Margaret Gorman
Encyclopedia
Margaret Gorman is best known for being the first Miss America
, from the year 1921.
Pageant as an honored guest held on September 8, 1921. There Gorman was invited to join a new event: the "Inter-City Beauty" Contest see (Timeline of major beauty pageants
). She won two titles, "Inter-City Beauty, Amateur," and "The Most Beautiful Bathing Girl in America" after competing in the Bather's Revue. She won the grand prize, the Golden Mermaid trophy.
Gorman was expected to defend her positions the next year, but since someone else had reached the title of "Miss Washington, D.C.," she was instead crowned as "Miss America." She is the only Miss America to receive her crown at the end of the year. Gorman was the lightest Miss America, at 108 pounds, until 1949, when five-foot three-and-one-half inch Jacque Mercer
of Phoenix, Arizona
, weighing in at 106, won the now-coveted title.
Gorman was later quoted as saying "I never cared to be Miss America. It wasn't my idea. I am so bored by it all. I really want to forget the whole thing." She still owned the sea green chiffon and sequined dress she wore in the 1922 competition.
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
, from the year 1921.
Miss America
At age 16, Gorman was chosen as "Miss Washington, D.C." due to her athletic ability, past accomplishments, and outgoing personality. She was invited on that count to join the Second Annual Atlantic CityAtlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
Pageant as an honored guest held on September 8, 1921. There Gorman was invited to join a new event: the "Inter-City Beauty" Contest see (Timeline of major beauty pageants
Timeline of major beauty pageants
-Pre 1900s:*early 19th century: Bathing Beauty Pageant of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware begin.*1854: P.T. Barnum was the man behind the first American pageant.-1920s:...
). She won two titles, "Inter-City Beauty, Amateur," and "The Most Beautiful Bathing Girl in America" after competing in the Bather's Revue. She won the grand prize, the Golden Mermaid trophy.
Gorman was expected to defend her positions the next year, but since someone else had reached the title of "Miss Washington, D.C.," she was instead crowned as "Miss America." She is the only Miss America to receive her crown at the end of the year. Gorman was the lightest Miss America, at 108 pounds, until 1949, when five-foot three-and-one-half inch Jacque Mercer
Jacque Mercer
Jacque Mercer from Litchfield, Arizona, was Miss America in 1949. She is mentioned several times in the 1997 Philip Roth novel, American Pastoral.-References:*...
of Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, weighing in at 106, won the now-coveted title.
Gorman was later quoted as saying "I never cared to be Miss America. It wasn't my idea. I am so bored by it all. I really want to forget the whole thing." She still owned the sea green chiffon and sequined dress she wore in the 1922 competition.