Miss USA and Miss America are often confused — but the pageants are quite different. Women aged 18 to 28 can compete in Miss America. All women 18 and over can now compete at Miss USA.
Do you know the difference between Miss USA and Miss America ? They're the two biggest pageants in the country, and both involve a sash and crown. But that's where most of their similarities end. From eligibility requirements and prize packages to swimsuit versus talent competitions, here are all the differences between Miss America and Miss USA.
How did the Miss America and Miss USA pageants begin? Miss America predates Miss USA by 31 years. The first pageant — held in September 1921 — was part of a strategy to bring tourists to Atlantic City after Labor Day, according to the Miss America website. It was won by a 16-year-old named Margaret Gorman, who was competing as "Miss Washington DC.
" The pageant also featured a "bathing beauty review," which was an "act of rebellion during a time when women weren't permitted to wear swimsuits in public," the Miss America website states. Miss USA began because of a very different act of rebellion. In 1951, the new Miss America winner, Yolande Betbeze, refused to pose for pictures in a swimsuit.
Catalina, a swimwear company sponsoring the competition, was upset by her decision — so it decided to create its own pageants. In 1952, Jackie Loughery was crowned the first Miss USA, and Armi Kuusela from Finland became the first Miss Universe. Every winne.