Do You Remember These Iconic Miss America Moments?
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She’s beauty and she’s grace! No, we’re not just quoting Miss Congeniality, we are in fact talking about the one and only Miss America pageant, a place for gorgeous, poised women to stand and be judged for their good looks and talents. But it’s not all smiles and crowns. The Miss America pagShow More
She’s beauty and she’s grace! No, we’re not just quoting Miss Congeniality, we are in fact talking about the one and only Miss America pageant, a place for gorgeous, poised women to stand and be judged for their good looks and talents. But it’s not all smiles and crowns. The Miss America pageant has quite its share of shocking, scandalous, and outrageous moments throughout the years.
See if you can remember every unexpected moment, the times contestants totally goofed up their answers, and the ways that the organization has flubbed publicity. From swimsuit competitions to lawsuits, there’s always some drama for your mama at the Miss America pageant.
Don your favorite evening gown, take the stage and practice your perfect pageant wave. We’re headed down memory lane to see if you can remember these absolutely iconic moments from Miss America. Only the greatest will take home the MagiQuiz trivia crown.
What year was the very first Miss America Pageant, held in Atlantic City, NJ?
- 1915
- 1921
- 1933
- 1934
This woman is the first black Miss America, and was also featured on the Corn Flakes box. She was forced to step down after Playboy released nude photos of her, only receiving an apology from the Miss America organization in 2016.
- Vanessa Williams
- Caressa Cameron
- Ericka Dunlap
- Kimberly Aiken
In 1945, Bess Myerson entered and won the Miss America pageant, but she was told to change her name and banned from many hotels and country clubs. Why?
- She sounded too old
- She had been married, and they wanted her to have her maiden name
- Her father was a crime boss
- She was Jewish
In 1951, Betbeze Fox, the reigning Miss America, refused to model in what, causing a main sponsor of the pageant to start the rival Miss USA pageant?
- The American flag
- Lingerie
- Swimwear
- Cowboy boots
In 2007, Miss Teen South Carolina answered a question with this infamous response: "I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, um, some people out there in our nation don't have maps and, I believe that our, I, education like such as, uh, South Africa, and uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, should help South Africa, it should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future, for us." What was the question?
- Why do so many Americans fail geography?
- Why are so many Americans unable to name more than three countries on a map?
- Why are so many Americans unable to locate the U.S. on a map?
- Do you think it’s a problem that half of Americans don’t know where Canada is?
Judith Ford won the crown in 1968 with a rather unusual talent. So unusual in fact that she is the only contestant to have ever done this. What was it?
- Walked on broken glass
- Trampoline
- Conducting the Miss America orchestra
- Dressage
In 1937, the winner of Miss America did what upon winning her crown?
- Fainted
- Decided she didn’t want the role and ran off with a man
- Protested the organization
- Accused the judges of being corrupt
In 1996, the pageant held a phone-in poll to see if they should continue the swimsuit competition. What percentage of people said yes?
- 50%
- 69%
- 87%
- 90%
Mary Katherine Campbell has won the pageant more times than any other competitor. How many times has she won?
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
This Miss America broadcast her wedding on TLC in the special, "Wedding Story" in 2003.
- Debbye Turner Bell
- Mary Ann Mobley
- Lee Meriwether
- Katie Harman
The first black contestant in Miss America was from which state?
- Louisiana
- Minnesota
- Iowa
- New York
Carloyn Sapp, Miss America 1992, was featured in a made-for-TV movie. What was it called?
- Miss Congeniality
- Miss America: Behind the Crown
- Taking the Tiara: The Story of Miss America
- Always the Runner Up
Gretchen Carlson was Miss America before moving to Fox News. She came back to the Miss America organization when she sued the former chairman Roger Ailes for what?
- Sexual harassment
- Fraud
- Abuse
- Tax evasion
In 2018, which contestant introduced herself as "From the state with 84 percent of the U.S. fresh water but none for its residents to drink."
- Miss Florida
- Miss Minnesota
- Miss California
- Miss Michigan
Kaye Lani Rae Rafko was the first Miss America to dedicate her year to a social issue, something that became mandatory after her reign. What was her social issue?
- Feeding the hungry
- AIDS awareness
- Caring for the terminally ill
- Saving abandoned animals
In 1982, Elizabeth Ward was crowned Miss America after wearing a dress made out of what?
- Her grandmother’s lace tablecloth
- Toilet paper
- Recycled paper
- An upcycled slip
How old was the youngest Miss America?
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
In 2012, Leah Cecil was asked during the interview portion about euthanasia. What did she think it was?
- A car
- A disease
- A country
- A vaccine
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