7 Interesting Things You Never Knew About Beauty Pageants

Miss America became a tradition because of tourism

The Miss America Pageant first began as an incentive to keep tourists in Atlantic City after Labor Day. In 1920, the city held a parade of beautiful women, hoping that tourists would be intrigued and extend their vacation, according to Time. The next year, the parade was turned into Miss America, and the first winner was 16-year-old Margaret Gorman from Washington, D.C.

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