There She is........

Miss America 1958
Marilyn Van Derbur, Colorado

Last night a heard a new Miss America was crowned.  I missed it.  


When I was a teenager back in the Fifties, I used to follow all the beauty pageants with a passion which was not unusual for a 14 year old gay kid who didn't know he was gay.  I can't say exactly why beauty pageants fascinated me.  Perhaps it was the beauty and glamour.  The fantasy come true of a Cinderella becoming a princess.  What I was pretty sure was that I didn't picture myself in that role.  Except for a brief period on elementary school when I wanted to wear a big, white, puffy, crinoline dress on my Halloween trick or treat excursions, I never have had the desire to go in drag.  But I do appreciate feminine beauty.

Miss America 1921 -bathing beauty
Margaret Gorman, Washington, D.C.

The first year I remember following beauty pageants was in 1954.  I would follow my local Miss Chester County (PA) beauty pageant and try and pick the winner.  Then I would follow the Miss Pennsylvania pageant.  I remember so clearly that year that the Miss Pennsylvania pageant was held in West Chester, PA which was where I was born an also near where I lived in Downingtown, PA.  I remember perusing all the county winners and pointing out Evelyn Ay, Miss Ephrata.  I told my Mother, "Look at how ugly she is, she will never win Miss Pennsylvania, let alone Miss America!"   Well, guess what?  Evelyn Ay, Miss Ephrata won Miss Pennsylvania and then went on to win Miss America in the very first televised pageant.  I was shocked.  So much for my beauty picking skills.

Evelyn Ay, Miss America 1954 and her court

From 1954 on I never missed a televised Miss America pageant.  I eagerly looked forward to them each year.  Sometimes I would pick the winner, sometimes not.  I enjoyed so much sharing this activity with my Mother.  We even attended in person once a Miss Chester County pageant.  I was thrilled.  

1951 Miss America Contestants

Where I began to lose it with the Miss America pageant was when it became a scholarship pageant.  What was that all about?  I'll tell you, it was about political correctness.  To me a beauty pageant is about beauty. What's so hard to understand about that?  Apparently the old men who ran the Miss American pageant out of Atlantic City, New Jersey didn't understand that.  

2010 Miss American Contestants - definitely a different attitude

The last time I watched a Miss America pageant was when the final contestants were all standing around in matching pants suits.  Man oh man.  Talk about losing your focus.  

Miss America 1951
Yolande Betbeze, Alabama

Well, it was with no surprise that television viewership fell off and eventually the Miss America pageant lost its TV slot.  Several years ago it was banished to the nether regions of cable TV.  I was never able to find it.  I gave up. 

Miss America 1952
Coleen Hutchins, Utah

Now I don't know if the old man who used to run the Miss America pageant is still alive (I think his name is Albert Marks or something like that) but if he is pushing up daisies now he surely would be turning over in his grave if he could see the Miss America contestants today.  The beauty if back!

Miss America 1953
Neva Jane Langley, Georgia

Miss America 1954
Evelyn Ay - the last Miss Pennsylvania to win Miss America

Miss America 1955
Lee Ann Meriweather of California

Miss America 1956
Sharon Ritchie, North Carolina

Miss America 1957

Marian McKnight, South Carolina

Miss America 1958
Marilyn Van Derber, Colorado

Miss America 1959
Mary Ann Mobley, Mississippi

This year for the first time in several years the Miss America pageant was televised nationwide.  I still missed it but I won't miss it next year.  

Hey, I may be gay but I still appreciate a beautiful woman and nothing compliments a beautiful woman more than a beautiful gown.  

Miss America Contestants Gown Competition (my favorite)

And last but not least, what would a Miss America Pageant be without this dear man singing "There she is!  Miss America!" as the newly crowned Miss America walked down the runway in the Atlantic City Convention Center and acknowledged her new subjects, tears streaming down her face while she tried to keep her recently placed crown from falling off of her head.  Those memories I will never forget.  

Bert Parks
1914-1992