Miss America

1921: Margaret Gorman becomes first Miss America Margaret Gorman, 16, of Washington, D.C., is crowned the first "Miss America" in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

THEN AND NOW: How the Miss America pageant has changed over the years

 

Gabbi Shaw        

 

Miss America is a beauty pageant that has been around since 1921, where it started out as a bathing suit contest designed to attract tourists to Atlantic City, New Jersey.

In the almost 100 years since, it has grown into a huge organization that provides scholarships to women, and encourages female empowerment.

The pageant has gone through many modifications, including network changes, location changes, and most recently, the removal of the swimsuit portion.

Miss America began in 1921 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. There weren't many rules (yet), and only a handful of women participated, but the pageant grew quickly. As the decades went by, it changed with the times - or didn't, depending on your viewpoint........To Read More.....