Biography

Barbara Elaine Peterson Burwell (née Peterson; born November 25, 1953) is an American philanthropist and beauty pageant titleholder. After being crowned Miss Minnesota USA 1976, she competed at Miss USA 1976, becoming the first woman from Minnesota to win the title. Afterwards, she represented the United States at Miss Universe 1976, where she was unplaced. As a philanthropist, Peterson is the president of the Burwell Family Foundation, based in Bloomington, Minnesota.