Margaret Gorman made history on September 8, 1921, when she won what would later be called the first Miss America pageant. She was only 16 years old, making her the youngest winner ever. The contest was originally called the Atlantic City Pageant and was created to extend the summer tourist season past Labor Day.
Margaret was chosen as Miss Washington D.C. and sent to represent her city in Atlantic City. She stood just 5 feet 1 inch tall and weighed 108 pounds. The judges picked her partly because she looked like Mary Pickford, a famous movie star of the time. Margaret won the Golden Mermaid trophy and prizes worth $100. The next year, pageant officials decided to call her the first Miss America when she returned to crown the new winner.
Unlike modern pageants, there was no talent competition or platform for social causes. Winners were judged mainly on their appearance in bathing suits. Margaret later said she was embarrassed by some of the attention. After her reign, she lived a quiet life. She married and worked as a model and actress briefly. Margaret always remained proud of her place in history as the very first Miss America.