| y Pageants date back to 1921. This year saw the | | | | In the world of beauty pageants, it was soon clear that |
| grand introductions of beauty pageants as we know | | | | Miss America was very popular and then the birth of |
| today. The first pageant was held in Atlantic City, | | | | Miss Universe, Miss World, Junior Miss, and Miss USA |
| called the National Beauty Tournament. However, 1921 | | | | Beauty Pageants occurred in the 50’s. The |
| also saw the very first Miss America Pageant. This | | | | 50’s also saw the first live televised Miss |
| pageant was nothing like today’s pageant, with | | | | America Beauty Pageant |
| representatives from every state. In fact, the first Miss | | | | The sixties were filled with first as well, in the start of |
| America Pageant only had eight contestants and was | | | | the decade, Miss USA crowned the first black woman |
| won by a 16 year old, Washington, D.C. resident named | | | | in history, Corrine Huff. The sixties also gave birth to |
| Margaret Gorman. | | | | Little Miss Universe, Little Miss America, and Miss |
| In 1922 and 1923, a first and last occurred in Miss | | | | Teenage America pageants. What the world |
| America history, the same girl, Mary Campbell won the | | | | didn’t know then, was that in 1962 the newly |
| title twice, in two years. This prompted organizers to | | | | crowned America’s Junior Miss, Diane Sawyer, |
| create a rule that said that any winner can only hold | | | | would one day become one of the most influential |
| one title and never qualify for the title again. | | | | journalists in the world. |
| The late twenties and early thirties were without Miss | | | | Throughout the years, beauty pageants continue to be |
| America Pageants, thanks to the press and the | | | | a scene of immediate success in every generation, |
| Depression. When it did come back, they included | | | | young and old, and they seem to be the one goal that |
| evening gowns in the competitions. Then in later years | | | | every little girl dreams of. They all dream of hearing the |
| of the thirties, a talent competition was added as an | | | | ever popular “There She Is” song, while |
| optional event for the women in the beauty pageant. In | | | | she is being crowned one of the new pageant |
| 1938, it then becomes a category that was required. | | | | winners. |