Stunning Pictures of Miss America Beauty Pageants from the Early Days

 

The Miss America pageant, a cherished American tradition, has been a symbol of grace, talent and beauty for nearly a century.

Since its inception in the early 1920s, this prestigious pageant has not only celebrated the achievements and charisma of young women from across the country, but also reflected social change and America's evolving ideals.

The origins of beauty pageants in the United States can be traced to the late 19th century.

One of the earliest documented beauty pageants in the country was the "Atlantic City Pageant", held in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1854.

This event laid the foundation for what would later become the Miss America pageant.

In 1921, the Miss America pageant began in Atlantic City. It was initially conceived as a way to extend the tourist season beyond Labor Day, attracting tourists to the beachside resort town.

The pageant hosted the winners of local newspaper beauty contests in an "Inter-City Beauty" pageant, which was attended by over a million people.

Washington DC. Sixteen-year-old Margaret Gorman was crowned Miss America 1921 after winning both the popularity and beauty pageants and was awarded a $100 prize.

In the 1930s, beauty pageants introduced talent contests, allowing the event to expand beyond mere beauty pageants.

Contestants were now expected to showcase their skills and talents, ranging from singing and dancing to playing musical instruments and presenting dramatic monologues.

This innovation recognized that beauty was not the only measure of a woman's worth and added depth to the competition.

The popularity of the Miss America pageant inspired other organizations to hold similar pageants in the 1950s and beyond.

Some were important while others were trivial, such as the National Donut Queen Contest. The Miss World pageant began in 1951, the Miss Universe pageant in 1952, and the Miss USA pageant. Miss International was started in 1960.

Miss Asia Pacific International, started in 1968, is the first and oldest beauty pageant in Asia.

The Miss Black America pageant began in 1968 in response to the exclusion of African-American women from the Miss America pageant.

The Miss Universe Organization introduced Miss Teen USA in 1983 for the age group 14–19.

Miss Earth began in 2001 as a beauty pageant broadcast to the entertainment industry as an effective tool to actively promote the protection of the environment.

The requirement for contestants to wear swimsuits was a controversial aspect of various competitions.

After the introduction of the bikini in 1946, controversy increased with its increasing popularity. Bikinis were banned for the Miss America pageant in 1947 due to Roman Catholic protestors.

When the Miss World pageant started in 1951, there was an uproar when the winner was crowned in a bikini.

Pope Pius XII condemned the coronation as sinful, and countries with religious traditions threatened to withdraw delegates.