The Great Gatsby
Beauty Pageants
Beauty pageants have been a long-standing American tradition. Its rich history began in 1921 with the creation of the Miss America Beauty Pageant, which, in reality, was a publicity stunt used to entice tourists to stay in Atlantic City after Labor Day. Over time, pageants have evolved into a means in which young women of all races can gain personal and professional opportunities. Today, the Sister Pageants (Miss American, Miss Universe, Miss Teen USA) are the nation's leading female achievement programs and have awarded more than $100 million dollars in grants and scholarships making the Organization the single largest provider of scholarships exclusively for women.
Pageant Timeline
1921: The first ever Miss America Pageant is held in Atlantic City.
1923: A rule is created which states that no woman may hold the crown more than once. This comes after Mary Katherine Campbell becomes the only female to officially hold the crown twice.
The "no marriage" rule is instituted after pageant officials learned that Miss Alaska was married.
1929: The Great Depression and negative publicity forced the pageant officials to suspend all competitions until 1932.
1932: The Miss America Pageant is held in Wildwood, New Jersey for one year.
1933: The pageant moves back to Atlantic City.
Contestants are scouted and admitted to the Hollywood elite.
1945: The first scholarship is awarded.
The first Jewish woman holds the title, ironically right after all the Jews were freed from German persecution.
1948: Reporters attempt to boycott the pageant when the director announces that the winner will be crowned in a gown. Editors send them back.
1951: The Miss World Pageant is held.
1952: Catalina Swimwear holds the Miss USA/Miss Universe sister pageants together in Long Beach, California.
1954: Songwriter Bernie Wayne composes There She Is, the official Miss America song.
1960: The Miss Universe/Miss USA sister pageants move to Miami Beach, Florida.
Page last updated on May 26, 1999.
Alani Robles