| 1921 Margaret Gorman Washington, DC- Margaret | | | | pageant which she won. When she arrived in Atlantic |
| won the title of Miss Washington D.C. in 1921. Her | | | | City for the Miss America competition she learned that |
| picture was selected out of about 1,000 photos | | | | for the first time contestants were expected to |
| submitted to a popularity contest to the Washington | | | | perform a talent. She sang and tap danced in an |
| Herald. She then traveled to Atlantic City where she | | | | evening gown. She was surprised when she won the |
| competed in a won an "Inner-City Beauty Contest." | | | | crown. |
| 1922 Mary Katherine Campbell Columbus, OH- At the | | | | 1936 Rose Coyle Philadelphia, PA-Rose already had |
| age of 15 Mary Katherine competed against 170 | | | | professional performing experience when she |
| contestants and won the title of Miss Columbus. She | | | | competed for Miss America. After her song and |
| went on to study Art at Ohio State University and | | | | dance routine the audience went wild. The judges |
| Ohio Wesleyan. | | | | allowed an encore for the first time in the pageants |
| 1923 Mary Katherine Campbell Columbus, OH- Mary | | | | history. |
| Katherine returned in 1923 to defend her title. She is | | | | 1937 Bette Cooper Bertrand Island, NJ- Bette entered |
| the only woman to ever win the crown twice. | | | | the Miss Bertrand Island competition as a dare made |
| 1924 Ruth Malcomson Philadelphia, PA- Ruth won the | | | | by some friends. Bette was a devoted student and |
| title after contending against the largest pool of | | | | her parents were not sure if they supported her |
| contestants ever to compete for Miss America (84 | | | | competing a beauty pageant. They decided to take a |
| contestants.) Ruth's niece became Miss Pennsylvania | | | | family vacation to Atlantic City where Bette won the |
| in 1956, and her grandniece became Miss Delaware in | | | | pageant. |
| 1981. | | | | 1938 Marilyn Meseke Marion, OH- Marilyn was the first |
| 1925 Fay Lanphier Oakland, CA- Fay placed third in the | | | | Miss America to be crowned when the nation could |
| national competition in 1924 as Miss Santa Cruz. She | | | | watch via movie theatre newsreels. Also for the first |
| then returned to the contest in 1925 as Miss California | | | | time during Marilyn's reign Miss America began making |
| and won the title of Miss America. She was the first to | | | | appearances around the country. |
| win the title representing a whole state. A series of | | | | 1939 Patricia Donnelly Detroit, MI- Pat also entered her |
| false newspaper reports claimed that the pageant had | | | | first pageant as a dare and was crowned Miss |
| been pre-arranged in Fay's favor. | | | | Michigan. Not thinking that she would win Miss America |
| 1926 Norma Smallwood Tulsa, OK- Norma was the | | | | she took a swim in her only swimsuit during |
| Native American (Cherokee) to win the title of Miss | | | | competition week. When she discovered she had |
| America. Norma did a lot of modeling and was said to | | | | made the finals she had to borrow a suit from a fellow |
| have earned about $100,000 during her rein. | | | | contestant. |
| 1927 Lois Delander Joliet, IL- Lois was a quiet and | | | | 1940 Frances Burke Philadelphia,- The title of Miss |
| studious girl. She packed her bags the night before the | | | | America helped Frances to launch a successful |
| final competition sure that she would not win. She was | | | | modeling career. She later chose to leave the public |
| offered $1,000 a week for stage appearances but | | | | eye in order to settle down and raise a family. |
| chose to return home to focus on her studies. | | | | 1941 Rosemary LaPlanche Los Angeles, CA- |
| 1933 Marian Bergeron West Haven, CT- Marian was | | | | Rosemary was named first runner up to Miss America |
| 15 when she was crowned. There was confusion | | | | in 1940. The next year she easily defeated 500 |
| during the score tallying so no one told Marian that she | | | | contestants to win Miss California and then won the |
| had won. Later a dressing room assistant placed a | | | | title of Miss America. The pageant implemented a rule |
| banner on her and informed her of her victory. | | | | after her reign that no contestant could compete more |
| 1935 Henrietta Leaver Pittsburgh, PA- Henrietta had to | | | | than once for the title of Miss America in Atlantic City. |
| drop out of high school during the depression to help | | | | Find out what it takes to win the crown with the best |
| earn money to support her family. Her grandmother | | | | beauty pageant tips. |
| encouraged her to compete in the Miss Pittsburgh | | | | |