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Celia FernandezAnd Tallie Spencer
2019-12-19T22:59:41Z
- Since theMiss AmericaCompetition started in 1921, contestants walked the stage in fabulous evening dresses.
- The competition has seen some changes over the years, including the elimination of the pageant's swimsuit and evening dress portions.
- From plunging necklines to classic silhouettes, here's a look at the winning dresses Miss America contestants have worn over the years.
- Visit the Insider home page for more stories.
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Over the years, the winning dresses have been madeMiss Americahave featured everything from plunging necklines to classic mermaid silhouettes.
Miss America pageant firststarted in 1921 as a swimsuit competitionand has seen many changes since then, including the removal ofthe parts bathing suit and evening dress.
Beforethis year's Miss America pageanton Thursday, here's a look back at the dresses the winners have worn over the years.
The very first Miss America winner was Margaret Gorman of Washington, DC in 1921.
Margaret Gorman was only 16 when she won what was originally called "Beauty between the cities" contest. Her title was changed to "Miss America" in 1922.
She accepted her crown in a 1920s-inspired flapper dress.
Mary Katherine Campbell was crowned Miss America in both 1922 and 1923.
Mary Katherine Campbell is the only Miss America contestant to win two straight years. She posed in a royal robe after winning the title.
Ruth Malcomson represented Philadelphia in the 1924 Miss America pageant.
The 18-year-old wore a knee-length satin dress with short heels to her coronation.
Fay Lanphier was crowned Miss America in 1925.
Before Fay Lanphier received the title of Miss America, she was named Miss California in 1924.
Lanphier accepted her crown in a short, buttoned gown with low, closed heels.
In 1926, Norma Smallwood became the first woman of Native American descent to win the Miss America pageant.
Norma Smallwood represented Tulsa, Oklahoma during the pageant. She wore a mid-length flowing dress with her hair pinned up.
Lois Delander took home the Miss America crown in 1927.
Delander wore a sequined fringed dress typical of 1920s flapper style.
The Miss America pageant went on a six-year hiatus after Delander's coronation. ThePageant has been temporarily suspendedafter 1927 as a result of bad press surrounding the event and growing pressure from religious and women's groups.
Marian Bergeron was crowned Miss America in 1933 after the pageant was briefly revived.
Marian Bergeron wore a royal robe with puff sleeves over her white dress as she was awarded the title of Miss America.
The competition returned for good in 1935 and Henriette Leaver was crowned Miss America.
Henriette Leaver wore a black one-piece swimsuit as she was crowned Miss America.
Rose Veronica Coyle was the second Miss Philadelphia to win the Miss America title in 1936.
Rose Veronica Coyle wore a white one-piece swimsuit with strappy heels as she was crowned the winner.
Bette Cooper represented Bertrand Island, New Jersey when she was crowned champion in 1937.
Bette Cooper originally took part in the Miss America pageantas a gamblebut ended up winning the title.
She wore a velvet dress to accept her crown.
Marilyn Meseke was crowned the pageant winner in 1938.
Marilyn Meseke was wearing a silk romper at the time of the pageant.
Patricia Donnelly wore a bathing suit to accept the Miss America 1939 title.
Donnelly wore the satin swimsuit with sling back heels.
Frances Burke represented Philadelphia when she won the Miss America pageant in 1940.
Burke was crowned wearing a simple black bathing suit.
Rosemary LaPlanche had won Miss California two years in a row before becoming Miss America in 1941.
Rosemary LaPlanche was the first runner-up at the Miss America 1940 pageant. In 1941, she claimed her crown in a black bathing suit paired with black heels.
Jo-Carroll Dennison won the Miss America title in 1942.
Jo-Carroll Dennison posed in a black swimsuit as she took home the title.
Jean Bartel won the Miss America title in 1943.
Bartel also wore a black swimsuit at her coronation.
Venus Ramey was the first red-haired contestant to be crowned Miss America in 1944.
Venus Ramey represented the District of Columbia before being named Miss America in 1944. She also wore a black V-neck swimsuit during her coronation.
In 1945, Bess Myerson became the first and only Jewish woman to be crowned Miss America.
Myerson was also the first Miss America to receive a scholarship as part of her win.
Myerson took home the crown in white modest swimwear.
Marilyn Buferd won the Miss America title in 1946.
Buferd donned a white swimsuit with white heels in her crowning moment.
Barbara Jo Walker was crowned Miss America in 1947 and was the last to be crowned in her bathing suit.
Barbara Jo Walker wore a two-piece swimsuit with flowers on the front.
In 1948, BeBe Shopp became the first Miss America winner to be crowned in an evening gown.
Shopp wore a long, flowing evening dress during the Miss America 1948 pageant.
Jacque Mercer represented Arizona when she won the Miss America title in 1949.
Mercer chose to wear a swimsuit during her Miss America coronation.
Yolande Betbeze refused to pose in a swimsuit after winning the Miss America title in 1951.
Technically there was no Miss America 1950. TheThe Miss America title was post-dated by three months1950, meaning 1950 winner Yolande Betbeze was crowned Miss America in 1951.
Betbeze wore a long white dress when she was crowned. Her refusal to pose in a swimsuit during the competition led to swimwear sponsorsto create your own pageant, Miss USA.
Colleen Hutchins was the first Miss Utah to win the crown at the Miss America pageant in 1952.
Hutchins wore a long, white evening dress with embellishments near the top that made it a simple but elegant choice.
Evelyn Ay was the first and only Miss Pennsylvania to be crowned Miss America.
Ay wore a white Cinderella-esque ball gown during her Miss America coronation.
Lee Meriwether won the Miss America title in 1955 and was the first to be crowned on national television.
Meriwether opted for a fitted, strapless gown for her crowning moment.
Sharon Ritchie was crowned Miss America in 1956.
Ritchie donned a white ball gown for her crowning moment at the Miss America 1956 pageant.
Miss America 1957 Marian McKnight became the first Miss South Carolina to receive the crown.
McKnight wore a stunning white ruffle dress with a long tail at the back.
Marilyn Van Derbur was crowned Miss America in 1958.
Marilyn Van Derbur wore a white ball gown with gloves in her crowning moment. Gloves were common at the Miss America pageant in the 1950s.
Mary Ann Mobley was the first Mississippi representative to win the Miss America crown.
Miss America 1959 Marie Ann Mobley looked chic at her coronation as she wore a white ball gown with white gloves.
Lynda Mead was crowned Miss America in 1960, becoming the second consecutive winner from Mississippi.
Mead paired her white dress and gloves with a silver rhinestone bracelet and earrings.
Nancy Fleming wurde Miss America 1961.
Fleming competed as Miss Michigan before winning the Miss America title. She wore a simple white gown with gloves during her crowning moment.
Maria Fletcher represented North Carolina during the 1962 Miss America pageant.
Fletcher was arocketat Radio City Music Hall in New York City before being crowned Miss America.
She opted for a strapless ball gown that was simple but classy.
Jacquelyn Mayer represented Ohio in the 1963 Miss America pageant.
Mayer opted for a white spaghetti strap dress with floral patterns. She paired the look with white gloves.
Donna Axum was the first Miss Arkansas to win the Miss America title.
Miss America 1964 Donna Axum was 22 years old when she took home the title of choice. She posed with her crown in a black long-sleeved dress.
Miss America 1965 Vonda Van Dyke performed as a ventriloquist for the talent portion of the competition.
Van Dyke wore a long white dress with embellishments at the top.
Deborah Bryant was crowned Miss America in 1966, which is also when the pageant was first televised in color.
Bryant wore a classy white satin dress with matching satin gloves in her moment of victory.
Jane Jayroe was crowned Miss America in 1967.
Jayroe also took home the crown for Miss Oklahoma in 1966. She wore a long white dress with a high neckline and a keyhole in the front.
Debra Barnes was crowned Miss America in 1968.
Barnes previously won Miss Kansas before earning the title of Miss America in 1968. Barnes took home the crown in a strapless gown with a sweetheart neckline.
Judith Ford represented Illinois at the Miss America pageant in 1969.
Ford took home the crown in a long white dress with gold detailing on the straps.
Pamela Eldred of Detroit, Michigan was crowned the winner of the 1970 Miss America pageant.
Pamela Eldred accepted her crown in a gorgeous sequined gown.
Phyllis George war Miss America 1971.
George accepted her crown in a sparkling halterneck dress with a loose-fitting skirt.
Miss America 1973 Terry Meeuwsen won both the talent and swimsuit contests.
Meeuwsen looked ready to walk down the aisle in this long-sleeved white dress. Floral detail throughout the dress complements the subtle Miss America crown perfectly.
Miss America 1983 winner Debra Maffett was first crowned Miss California in 1982.
Maffett opted for a more dramatic dress with puff sleeves.
Vanessa Williams became the first African American to be crowned Miss America in 1984.
Williams made history in a pink halterneck dress embellished with crystals. The standout detail was the puff sleeve, which matched the tulle detail at the hem of the dress.
Sharlene Wells was crowned Miss America in 1985.
Wells wears a mint green dress covered in crystal embroidery. The dress is complete with crystal sleeves.
Susan Akin, who was crowned Miss America in 1986, attended more than 110 pageants in her lifetime.
Akin took home the Miss America crown in a white floor-length gown with matching furry straps.
Gretchen Carlson represented Miss Minnesota at the Miss America 1989 pageant.
Carlson won the Miss America pageant in a sparkling blue dress. The feathery detail with white beads on the V-neckline really stands out.
Kimberly Aiken, who was crowned Miss America in 1994, was the first African American woman to be crowned Miss South Carolina.
Aiken kept it low key in this black evening dress full of different design features. The crossed front, sheer sleeves and thigh-high slit are a perfect match.
After winning Miss America 1996, Shawntel Smith joined the organization's board of directors.
Smith took home the Miss America crown in a white halterneck dress with beaded detailing on the chest.
Miss America 1997 Tara Dawn Holland represented Kansas in the election.
Holland's winning dress had see-through sleeves.
Kate Shindle represented Illinois at the Miss America 1998 pageant.
If you look closely, you'll notice the criss-cross detailing and embroidered leaves on the front of Shindle's dress.
Nicole Johnson, who was crowned Miss America in 1999, first entered beauty pageants in Florida.
Johnson wore a classic black halterneck dress for her crowning moment.
Heather French was the first Kentucky woman to be crowned Miss America.
Heather French won Miss America 2000 in an ombre blue maxi dress with a sweetheart neckline.
Angela Perez Baraquio was the first Asian American to ever be crowned Miss America.
Angela Perez Baraquio won the Miss America crown in 2001 in a fiery red halterneck dress with a thigh-high slit.
Miss America 2002 Katie Harman was the first and only Oregon contestant to win.
Katie Harman wore a classic floor-length black dress that will never go out of style for her crowning Miss America moment.
Erika Harold represented Illinois at the Miss America 2003 pageant.
Erika Harold won Miss America in a fringed silver dress with an off-the-shoulder sleeve that matched the tiers of her dress.
Ericka Dunlap was the first African American woman to be crowned Miss Florida. She became Miss America 2004.
Dunlap embodied the Florida sun in this strapless yellow dress with crystals at the waist.
Deidre Downs represented Alabama at the Miss America 2005 pageant.
Deidre Downs stuns in a two-piece dress. The detail in the high-necked bodice is perfectly offset by the simplicity of the white maxi skirt.
Jennifer Berry became the fifth Miss America from Oklahoma to win the pageant.
Berry wore a low-cut, halter-style dress with lots of sparkles.
Lauren Nelson was the second consecutive Miss America from Oklahoma.
For her crowning moment, Lauren Nelson wore a black dress with a French lace bodice and beaded bottoms.
Kirsten Haglund represented Michigan at the Miss America 2008 pageant.
Kirsten Haglund won Miss America in a nude dress embellished with crystals.
Crowned Miss America 2009, Katie Stam began competing in beauty pageants at the age of 15.
Katie Stam took home the Miss America crown in a strapless lace dress with a thigh-high slit.
Caressa Cameron won the preliminary talent contest for her singing.
Caressa Cameron won the Miss America 2010 title in a skin-tight yellow one-shoulder dress with a rhinestone top.
Teresa Scanlan was 17 when she won the Miss America 2011 title.
Teresa Scanlan won Miss America in a white one-shoulder gown adorned with more than 2,000 pearls and crystalsOmaha World-Herald.
Laura Kaeppeler was the first Miss Wisconsin to win since Terry Anne Meeuwsen in 1973.
Laura Kaeppeler won Miss America in a black V-neck dress with embroidered lace details.
Mallory Hytes Hagan was the fourth Miss New York to be crowned Miss America.
Mallory Hytes Hagan's black earrings and bracelet contrasted with the simple white one-shoulder dress she wore to win Miss America 2013.
Nina Davuluri was the first contestant of Indian descent to be elected Miss America.
Nina Davuluri won the Miss America 2013 title in a bright yellow evening dress that she described as "the sexy version" of Belle's dress in Beauty and the Beast, according to theLA times.
Kira Kazantsev was the third consecutive Miss America winner from New York.
For her crowning moment, Miss America 2015 Kira Kazantsev wore a long-sleeved white dress.
Betty Cantrell was the first Miss Georgia to be Miss America since 1953.
Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell wore a two-piece ensemble for the competition. The mermaid skirt hugs Cantrell in all the right places and the blue and silver rhinestones are a beautiful addition.
Savvy Shields, Miss America 2017, began competing in beauty pageants when she was a teenager.
Savvy Shields wore a black sweetheart mermaid dress that was an elevated take on a classic little black dress.
Cara Mund was the first Miss Nebraska to be crowned Miss America.
Miss America 2018 Cara Mund looked flawless in a black dress that featured a long, sheer train and beaded neckline.
Nia Franklin represented New York at Miss America 2019.
Nia Franklin wore a white mermaid dress with one-shoulder ruffled sleeves.
- Continue reading:
- THEN AND TODAY: How the Miss America pageant has changed over the years
- 37 photos of Miss America winners crowned over the years
- 26 Stunning Miss America Pageant Looks Through The Years
- The 2019 Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, and Miss America titleholders are all women of color
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