The United States has a long-standing tradition of selecting women to serve as symbols of generosity and community ideals. This tradition began when George Washington traveled from Mount Vernon to New York City in 1789 to assume the presidency, and groups of young women dressed in white lined his route and placed palm branches in front of his carriage. This same tradition was seen again when General Lafayette's triumphant tour of the United States in 1826 was welcomed by similar delegations of young women. In the late 1800s, P. T.
Barnum developed a brilliant alternative plan for a beauty contest that would accept entries in the form of photographic images. These photographs would be displayed in his museum and the public would vote for them. The ten finalists would receive oil portraits of themselves on special commission, which would be reproduced in a fine art book that would be published in France, entitled World Book of Female Beauty. By employing modern technology and combining discreet entertainment with the appeal of intellectual culture, Barnum pioneered a new model of commercial entertainment. Over the next few decades, the photo contest was widely imitated and became a respectable way for girls and women to judge their beauty.
Civic leaders from all over the country, aiming to boost citizens' morale, incorporate newcomers and attract new settlers and businesses to their communities, organized newspaper competitions to choose women who would represent the spirit of their places. One of the most popular competitions took place in 1905, when the promoters of St. Louis Exposition contacted municipal newspapers across the country to select a young woman from her city to compete for a beauty title at the Exposition. The city chosen for this event was Atlantic City, New Jersey. Absecon Island, where Atlantic City was built, was known by the Lenni Lenape Indians as Absegami or Little Marine Water.
In 1852, a group of New Jersey businessmen, eager to develop the coast, received a rail freight from Camden to Atlantic City. Engineer Richard Osborne named and designed Atlantic City as it was the shortest distance between Philadelphia and the sea. Atlantic City grew rapidly as a tourist city due to its waterfront that provided more people with access to the sea by the 1870s. The city had a prototype roller coaster in the late 1880s and by the early 1900s middle- and working-class Philadelphians were coming to play on the beach. Mechanical wonders led tourists to make daring attractions that made their stomachs tremble while children rode on carousels and families dined at seaside cafes.
Concerts were held every night in the sand and gala dances were held in the many hotels along the coast. Atlantic City seemed to have developed two personalities; on one hand it was promoted as a quiet and healthy vacation spot offering sun and surf while on the other hand tourists were delighted with its bustling atmosphere created by a festival of intermediate attractions, numerous attraction docks (such as H. J Heinz bought it to popularize his 57 varieties of pickles) and a selection of fun attractions. The economy went through difficult times in the 1930s but people continued to flock to Atlantic City due to its popularity when it became part of Monopoly, where players managed large sums of money and devised strategies to buy the best property along the waterfront. With air travel becoming more accessible to vacation spots such as Florida and Caribbean, Atlantic City suffered a decline in popularity during 1950s. In 1976, Atlantic City legalized gambling which brought tourism back to the city and created new jobs. Casinos have been heralded as a unique urban development tool but at same time over past three decades city has faced declining urban center and high rate poverty which has challenged citizens and casino owners alike. Since 1921 Miss America pageant has chosen Atlantic City as its home every September bringing together famous presenters such as Donny and Marie Osmond and Tony Danza next to Convention Center one of biggest trade fairs in beauty pageant industry is installed in casino. Contestants are seen everywhere on waterfront and hotels adding excitement being in Atlantic City while glittering show was heralded success Business League set work soon after plan next year's event appointing committee organize magazine bathers following example popularity newspaper-sponsored photo-based beauty contests newspapers far west Pittsburgh far south Washington D.
C.Winners would enter Atlantic City contest if local newspaper paid winner's clothing Atlantic City Business League pay contestant's trip compete Interurban Beauty Contest plans progressed contestants selected local journalist Atlantic City Herb Test enthusiastically proclaimed “And we'll call her Miss America” Fall Frolic. The District of Columbia has been home to many pageants over the years, including Miss DC USA, Miss DC Teen USA, Miss District of Columbia International, Miss District of Columbia USA Plus Size Pageant, Miss District of Columbia Outstanding Teen Pageant, Miss District of Columbia Latina Pageant, Miss District of Columbia Scholarship Pageant, Miss District of Columbia Collegiate Pageant, Miss District of Columbia Pre-Teen Pageant, Miss District of Columbia Junior Teen Pageant, Miss District of Columbia High School Pageant, Miss District of Columbia Junior High School Pageant, Miss District of Columbia Elementary School Pageant, Miss District of Columbia Middle School Pageant, Miss District of Columbia Senior High School Pageant, Miss District of Columbia Senior High School Plus Size Pageant, Miss District of Columbia Senior High School Outstanding Teen Pageant, Miss District of Columbia Senior High School Latina Pageant. These pageants are held throughout various locations within DC such as hotels or convention centers due to their size and scope. The locations are chosen based on their proximity to major attractions such as monuments or museums so that contestants can take advantage of these sites during their stay. Additionally, these locations are chosen based on their ability to accommodate large crowds for events such as pageants or award ceremonies. The pageants held in DC have become an important part of its culture over time. They provide an opportunity for young women from all walks of life to come together and celebrate their accomplishments while also providing an opportunity for them to gain recognition for their hard work.
These pageants also provide an opportunity for contestants to gain valuable experience that can help them succeed in other areas such as college or career paths. The pageants held in DC have become an important part of its culture over time. These pageants also provide an opportunity for contestants to gain valuable experience that can help them succeed in other areas such as college or career paths.
