Since 1921, few events have been subject to as much publicity and emotion, ranging from admiration to scorn, as the annual Miss America Pageant. The pageant awards scholarships to winners and title holders travel all over the world as ambassadors of the country and their own individual charitable concerns. The history of the contest is fraught with issues from overt racism in its early years to more contemporary concerns over the propriety of the swimsuit competition. Squabbles over some of these issues led to sponsor boycotts and the establishment of the Miss USA Pageant, a competitor, in 1951. Nevertheless, Miss America is a recognizeable American brand and the pageant has inspired many related toys, games, and dolls. In 1988 the pageant created an official board game, endorsed by Miss America 1988, Kaye Lani Rae Rafko and others associated with the official pageant.
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.