If For Any Reason: When the Runner-Up Takes Over - Jineane Ford, Miss Arizona USA to Miss USA 1980

 

"We all know how it goes: If for any reason, our new Miss xxx cannot fulfil her duties, the first runner-up shall take over" In anticipation to see who wins, most of us don't really pay much attention to it. But when this special "clause" comes into action, it usually garners a lot of attention. So I am going to look at some 1st runners-up who assumed the title when the winner won another title, resigned or got dethroned. Let's go way back to 1980 when the Miss USA, Shawn Weatherly and the first runner-up had to take over: 

Jineane Ford - From Miss Arizona USA to Miss USA runner-up to Miss USA 

In 1980, after 13 years, the USA won their 5th Miss Universe title. Shawn Weatherly from South Carolina, won the title and was now the queen of the Universe, which meant she had to travel all around the world to fulfil her duties as Miss Universe. So the Miss USA 1980 went to Jineane Ford from Arizona, less than 2 months after the Miss USA Pageant was held. 

Winning Miss Arizona USA

Jineane Ford was raised on a farm where she raised calves and became a registered meat cutter in high school. So from farm girl to winning Miss Arizona USA was quite a change of environment but her beauty and charm was undeniable. Arizona performed quite well in those days but never had a Miss USA. The closest they came was in 1965. 

Co-winner of Miss Photogenic

During the preliminaries of Miss USA in Biloxi, Mississippi, Jineane finished in 8th place, which was good enough to advance to the top 12 of Miss USA 1980 and shared the Miss Photogenic award with Miss Ohio. However, the preliminaries were not smooth sailing for her. She took a tumble and in her own words: "I tripped down center stage preliminary night of Miss USA and rolled, head over heels, yes,” she said. “The next day in the newspaper with Bob Barker it says, ‘Miss Arizona takes giant tumble down center stage.’ I was an absolute klutz. I was not a beauty queen. So it was a very odd thing for me.”

Taking over the role of Miss USA

On the final night, she dazzled the judges and her strongest performance was in the evening gown round where she finished in 2nd place. Ultimately, she equalled her state's best performance by become first runner-up. But the "universe" had other place. On July 7 (time zone difference), when the Miss Universe crown was placed on Shawn Weatherly's head, Jineane would be Miss USA. 

Miss Universe, Shawn Weatherly and Miss USA, Jineane Ford 
Photos from The Pageant Nerd/Tom's Page of Miss Universe Mania

She served along Weatherly as ambassador for the Miss Universe Organization until she gave up her crown in May 1981. Afterwards, she explored the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, working as a butcher to earn money. She had small roles in some 80s classic like Falcon Crest and Remington Steele. She then returned to her home state and started a long career in news anchoring until she retired from it in 2007. 

Arizona has never won Miss USA outright but Jineane remains their Miss USA, maybe by default but she was an exceptional replacement and used the title to pursue her dreams. Her story should be an inspiration to all the first runners-up there because "you never can tell" - words which she offered to first runners-ups.