American Pageantry
The popularity of the Miss America pageant led to a variety of beauty contests — many during the 1950s, a golden age for pageants. Some events were more important, politically and socially, than others. The Miss Black America contest defied the exclusion of African American women from the Miss America pageant. The crowning of the National Doughnut Queen held less social significance. But contestants in every beauty pageant shared one thing — the sincere desire to be chosen queen — or king, in some cases — and to represent a community ideal.
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The 1951 Miss Armed Forces contest chose four winners, to represent each branch of the United States armed services.
(Credit: Library of Congress) -
Miss Tall America contestants were required to stand 5'4" and taller.
(Credit: New York World- Telegram And Sun) -
A runner-up eyes the winner of the Little Miss Seven contest in Sanlando Springs, Florida, 1956.
(Credit: Library of Congress) -
In 1968 the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People held a Miss Black America contest in Atlantic City, to recognize the beauty of black women and as a constructive protest of the all-white Miss America Pageant.
(Credit: Lisa Ades) -
Women weren't the only pageant winners. In 1953 Pat Moore was crowned king of the Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey.
(Credit: Library of Congress) -
Number 25 was the lucky winner crowned Miss Color T.V. in New Jersey, 1953.
(Credit: Library of Congress) -
These three pageant hopefuls showed their best during the 1926 Long Beach Bathing Beauty pageant.
(Credit: Archives of the Historical Society of Long Beach) -
During the 1940s war boosters cheered Miss War Worker of Toronto, who strutted her stuff dressed in factory clothes.
(Credit: Archives of Ontario) -
Randy Gail Schwartz was the winner of the 1953 Most Beautiful Child contest in Rockaway Beach, Queens, New York.
(Credit: Library of Congress) -
The National Doughnut Queen received the coveted doughnut crown from the runners-up of the 1952 contest.
(Credit: Library of Congress)
