Not long ago, we had a Miss America Pageant. That was a huge thing when I was growing up; now I find it hard to tell you who won. I don’t know what has changed so that not as many people keep up with Miss America anymore - unless she does something stupid during her reign. Then we know about it!
Here is a quiz about Miss America and the who’s and what’s and when’s and where’s. See if you can answer at least half of them correctly.
1. In what year did the Miss America pageant begin? 1933; 1921; 1925; 1917.
2. From which state was Miss America 2001? Florida; South Carolina; Hawaii; Rhode Island.
3. In which year was the Miss America title “post-dated?” 1960; 1950; 1940; 1970.
4. Who was the first hearing impaired Miss America? Nicole Johnson; Heather Whitestone; Kimberly Aiken; Shawntell Smith.
5. What year was Vanessa Williams Miss America? 1990; 1984; 1980; 1986.
6. Which Miss America sang the National Anthem at the Inaugural Concert for President Richard M. Nixon? Laurel Schaefer; Phyllis George; Terry Meeuwsen; Susan Powell.
7. Margaret Gorman, the first Miss America, represented what town? Miami, Fla.; Washington, D.C.; Chicago, Ill.; Philadelphia, Penn.
8. Mary Katherine Campbell became the first woman to do what? Have Bert Parks sing “There She Is” as she walked down the runway; play an instrument as her talent; win the pageant two years in a row; be crowned in an evening gown verses a swimsuit.
9. Miss America 1982, Elizabeth Ward, won in a dress made out of what? Her mother’s wedding dress; her grandmother’s lace tablecloth; her grandmother’s velvet drapes; her best friend’s prom dress.
10. Which one of these future actresses was NOT a Miss America winner? Marilyn Monroe; Mary Ann Mobley; Lee Merriweather; Bess Myerson.
Bonus question: Who was just crowned Miss America 2014, and other than having the title of Miss America, what other title does she hold?
ANSWERS
1. 1921. The first Miss America was 16 year-old Margaret Gorman of Washington, D.C. 2. Hawaii. Angela Baraquio is the second Miss America from Hawaii. The first was Carolyn Sapp in 1992. 3. 1950. The pageant was held in 1950, but winner Yolande Betbeze was considered Miss America 1951. 4. Heather Whitestone - Miss America in 1995 from Alabama. 5. 1984. Vanessa Williams resigned from her position after appearing nude in Playboy. She was the first African-American woman to be crowned Miss America. 6. Laurel Schaefer was crowned Miss America in 1972; she was from Ohio. 7. Washington, D.C. When the pageant first started in 1921, the contestants represented cities rather than states. Miss Gorman won a prize of $100. 8. Win the pageant two years in a row. After Miss Campbell won two years in a row, the rules were changed so a contestant could win only once. 9. Her grandmother’s lace tablecloth. Elizabeth Ward Gracen went on to star in the “Highlander” series on TV. 10. Marilyn Monroe. She was the Parade Grand Marshall in the early ‘50s, but never a contestant. Bonus Question: Nina Davuluri is the second consecutive New York beauty queen to take the Miss America title, but she’s also the first Indian-American to wear the crown. Congratulations, Miss Davuluri!