September 14, 2014

Photos of early and mid-century Miss America winners


Though there are no shortage of different opinions on the Miss America contest - and beauty pageants in general - and I know full well that not everyone out there is a diehard fan, I think it's relatively safe bet to say that what unites nearly all of those reading this post today is a general love of, and appreciate for the past, which includes looking at vintage photographs, even if they're of beauty pageant winners.

Started as a marketing ploy by the Businessmen's League of Atlantic City to lure visitors to the boardwalk after the Labour Day long weekend, the traditional end of the tourist season had wrapped up, and ultimately evolving into a hugely popular televised event decades later that is broadcast to many countries around the world, the Miss America contest has not been without its share of ups and downs (as well as contrary including anti-Semitism and racism - prior to 1950, for example, the contest was only open to Caucasian participants) over the years.





Ultimately though, it held on and flourished, giving rise to the dreams of many a young lady across America over the better part of the last nearly ninety years and becoming a cultural institution of sorts in the United States (and beyond). Often imitated (there are, for example, similar competitions such as Miss USA, which began in 1952), but never, save perhaps in more recent decades by Miss Universe, which is open to participants from around the globe, quite matched, Miss America is to beauty pageants as Barbie dolls are to the toy world: Glitzy, beautiful, heavily made up, and often met with criticism, yet few can deny its rightful place in 20th and 21st century culture.

In celebration of the fact that today is the 88th Miss America event, I thought it would be fun to take a peak at each of the earliest earliest winners, starting all the way back in 1921 with Margaret Gorman, the first ever winner of this now world famous event which was initially held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and spanning the mid-century years until 1960, when a Mississippi gal named Lynda Lee Mead took home the crown.



{Miss America 1921 ~ Margaret Gorman}





{Miss America 1922 and 1923 (intitially participants could compete for more than one year) ~ Mary Katherine Campbell}





{Miss America 1924 ~ Ruth Malcomson}





{Miss America 1925 ~ Fay Lanphier}





{Miss America 1926 ~ Norma Smallwood}





{Miss America 1927 ~ Lois Delander}





{Miss America 1933 (the contest was not held between 1928 and 1932; in addition, the 1933 winner retained the title throughout 1934 as, again, no pageant was held that year) ~ Marian Bergeron}





{Miss America 1935 ~ Henrietta Leaver}





{Miss America 1936 ~ Rose Coyle}





{Miss America 1937 ~ Bette Cooper}





{Miss America 1938 ~ Marilyn Meseke}





{Miss America 1939 ~ Patricia Donnelly}





{Miss America 1940 ~ Frances Marie Burke}





{Miss America 1941 ~ Rosemary LaPlanche}





{Miss America 1942 ~ Jo-Carroll Dennison}





{Miss America 1943 ~ Jean Bartel}





{Miss America 1944 ~ Venus Ramey}





{Miss America 1945 ~ Bess Myerson}





{Miss America 1946 ~ Marilyn Buferd}





{Miss America 1947 ~ Barbara Jo Walker}





{Miss America 1948 ~ BeBe Shopp}





{Miss America 1949 ~ Jacque Mercer}





{Miss America 1951 (due to changes with how the dates of a winner's reign occurred, there was no Miss America 1950) ~ Yolande Betbeze}





{Miss America 1952 ~ Colleen Kay Hutchins}





{Miss America 1953 ~ Neva Jane Langley}





{Miss America 1954 ~ Evelyn Margaret Ay}





{Miss America 1955 ~ Lee Meriwether}





{Miss America 1956 ~ Sharon Ritchie}





{Miss America 1957 ~ Marian McKnight}





{Miss America 1958 ~ Marilyn Van Derbur}





{Miss America 1959 ~ Mary Ann Mobley}





{Miss America 1960 ~ Lynda Lee Mead}



{Please click on a photo to be taken to its respective source.}



♥ ♥ ♥




Even if you're not keen on beauty pageants (I can see all sides of the coin there, believe me), it's hard not swoon over the stylish clothing, hairstyles, makeup looks and overall sense of glamour that these gorgeous yesteryear winners all shared in common and that alone is worth shining the spotlight on at least once a year.

35 comments:

  1. Great pictures. Fascinating subject. You handle the controversy over the pageant well.

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  2. I think it is interesting that though all are good looking, it gets very obvious that there is a fashion for what is extra beautiful and that it changes over the decades.

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  3. Miss 1926's hair - bun plaits!! It's amazing. These are beautiful photos of truly beautiful ladies...1957 is quite the ringer for Grace Kelly, don't you think? I didn't actually realise the contest went as far back as this, so pretty fascinating stuff!

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    1. Very much so, and given Grace's immense popularity at the time, I doubt that such was entirely coincidental.

      Thank you for your great comment, dear gal!
      ♥ Jessica

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    2. I thought that too CiCi, definitely a resemblance! And a few of them look a bit like our own Queen Liz in her younger days, it must be the hairstyle and tiaras!! P x

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  4. Thanks for a really cool post! I'm in the middle of reading "Being Miss America" by Kate Shindle. You should check out this book. I've never known much about the pageant, but it's turning out to be an interesting read.

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    1. My absolute pleasure, Stephanie. Many thanks in turn for your book recommendation, I will certainly be adding that title to my reading list. I learned a lot about the pageant in the course of putting this post together and would welcome the chance to keep expanding my knowledge on it further, so that book is 100% up my history loving alley.

      ♥ Jessica

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  5. Really clever post. I love seeing how what is deemed to be attractive nowadays - I bet nowadays they areal stick thin Barbie-types! I am off to google!

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  6. Wow lovely pictures! Miss 1926, 1936, 1947 and most of the 50s misses are my favourites. But they are all very pretty ladies and love to see 'normal' bodies.

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    1. I know exactly what you mean, dear Anthea. In the earliest winners in particular, I see "real world" bodies of the sorts that so many ladies have, and can really relate to, to this day and which seem like a drastic 180 degree turn from the fashion model figures that all the contestants today have.

      Thank you very much for your comment,
      ♥ Jessica

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  7. I'm so in love with 1941 and 1949. Beautiful photos, thank you for sharing.

    She Knits in Pearls

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  8. I remember watching the pageants on TV with absolute fascination as a little girl. I think that is why us "seasoned" gals are willing to take up and wear our Tiara's when ever needed. I wore mine just this morning while leading the Pajama parade at our local vintage trailer rally!!!

    Celtic Lass

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    1. That sounds like a thoroughly enjoyable event and I'm sure you looked like the beautiful queen you are in your tiara, dear Celtic Lass.

      ♥ Jessica

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  9. I did enjoy looking at these photos and learning a little more about the pageant. I'm not a fan or anything, but I do love pretty dresses. :)

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  10. I love it. Used to watch Miss America and Teen USA as a child and pre-teen. Oh yeah and eventually Miss Universe. My grandma watched it and I saw nothing wrong with it. I would have loved to have been in a Miss Teen pageant but I was so shy and well I walked literally on my toes until I was 13 so I know I couldn't be a part of that. But I think they are fun if they aren't taken so seriously. I don't like all the fakeness of the pageants today. Its just too plastic for me. I prefer to see authentic women being their authentic beautiful selves. I loved all of these photos. Yay! I always wondered about the winner of the past! Makes me curious about the 1960s winners heheh Super fun post mama! xox

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    1. I think there's a part of me, as wildly shy and self-conscious as I was a teenager (and still am in some respects to this day) that would have crazy loved to have been in a pageant, too, especially if the emphasis was more on talent and/or fashion than "just" beauty.

      Ask and ye shall receive! :) Here's a page with info on all the winners from the 60s: http://www.missamerica.org/our-miss-americas/1960/review.aspx

      Thank you for your great comment, dear gal!
      ♥ Jessica

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  11. They had so much style and grace! I truly believe that if those girls back then would see images of the girls today from any pageant, they will be in shock lol!Great post Jessica:) Happy Monday!
    http://balearaitzart.blogspot.com.au/

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  12. I agree, im not a huge fan, but i love old photos and stuff. Its so interesting to see how the overall opinion of beauty changes, as well as the hairstyles and themes over the years. Thanks for sharing, this is such fun!

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  13. I loved this! I was in a pageant once...I came in last, but got "Prettiest Eyes". Hahaha I am glad I did it, but they really are all about politics I think. I don't think they approved of an 8 year old belly-dancing (even though I was fully clothed). I still LOVE Miss America and watch it if I can.

    Hope all is well with you :) I know you have taken on a lot this year.

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  14. It is also interesting to see the changing ideals of beauty over the years.

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    1. Very much so, I completely agree and have wondered from time-to-time over the years, what someone from the Victorian era, Edwardian period or 20s would think if they say the women that mainstream society holds up as being especially beautiful today. Would they be mind blowingly stunning to folks from such age or seem oddly out of place?

      ♥ Jessica

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  15. interestingly to see how more and more perfect the beauty queens get over the years..........
    hugs&kisses for you!
    <3

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    1. It really is! I feel like I can relate to the earliest Queens most of all, but still to every last one of them pictured here, far more than I can to today's winners, whose figures and styles are so drastically different from my own.

      ♥ Jessica

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  16. Yes it timeless glamour; and I love the 'realistic' body shapes.

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  17. Great pictures I love the 1920s ones! I also agree so much prettier and more real looking in the past.

    retro rover

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  18. It's not a beauty pageant it's a scholarship program! Sorry I couldn't resist. Thank you for the wonderful pics!

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  19. I actually think these vintage Miss America contest pics are lovely! I can't say I am either a fan or a hater, but I've never really put a lot of thought into the pageant life. Though these photos are lovely to look at. For sure those 20's bathing suits are a much better and cuter option than today's string bikini's.

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    1. I agree immensely!!! Even if I had the body of Victoria's Secret Model, I'd still prefer to sport a 20s style swimsuit - they're so much cuter and charming, IMO.

      ♥ Jessica

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  20. I love these sort of pictures from the pageants. I've never seen the pageant in my life (did try out for it but I think I was too ugly) but I love the photographs as you do and picking out the miss Utahs! The early ones are just swell! I like them because, as Chrisy and Katherine say, they are "real." Just look at the bruises on some of their legs and a few have "tummies" these petty things wouldn't fly in the pageants of today (sick). Another great post, Jessica!

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  21. I caught a couple of minutes of it last night while I was making dinner, and they actually 20 or so of the previous winners on. They had a little interview with Lee Merriweather, who is still absolutely stunning. I'm so happy you did this post, I meant to look up photos of her from her pageant years but would have forgotten about it if it weren't for this.
    I'm not totally on board with beauty pageants; they do perpetuate certain unrealistic body ideals, which is think is pretty unfortunate. On the other hand, over the years I think they've evolved a little bit past "look how good this girl looks in a bathing suit" into something a little bit more well rounded, with pretty in-depth interview and talent portions.

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  22. Every woman is so naturally beautiful! And those swimsuits!!! Wouldn't it be amazing if one year they did a vintage themed Miss America pageant and all the ladies wore vintage outfits, hairstyles, and make-up? Now that I'd definitely watch!
    -Melissa

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    1. That would be thoroughly awesome - oh my goodness, I think I just skipped a few heartbeats thinking about it. :)

      Thank you very much for your great comment, dear gal!
      ♥ Jessica

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  23. It is so nice to see real women in this contest with so called imperfections which wouldn't be allowed today. They are all so glamorous, I enjoyed looking through.

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  24. I like those photos! Thanks for sharing them with us, dear Jessica!

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  25. Such a beautiful (hehe) post. For a moment I thought Miss America 1941 was Rita Hayworth.
    Beauty pageants aren´t really a big thing in my corner of the world. They do exist and you will find the new Miss Germany mentioned in the papers, but as far as I can tell there isn´t nearly as much media attention for it as for the pageant in America. And to be honest I´m thankful for that. BUT over the last years the winners have become more and more ethnically diverse, daughters and granddaughters of immigrants have the chance to become a Miss, and that is a wonderful development in my eyes.

    (On a side note, I wouldn´t call the bodies of todays contestants unrealistic, after all they are real humans made of flesh and bone. I´d rather call them impossible to achieve without the right genes, the help of professionals and a lot of time and money. Sure, it all has to come together, but it´s not impossible.)

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