 Miss America competition: history, rules and peculiarities
Added: 12/23/2005 |
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Miss America competition is a truly American pageant originated in the early 1920s. However nowadays people avoid calling it the "beauty contest". The reason is that beauty isn't considered to be the only and primary criterion taken into account by judges (according to Miss America rules). Some people involved with the Miss America competition indicate that Miss America is looking not for a model, but for a "role model".
Speaking about Miss America, it's worth to mention some peculiar facts of Miss America history. As a matter of fact, Miss America competition was born on the 7th of September. It was organized as a two-day beauty contest in. Take into account that Miss America competition isn't the same as Miss USA pageant.
In the early years Miss America competition between women wearing was known as the main event of the year. Later Miss America organization made a decision to pay wearing bathing suits less attention at the contest. As a result swimsuit-making companies-sponsors decided to start their own separated pageant called Miss America competition has one of the longest beauty contest histories. It has been televised on the national television since 1954. It's interesting to admit that peak of this competition was in the early 1960s. It can be easily explained by the fact that Miss America competition was repeatedly one of the highest-rated television programs in the USA. Miss America (the winner of the competition) was considered to be the symbol of the entire United States of America. As a matter of fact it was also often referred to as a female equivalent of the President.
It's worth mentioning that Miss America competition's distinguishing feature is that it accentuates on conservative values. The contestants are not expected to have any ambitions except being an excellent wife. It's peculiar that Miss America competition was only open to white females. Black ones could take part in the parallel Miss Black America contest.
Since the 1990s the Miss America competition has been reformed into the well-known Miss America Organization. It is a non-profit corporation which includes the following three divisions: Miss America pageant, Miss America foundation and scholarship fund.
Miss America competition is known to be connected with a wide range of subsidiary programs in the USA. First, local representatives are being selected by local contests; then they participate in state pageants and the winners of these state competitions compete in the Miss America competition with the aim of having the title "Miss America". The contest is annually held in Atlantic City.
Speaking about the competition, some Miss America rules should be outlined. It's a common knowledge all the contestants are selected and judged by the panels of judges which is based on the following set of competitions: interview (conversation with judges on various topics), talent (performance on the stage), swimsuit (walking in conservative two-piece suits or more modern one-piece ones) and evening gown.
Therefore, prizes for Miss America competition are given at three levels: local, state and national ones. They commonly give scholarships as awards to be used in higher education. Sometimes the prizes are supplemented with merchandise or money donated by sponsors. The winner of the first prize is also awarded the "Miss America" title for one year.
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