Today in History—September 7: The First Miss America Pageant

As has often happened in American history, what started as a desire to make a buck or two had a lasting effect on society. In this case, capitalism helped create and enshrine in popular culture an ideal of American womanhood—and even gave her a title: Miss America.

It began with a project guaranteed to boost newspaper sales: Nine East Coast newspapers held photographic popularity contests to award a local woman the title of Inter-City Beauty. Her prize? A trip to Atlantic City’s second annual Fall Frolic. The frolic was yet another commercial endeavor: a festival designed to keep tourists (and their money) in Atlantic City beyond the Labor Day holiday.

The Fall Frolic included a carnival, a vaudeville show, fireworks, an eight-mile rolling chair parade, a costume competition, a governor’s ball, and the two-day Inter-City Beauty pageant, which began on this day in 1921.

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Eight contestants (the ninth, Miss Atlantic City, dropped out) appeared before a panel of judges—and a packed crowd—where they were evaluated on their physical appearance. Points were awarded for eyes, nose, mouth, facial expression, hair, torso, extremities, and overall gracefulness. Contestants were also rated by audience applause.

While judges could talk to the contestants, it was not part of the scoring—the intellect and personality category was not added until 1947. (Other well-known categories such as talent and social platform were added in 1935 and 1989, respectively.)

Miss Washington, D.C., Margaret Gorman, a 16-year-old look-alike of movie star Mary Pickford, won the first day’s competition.

The revelry continued the next day, when more than 150,000 spectators attended the Bathers’ Revue. Public decency laws were suspended, allowing for bare knees, bare legs, and risqué (by 1920s standards) one-piece suits. It was a sight to be seen. The Inter-City Beauties competed along with hundreds of other women. Once again Gorman emerged victorious, was crowned “the most beautiful bathing girl in America,” and received a Golden Mermaid trophy worth $5,000.

In 1922, with a new Miss Washington, D.C., already named, Gorman returned to the competition as the first Miss America, a title awarded—amid controversy, feminist protest, new rules and platforms, societal change, and diversified definitions of “ideal” American womanhood—nearly every year since.

Famous Birthdays

1533: Elizabeth I—Queen of England during a period that is now referred to as the Elizabethan Age

1870: Aleksandr Ivanovich Kuprin—Russian novelist and short-story writer

1936: Buddy Holly—American singer whose death is immortalized in the song “American Pie”

1967: Leslie Jones—American comedian, actress, and Saturday Night Live cast member (2014–19)