Growing up, the Miss America Pageant was kind of like a yearly ritual in my grandparent’s house. I didn’t get it, at all. The most exciting thing for me was that my friend’s dad owned some of the cars in the “Show us your Shoes” portion of the pageant the night before in Atlantic City…and today? While there are die-hard Miss America fans all over the country, we at Pearl & Clasp don’t know how it evolved from a competition that once favored brains over beauty and offered women the opportunity to go to University at a time when men outnumbered women in college…to a competition where how sexy a woman looks in a swimsuit determines whether she will receive the coveted $50,000 prize.
That being said, there have been some seriously classy Miss Americas of the past, and we think that this year’s winner, Kira Kazantsev (Miss New York), is no exception.
For one, this former Miss America, Erika Harold, was a Harvard grad who made waves when she ran as for congress as a republican. We also think she looks pretty dang good in pearls!
1990’s crowned Miss America, Debbye Turner, studied Agriculture at the University of Arkansas and became the 3rd African-American woman to ever win the Miss America pageant. To top off her impressive resume, Turner also got a degree in Veterinary medicine and practiced as a veterinarian before going into television.
Another notable winner was 2000’s Miss America, Angela Perez Baraquio, who was the first Asian American, Filipino American, and teacher to ever hold the prestigious title. Turns out these Miss Americas really do love their pearls, and true to her Miss Hawaii origins, Baraquio looks beautiful in this black pearl strand.
While we have a lot to say and a lot of feelings about the Miss America Pageant, we do believe it had noble beginnings. And this year’s competition had it’s fair share of highs and lows…
There was the wardrobe malfunction suffered by Miss Nebraska.
A ventriloquist talent. Do we need to say more?
A lot of ABC cross-promotion, between our favorite opening line by Miss D.C. Theresa Davis, who announced, “From the home of ABC’s hit TV show ‘Scandal,’ it’s handled”, to having 3 former contestants of DWTS stand as a subtle reminder that the show premiered the very next evening. Touché, ABC, touché.
Until next time,
P & C