The Miss America Organization history

The contest that year was won by Mary Katherine Campbell (Miss Ohio), who won again in 1923.

She returned to compete a third time in 1924 but placed as first runner-up that year, and pageant rules were then amended to prevent anyone from winning more than once.

In November, despite unsupportable evidence, The New York Graphic sold syndication rights of an article to eighty-six other newspapers that the 1925 pageant was fixed.

By 1928 the pageant had acquired a somewhat tawdry reputation, mostly because of the contestants’ revealing outfits, and a combination of bad press and criticism from religious and women’s groups led to its cancellation that year.

The pageant was not revived in Atlantic City on secure financial footing until 1935.

Beginning in 1940, Bob Russell served as the first official host of the pageant.

In 1941, Mifauny Shunatona, Miss Oklahoma, became the first Native American contestant.

In 1945, Bess Myerson became the first Jewish-American and the first Miss New York (competing as Miss New York City, a competition organized by a local radio station) to win the Miss America pageant as Miss America 1945.

In addition, in 1948, Yun Tau Chee, the first Miss Hawaii, was also the first Asian-American contestant.

Miss America 1949, Jacque Mercer, was married and divorced during her reign; after this, a rule was enacted requiring Miss America contestants to sign a certification that they have never been married or pregnant.

1950 marked the start of post dating the title.

Some fear moving online may spell the downfall of what's often dubbed "the first reality TV show," which started airing live in 1954.

Future television star Lee Meriwether was crowned Miss America 1955.

Asheville, North Carolina’s Maria Fletcher was crowned Miss America 1962.

Despite that, television ratings continued to soar and in 1966 the first color broadcast hit the airways.

Although the pageant was heavily criticized for the 1967 launch of the “Miss America USO Troupes” into Vietnam and around the world, the Miss America Organization, to this day, maintains its support of the US Armed Forces.

By 1968, feminists stormed the boardwalk in Atlantic City in their crusade for equal rights.

The 50th Anniversary in 1970 saw a rise in television ratings, but people were still questioning the relevance of Miss America.

The Women's Liberation Front later demonstrated at the Miss America 1971 pageant.

By 1974, a law student crowned a doctorate student.

First runner-up, Miss New Jersey 1983, Suzette Charles replaced her for the final weeks of Williams' reign.

Sapp broke off their engagement, but felt the need to remain friends, and one night in the fall of 1990, after she had given him a ride home, he assaulted her again, slamming her against a wall and threatening her with a knife.

If the press didn’t know what to make of Sapp, they really didn’t know what to make of domestic violence in 1991.

The story of how Carolyn Sapp, Miss America 1992, became an accidental domestic violence crusader marks the moment that a new era for Miss America came into focus.

Miss America 1999 Nicole Johnson formed the Nicole Johnson Foundation to help address the gaps in diabetes education

Angela Perez Baraquio, Miss Hawaii, was crowned Miss America 2001.

Jennifer Berry, Miss America 2006, was crowned in January of that year.

The Miss America 2013 pageant, held on January 12, 2013, was the last one to take place in Las Vegas.

In addition, Miss America 2014, Nina Davuluri, was appointed one of the new trustees to the Miss America Foundation.

In February 2015, Sharon Pearce announced that she was stepping down from her role as President of the Miss America Organization.

In June 2016, Erin O'Flaherty was crowned Miss Missouri, becoming the first openly lesbian Miss America contestant.

In late December 2017, HuffPost published an article exposing derogatory emails sent and received by CEO Sam Haskell, board members Tammy Haddad and Lynn Weidner, and lead writer Lewis Friedman.

In June 2018, there was an announcement that Miss America contestants would no longer be judged based on their physical appearance.

In 2019, the Miss America finale on NBC drew 3.6 million viewers, an all-time low.

On May 8, 2020, the organization announced its next competition, originally slated for December 2020, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.