The Miss America Pageant started in 1921 and awards scholarships to young women. Here are some facts you may not know about the pageant:
- Nina Davuluri won the 2014 title and is the first Indian-American to be chosen as Miss America.
- 16 year old Margaret Gorman, of WashingtonDC, won the first Miss America Pageant in 1921 and came back to win again in 1922.
- California, Oklahoma and Ohio boast the most Miss America wins with six each.
- Bert Parks has hosted more Miss America pageants than anyone else (1955 to 1979). He was fired at the age of 65 in 1980. They invited him back in 1990 for the pageant’s 70th anniversary.
- After winning the title in 1937, Bette Cooper decided she didn’t want to commit to the role and ran off with a man in a motorboat!
- Bess Myerson won the crown in 1945 and is the only Jewish Miss America.
- The first hearing impaired Miss America was Heather Whitestone in 1995.
- Mary Campbell of Ohio in 1922 and Marian Bergeron of Connecticut in 1933 were both only 15 years old when they won the title.
- Vanessa Williams was the first African-American to win in 1984.
- In 1958, two finalists shocked everyone by tattling on live TV that they shared a common bond – a two timing military cadet boyfriend!
- Elizabeth Ward won in 1982 and wore a dress made out of her grandmother’s lace tablecloth!
- Gretchen Carlson of Fox News was Miss America in 1989.
- Jeanne Robertson of North Carolina was the tallest contestant ever in 1963 at 6 foot, 2 inches.
- Angela-Perez Baraquio was the first Asian- American to win in 2001
