Beauty contests became more popular in the 1880s. In 1888, the title of ‘beauty queen’ was awarded to an 18-year-old Creole contestant at a pageant in Spa, Belgium. …
1920s American beauty queens
Beauty contests came to be considered more respectable with the first modern “Miss America” contest held in 1921.
Take a look at these glamorous photos to see what American beauty queens looked like from the early days.
Miss Chicago Georgia Theodora Hale was the winner in the first year of the Miss Chicago contest in 1922
Miss Chicago Margaret Leigh came in fourth place at the Atlantic City Miss America beauty contest, the most prestigious beauty contest in America, September of 1924
Miss Milwaukee Clare Koehler, from left, Miss Chicago Margaret Leigh, Miss Los Angeles Lillian Knight and Miss Sioux City Alta Sterling, Sept. 1924
Miss Chicago of 1925, Margarita Gonzales, circa 1925. Gonzales was a candidate for the national title at the Atlantic City beauty contest in 1925, but was eliminated in the first round
Cars are covered in flowers as part of a Chrysler Parade to honor beauty queens, Sept. 1, 1926
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