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Quiz about Interesting Facts about the Miss America Pageant

Interesting Facts about the Miss America Pageant Quiz

"There she is....Miss America"! It's the stuff little girl's dreams are made of. Here are some questions about the history of the Miss America pageant.

A multiple-choice quiz by jbk728. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
jbk728

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
211,041

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
619

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Margaret Gorman, the first Miss America, represented what town? Hint

Miami, FL

Washington, DC

Chicago, IL

Philadelphia, PA

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Question 2 of 10

2. Mary Katherine Campbell became the first woman to do what? Hint

Play an instrument as her talent

Have Bert Parks sing "There She Is" as she walked down the runway

Be crowned in an evening gown verses a swimsuit

Win the pageant two years in a row

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Question 3 of 10

3. Back in the '30s, one of the written rules of the Miss America pageant was that the girl had to be of the white race.

True

False

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Question 4 of 10

4. Catalina Swimwear pulled their sponsorship of the Miss America program after which Miss America refused to appear in her swimsuit after the competition? Hint

Bess Myerson

Marilyn Van Derber

Lee Merriweather

Yolande Betbeze

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Question 5 of 10

5. In 1970, the first black Miss America contestant competed in the pageant. She was from what state? Hint

Arkansas

New York

Ohio

Iowa

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Question 6 of 10

6. Kaye Lani Rae Rafko, Miss America 1988, dedicated her year to what social issue? Hint

Celebrating diversity and inclusion

Homeless veterans

Caring for the terminally ill

Diabetes awareness

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Question 7 of 10

7. Miss America 1982, Elizabeth Ward, won in a dress made out of what? Hint

Her mother's wedding dress

Her best friend's prom dress

Her grandmother's velvet drapes

Her grandmother's lace tablecloth

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Question 8 of 10

8. Jane Jayroe, Miss America 1967, performed a rather unusual talent. What was it? Hint

She did tricks on horseback

She conducted the Miss America orchestra

She twirled a fire baton

She demonstrated basketball layups

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which one of these future actresses was NOT a Miss America winner? Hint

Bess Myerson

Lee Meriweather

Marilyn Monroe

Mary Ann Mobley

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Question 10 of 10

10. What celebrity was a judge at the 1966 Miss America Pageant? Hint

Julie Andrews

Bette Davis

Joan Crawford

Audrey Hepburn

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Margaret Gorman, the first Miss America, represented what town?

Answer: Washington, DC

When the pageant first started in 1921, the contestants represented cities rather than states. Miss Gorman won a prize of $100!

2. Mary Katherine Campbell became the first woman to do what?

Answer: Win the pageant two years in a row

After Miss Campbell won two years in a row, the rules were changed that a contestant could only win once. This holds true to this day.

3. Back in the '30s, one of the written rules of the Miss America pageant was that the girl had to be of the white race.

Answer: True

It was the infamous "Rule 7" written by Lenora Slaughter, the long-term director of the pageant. The rule stated that the girl had to be in good health and of the white race.

4. Catalina Swimwear pulled their sponsorship of the Miss America program after which Miss America refused to appear in her swimsuit after the competition?

Answer: Yolande Betbeze

Catalina Swimwear then began the Miss USA pageant. This pageant is considered more of a "beauty" pageant. There is no talent portion of competition.

5. In 1970, the first black Miss America contestant competed in the pageant. She was from what state?

Answer: Iowa

Her name was Cheryl Brown, and she was the first black contestant. The first black contestant to make the Top 10 was Lencola Sullivan, Miss Arkansas 1980. In 1984, Vanessa Williams became the first black Miss America.

6. Kaye Lani Rae Rafko, Miss America 1988, dedicated her year to what social issue?

Answer: Caring for the terminally ill

After her reign, it became mandatory for each contestant to have a "platform" or "critical issue". Heather French's platform was homeless veterans, Nicole Johnson's platform was diabetes awareness, and Ericka Dunlap's was Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion.

7. Miss America 1982, Elizabeth Ward, won in a dress made out of what?

Answer: Her grandmother's lace tablecloth

Elizabeth Ward Gracen went on to star in the "Highlander" series on TV. She also admitted she had slept with Bill Clinton while he was governor of Arkansas.

8. Jane Jayroe, Miss America 1967, performed a rather unusual talent. What was it?

Answer: She conducted the Miss America orchestra

She was Miss Oklahoma, and won by conducting the orchestra. The other three talents have all actually been talents performed at the national and/or state level. Animal acts were banned after a horse barely missed falling into the orchestra pit!

9. Which one of these future actresses was NOT a Miss America winner?

Answer: Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe was the Parade Grand Marshall in the early '50s, but never a contestant. Bess Myerson was Miss America 1945, Lee Meriweather was Miss America 1955, and Mary Ann Mobley was Miss America 1959.

10. What celebrity was a judge at the 1966 Miss America Pageant?

Answer: Joan Crawford

Deborah Bryant of Kansas was selected as Miss America 1966. Other celebrity judges have included Grace Kelly, Peggy Fleming, and Dr. Joyce Brothers.

Source: Author jbk728

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