Karen Morrison-Comstock

Karen Jean Morrison-Comstock is an American model and beauty pageant titleholder born on August 4, 1954. She is best known for winning the Miss USA title in 1974 and representing the United States in the Miss Universe pageant later that year.

During her youth, Morrison-Comstock attended Haines Junior High School and St. Charles High School. She was a freshman at the University of Wisconsin prior to her national pageant win, but she chose to leave her studies to pursue a career in modeling in New York City.

Morrison-Comstock entered the Miss Illinois USA pageant following encouragement from her sister and her modeling agency, which owned the state franchise. Paula Zahn, an acquaintance, also competed in the same event and placed in the top five. Morrison-Comstock won the state title, qualifying her for the national competition.

On May 18, 1974, she represented Illinois in the Miss USA pageant held in Niagara Falls, New York. She won the nationally televised contest wearing a custom-made white chiffon gown designed by Alyce Hamm of Alyce Designs, and she was crowned by outgoing titleholder Amanda Jones, who was also from Illinois. At the time of her victory, Morrison-Comstock was notably one of the tallest contestants ever to win a major beauty pageant. Her prize package included $7,500 in cash, a $7,500 appearance contract, $3,000 in scholarships, a new car, a color television, a stereo, and clothing.

Two months after securing her national title, Morrison-Comstock represented the United States at the Miss Universe pageant held in Manila, Philippines. The event marked only the third time the pageant was hosted outside the United States and its first occurrence in Asia. Morrison-Comstock advanced to the semi-finals, placing in the Top 12, while Amparo Muñoz of Spain won the title. Throughout her reign as Miss USA, Morrison-Comstock traveled extensively and met prominent public figures, including Jack Lemmon, Bobby Vinton, Omar Sharif, and Joe Namath.

In 1976, she returned home to Illinois, embraced fundamentalist Protestant Christianity, and toured the United States representing a non-profit organization named Sharing Ministries. In her personal life, she later married Gordon Comstock and had four children.