami, Florida in May 1970.
At the pageant, Shelton won the Miss Pixable award and was subsequently crowned Miss USA 1970. She was crowned by former titleholder Wendy Dascomb, also of Virginia; this was the first time that a state had won the Miss USA title back to back.
Shelton then went on to the Miss Universe contest in Miami, Florida in July where she placed first runner-up to Marisol Malaret of Puerto Rico. She described competing at Miss Universe as "perhaps her greatest experience".
During her reign, Shelton travelled across the United States and internationally, including visits to Japan, Spain, Portugal, Brazil and Puerto Rico.
For winning Miss USA, she received $5,000 in cash, a $5,000 mink coat and made another $5,000 from personal appearances.
Shelton was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Norfolk, Virginia. She graduated from Norview High School and attended Old Dominion University. She was a junior studying art at the time she won the Miss USA title.