The very first Miss America pageant took place in 1921 — here's what it was like

Gabbi ShawSep 12, 2020, 20:23 IST

The first Miss America in 1921.Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The first Miss America pageant was held on September 8, 1921. It originally started as a way to keep tourists in Atlantic City after Labor Day.
It's now a huge organization that prides itself on handing out scholarships.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year's pageant was pushed back until December 2021.

While this year's Miss America was pushed back to December 2021, the competition has traditionally been held the weekend after Labor Day, commonly signaling the end of summer and beginning of fall.

Miss America first took place in 1921. Designed to attract tourists to Atlantic City, New Jersey, there weren't many rules (yet) — in fact, winners were partially judged on applause. Back then, only a handful of women participated, but the pageant grew quickly. In the almost 100 years since, it has become a huge organization that provides scholarships to women, and encourages female empowerment.

The Miss America pageants of the '20s are a far cry from what they are today. Keep scrolling to see what some of the very first Miss America pageants looked like, from funny costumes to modest swimwear.

The first Miss America pageant took place on September 8, 1921.

Contestants in the first Miss America pageant line up for the judges in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in September 1921. AP Images

This year's pageant was postponed until 2021. That means that the reigning Miss America Camille Schrier, the former Miss Virginia, will hold the crown for two years.

It was held on the Atlantic City Boardwalk and started as a way to keep tourists around after Labor Day.

Neptune & Miss America at the Atlantic City Festival circa 1922. Buyenlarge/Getty Images

In 1920, the city put on a Fall Frolic event, to modest success. They decided to go even bigger the next year and make it a two-day event.

Thousands of people came to see the spectacle.

Miss America beauty contestants on Atlantic City's seafront in 1921 for the Miss America Beauty Pageant. AP Images

By 1923, over 300,000 people were flocking to the boardwalk to see the pageant.

It actually started out as two pageants: the Inter-City Beauty Contest and a Bather's Revue.

Miss America contestants posing for a photograph. Bettmann/Getty Images

The Inter-City Beauty Contest was meant for amateurs, while professional models and actresses entered the Bather's Revue.

The Inter-City Beauty Contest received over 1,000 entries from around the US in the form of photographs.

1922's Miss America, Mary Katherine Campbell. Bettmann/Getty Images

The first prize was being crowned "Golden Mermaid" and receiving a trophy. Prizes given to runners-up were swimsuits and trophies designed by Annette Kellerman, a swimmer trying to popularize the one-piece swimsuit in lieu of bloomers. She was famously arrested in 1907 for indecency — she wore a bathing suit that bared her arms and legs — and her involvement in the pageant was quite scandalous at the time.

The first prize was being crowned Golden Mermaid and receiving a trophy. Prizes given to runners-up were swimsuits and trophies designed by Annette Kellerman, a swimmer trying to popularize the one-piece swimsuit in lieu of bloomers. She was famously arrested in 1907 for indecency — she wore a bathing suit that bared her arms and legs — and her involvement in the pageant was quite scandalous at the time.

Of those entries, six were chosen to represent their city, known as "key cities." These women officially competed in the Inter-City Beauty Contest on the boardwalk.

Mary Dague as Miss Wheeling, Dorothy Haupt as Miss Easton, Helen Lynch as Miss Fall River, Ellen E. Sherr as Miss Allentown, Paula E. Spoettle as Miss Bridgeport, and Miss Margaret Gorman as Miss America. Bettmann/Getty Images

Notably, the contestants were all unmarried. To this day, Miss America contestants aren't allowed to be married, though a 1999 rule change allowed divorceés to enter.

The winner was based partly on applause, and partly on the judges' decisions.

View of five of the contestants in the Miss America contest as they walk along the beach, Atlantic City, New Jersey, July 1924. Underwood Archives/Getty Images

Now, contestants are judged on a more complex set of factors, like "leadership, talent, communication skills, and smarts."

Now, contestants are judged on a more complex set of factors, like leadership, talent, communication skills, and smarts.

The first winner was Miss Washington, D.C., Margaret Gorman.

Margaret Gorman. Bettmann/Getty Images

Gorman was just 16 at the time. Now, contestants must be at least 17 (though no older than 25).

Gorman then entered the Bather's Revue, which was composed of the Inter-City contestants and professional models.

Neptune and Miss America in the parade. Bettmann/Getty Images

Gorman also won a trophy in the Boardwalk Parade for her appearance, showing how popular she was with the spectators.

Gorman won that too, and took home the Golden Mermaid trophy.

Mayor Edward L. Bader hands the key to the city to the first crowned Miss America, Margaret Gorman, in Atlantic City. Bettmann/Getty Images

"I never cared to be Miss America. It wasn't my idea. I am so bored by it all. I really want to forget the whole thing," Gorman said later of her win.

I never cared to be Miss America. It wasn't my idea. I am so bored by it all. I really want to forget the whole thing, Gorman said later of her win.

Gorman entered the contest again the next year, but since the title of Washington, DC, had already gone to a new representative, they had to come up with something new: She was allowed to compete as Miss America, and the title was born.

Margaret Gorman from Washington D.C. smiles, wearing a large Statue of Liberty crown and a striped cape, as the first Miss America, Atlantic City, New Jersey. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

She competed again in 1922 and 1923, but was ultimately succeeded by Mary Katherine Campbell, who held the crown for two years.

Gorman entered the contest again the next year, but since the title of Washington, DC, had already gone to a new representative, they had to come up with something new: She was allowed to compete as Miss America, and the title was born.

She competed again in 1922 and 1923, but was ultimately succeeded by Mary Katherine Campbell, who held the crown for two years.

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The very first Miss America pageant took place in 1921 — here's what it was like

The first Miss America pageant took place on September 8, 1921.

It was held on the Atlantic City Boardwalk and started as a way to keep tourists around after Labor Day.

Thousands of people came to see the spectacle.

It actually started out as two pageants: the Inter-City Beauty Contest and a Bather's Revue.

The Inter-City Beauty Contest received over 1,000 entries from around the US in the form of photographs.

Of those entries, six were chosen to represent their city, known as "key cities." These women officially competed in the Inter-City Beauty Contest on the boardwalk.

The winner was based partly on applause, and partly on the judges' decisions.

The first winner was Miss Washington, D.C., Margaret Gorman.

Gorman then entered the Bather's Revue, which was composed of the Inter-City contestants and professional models.

Gorman won that too, and took home the Golden Mermaid trophy.

Gorman entered the contest again the next year, but since the title of Washington, DC, had already gone to a new representative, they had to come up with something new: She was allowed to compete as Miss America, and the title was born.