Being Miss America: Behind the Rhinestone Curtain (Discovering America) (7 page)

King Neptune, here with Margaret Gorman, presided over the festivities and was a ubiquitous presence in the early years; posing with each Miss America was one of the perks of the gig. Courtesy of Robert Ruffolo/Princeton Antiques Bookshop
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In 1922, Gorman was succeeded by Philadelphia’s Mary Katherine Campbell, rocking a fur coat and closed-toe pumps with her swimsuit. Campbell also took the title in 1923, prompting a rule change that limited winners to a single victory. Still, her return to compete again cements her as the manifestation of my recurring stress dreams. Courtesy of Robert Ruffolo/Princeton Antiques Bookshop
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The Miss America parade, shown here in 1924, brought enormous crowds to the boardwalk. Atlantic City was already a popular destination, but Miss America quickly became a huge draw for the seaside resort. Courtesy of Robert Ruffolo/Princeton Antiques Bookshop
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As the annual event grew, the winner’s prizes also got cooler. The now-priceless trophies—like the giant seashell given to Ruth Malcomson in 1924—were typically oceanic in theme. The Vicki Gold Levi Collection
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When Lenora Slaughter made the trek from Florida in 1935 to revive the pageant, she was only 24, not much older than the contestants she supervised. Her tenure transformed the pageant into a respectable enterprise. She is shown here in the 1950s
. Press of Atlantic City.

Bess Myerson, still the only Jewish Miss America, was escorted down the boardwalk in 1946 by American G.I.’s. Courtesy of Robert Ruffolo/Princeton Antiques Bookshop
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Yolande Betbeze, shortly after her 1950 crowning—and probably not long before she flatly refused to wear outfits like this on a regular basis. Courtesy of Daryl Schabinger
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An indelible and enduring image: debutantes floating down the runway in miles of white tulle. The Vicki Gold Levi Collection/Photograph by Al Gold
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Sponsors like Philco took advantage of the pageant’s popularity to create buzz for their products. Lee Meriwether, presumably, got a free TV. Courtesy of Robert Ruffolo/Princeton Antiques Bookshop
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Bert Parks (here, with Bess Myerson several years after her reign) was a recognizable personality even before he became the pageant’s longtime host—but Miss America cemented his household-name status. The Vicki Gold Levi Collection
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Upon her retirement in 1967, Lenora Slaughter (pictured here with, left to right, successor Albert Marks, vice president Adrian Philips, and president John C. Rowe) was presented with a symbolic Miss America crown
. Press of Atlantic City.

Vanessa Williams, a radiant and historic Miss America, could hardly have anticipated the unprecedented challenges she would face. She is pictured at a 1984 press conference at the Golden Nugget
. Press of Atlantic City.