Miss America Pageant

The Miss America Pageant is a nationwide scholarship competition for young women and has become a time-honored tradition.

History

The Miss America Pageant began in 1921 by New Jersey businessmen to increase tourism to the seaside location of Atlantic City. Originally entitled the Atlantic City Pageant, it advertised itself as a beauty competition which later evolved to a more holistic approach. The swimsuit and evening wear now only contribute a small portion to the overall score and weigh more towards academic achievement, career aspirations and service to the community and abroad. The overall competitions include interview, talent, evening wear, swimsuit and answering an on-stage question.

Contestant Requirements

17-24 years of age
Unmarried status
Legal citizen of the United States
Resident of delegated state
Educational honors

The Big Move

The ratings for the pageant soared in the 1960s after picking up popularity across the nation. However, over the years the ratings decreased and fell for the first time under 10 million in 2004. The host station, ABC, decided against further broadcasting the competition and Miss America moved to CMT in 2007. The TLC network took over in 2008 and moved the entire competition from Atlantic City, New Jersey, to Las Vegas at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. Though viewership is drastically less than before, it still manages to have a steady crowd of followers.

Featured Video

source: www.youtube.com