There she is, Miss America, through the years

Emil Lendof

featured

Jun 5, 2018

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Margaret Gorman smiles while wearing a large Statue of Liberty crown.

1921: Margaret Gorman from Washington D.C. smiles while wearing a large Statue of Liberty crown and a striped cape as the first Miss America in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Getty Images

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Cameramen film contestants walking in the sand.

1939: The contestants wore their swimsuits, sashes designating the states they represented and high heels while walking in the sand. Getty Images

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Contests stand with Bennett E. Tousley, then-chairman of the pageant.

1939: A group photo of the Miss America candidates with Bennett E. Tousley, hotel executive and then-chairman of the pageant, as Father Neptune in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

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1952: Marilyn Monroe plays grand marshal as she rides on the back of a convertible down the boardwalk during the Miss America Beauty Pageant parade in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Getty Images

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1968: Anti-pageant protesters hold demonstrations in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Getty Images

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1969: Newly crowned Miss America Judith Ford as she waves from the runway at Boardwalk Hall during the Miss America beauty pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Getty Images

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1971: Miss America winner Phyllis George drops her crown (left) and catches it as she makes her victory walk at the 1971 Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Getty Images

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President Ronald Reagan smiles as Miss America Kim Brede (right) and Miss Universe Shawn Weatherly kiss him on each cheek.

1981: President Ronald Reagan smiles as Miss America Kim Brede (right) and Miss Universe Shawn Weatherly kiss him on both cheeks inside the Oval Office. Getty Images

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1984: Vanessa Williams resigns her Miss America title in New York City after nude photographs of Williams and another woman surfaced. Getty Images

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1988: Gretchen Carlson during the Miss America 1988 pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey. FilmMagic, Inc

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1995: Heather Whitestone became the first woman with a disability to be crowned Miss America in the pageant’s 75-year history. Getty Images

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