Beauty contests became more popular in the 1880s. In 1888, the title of ‘beauty queen’ was awarded to an 18-year-old Creole contestant at a pageant in Spa, Belgium. All participants had to supply a photograph and a short description of themselves to be eligible to enter and a final selection of 21 was judged by a formal panel. Such events were not regarded as respectable. Beauty contests came to be considered more respectable with the first modern “Miss America” contest held in 1921.
The popularity of the Miss America pageant prompted other organizations to establish similar contests in the 1950s and beyond. Some were significant while others were trivial, such as the National Donut Queen contest.
The Miss World contest started in 1951, Miss Universe started in 1952 as did Miss USA. Miss International started in 1960. Miss Asia Pacific International which started in 1968 is the first and oldest beauty pageant in Asia. The Miss Black America contest started in 1968 in response to the exclusion of African American women from the Miss America pageant.
The Miss Universe Organization started the Miss Teen USA in 1983 for the 14-19 age group. Miss Earth started in 2001, which channels the beauty pageant entertainment industry as an effective tool to actively promote the preservation of the environment. These contests continue to this day.
These slides were found by Tommy Napier that shows beauties at the Sun Girl contest in Gold Coast, Queensland on January 27, 1957.
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| Hazel, Judy, Yolande |
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| Glynn Coppin |
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| Hazel Gant |
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| Jan Cridland |
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| Judith Widdoson |
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| Mannequins lineup |
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| Sun Girl contestant (No.12) |
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| Sun Girl contestant |
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| Sun Girl contestant |
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| The line up |
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| Winner Judith Widdowson |
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| Yolande Brunel |
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| Yolande Brunel |
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| Yolande Brunel |