“Miss Pretty Legs”
Contestants of the ‘most beautiful legs’ competition in New Jersey, 1951. This competition was a popular event in the mid-20th century, where women showed off their legs in swimsuits and high heels. The winner was determined by judges who evaluated the contestants’ legs based on criteria such as shape, smoothness, and overall appearance.
“Miss Blueberry”
The Blueberry Queen is still being crowned in Maine and New Jersey (USA). One of the first winners was Ethel Zilber in 1955. The winner of the competition represents the state’s blueberry industry at various events and festivals.
“Miss Beautiful Eyes”
To avoid anything distracting judges from their main task, the beauty pageant contestants wore masks like this. Throughout the competition, participants changed masks several times, and contestant number 7 won in 1930.
“Miss Atomic Bomb”
The most famous ‘Miss Atomic Bomb’ of 1957 was the dancer Lee Merlin, whose photo became a symbol of America in the 1950s.
The contestants were required to model atomic-themed outfits, and Lee Merlin’s photo in a mushroom cloud-inspired bikini became an iconic image of the Atomic Age.
Miss Sausage”
In 1956, Lorraine Cole won the title of “Miss sausages”. One of the criteria for the pageant was the ability to eat sausages quickly and gracefully.
“Miss Kitchen”
In 1964, Gloria Prince won the title of ‘Miss Kitchen’ in New York.
The ‘Miss Kitchen’ competition was a unique pageant that judged contestants not only on their beauty, but also on their cooking skills. The contestants had to prepare a dish and present it to the judges, along with showcasing their poise and charm.
“Miss Perfect Posture”
Participants of the ‘Miss Perfect Posture’ competition in 1956, Mariana Baba, Lois Conway, and Ruth Swenson, standing next to their X-ray images.
This competition was a beauty pageant that judged women not only on their physical appearance, but also on their posture. Contestants were X-rayed to determine the straightness of their spines, and the winner was chosen based on who had the most perfect posture.
“The Queen of Catfish”
In 1954, 18-year-old Gale Hooper from Memphis, Tennessee, won the title of “The Queen of Catfish”. In the photo, she is holding a 25-kilogram fish with one hand.
This competition was unique in that it judged women on their ability to handle fish and other seafood. Contestants were required to clean and prepare fish, identify different types of seafood, and showcase their knowledge of the seafood industry.
“Miss Donut”
National Donut Day has been celebrated in the US since 1938 on the first Friday in June, and a beauty contest is held in honor of the holiday. In the photo is the winner of the 1957 contest.
“Posture Queen”
The “Queen of Posture” contest was held by the Michigan Chiropractic College from 1955 to 1969. The perfection of the contestants’ spine was evaluated using strictly scientific methods, including X-ray examination. The winner of the 1957 contest, Diane Stopka from St. Louis, is shown in the photo.
“Miss Beach”
This is what fashionable swimsuits looked like in the past century. In the photo is a contest of bathing suits that took place on June 17, 1922.
“Miss Best Body”
Participants of the “Miss Best Body” contest in 1947. One of the requirements for the contestants was to have a toned and fit physique.
“Marilyn Monroe Look-a-Like Competitions”
Participants of the “Marilyn Monroe Look-a-Like Competitions” compared their figures to the Marilyn Monroe’s body templates, and the victory went to the contestant with the closest parameters in 1958.
These competitions were popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s and were often held in conjunction with movie premieres featuring Marilyn Monroe.
“Miss Sweater”
In 1956, the title of ‘Miss Sweater’ was awarded to 17-year-old Jani Carroll from New York.
This competition was a unique beauty pageant that judged women not on their physical beauty, but on their ability to knit and model sweaters. Contestants had to knit a sweater themselves and then model it on stage.
“Miss Perfect Back”
The contestant of the ‘Miss Perfect Back’ competition, Ruth Herschler, during examination and X-ray imaging, Los Angeles, 1930.
This competition judged women on the shape, symmetry, and overall appearance of their backs. Contestants had to undergo a medical examination and X-ray to ensure the perfect shape of their spin
“Miss Magic Marker”
The winner of the ‘Miss Magic Marker’ competition in 1954. This cadet attracted the attention of the judges, painted her chest. The competition itself was a memorable advertisement for markers.
“Miss Diaper”
During the competition, contestants had to parade in homemade diapers. The winner of the 1947 contest was Betty Barrett.
“Miss American Vampire”
The contest was held to promote the movie “House of Dark Shadows”. In the photo, actor Jonathan Frid, who played the role of the main vampire Barnabas Collins in the movie, presents the award to the winner.
“Miss Psychic Warfare”
Only 4 girls participated in the contest, and they were photographed next to homemade loudspeakers. The contest is considered to have aimed to demonstrate how dishonest and propagandistic methods were used during World War II.
“Queen of Anti-Triskaidekaphobia”
Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13. The contest was held as part of the fight against superstition in 1963 in New York. It was, of course, held on Friday the 13th, and the winner was Cindy Carol.
“Miss Lemon”
“Miss Lemon” contest in 1920 is pictured in the photo. The contest was held as part of a festival celebrating the citrus fruit industry.
“Miss Pretty Monkey”
The “Miss Beautiful Monkey” contest was held only once, in June 1972, and was timed to coincide with the filming of the movie “Planet of the Apes”.
The contestants had to wear ape masks and were judged on how closely they resembled the makeup used in the movie.
“Miss War Worker”
The “Miss War Worker” contest took place in Canada and was open to any woman who worked under wartime conditions.
The contest aimed to honor and recognize the contributions of women to the war effort, and the winner was often featured in newspapers and other media as a symbol of the importance of women’s work during the war.
“Miss Engine Oil”
The winner of the “Miss Motor Oil” contest in 1955 is pictured here with gas station attendants.
The “Miss Motor Oil” contest was a promotional event sponsored by an oil company to increase sales of their motor oil products.
“Miss Radio”
The title of “Miss Radio” was won by Elmera Hamphris in 1939. Her impressive costume was covered in lightning bolts made out of ordinary cardboard.
This contest was a popular event during the Golden Age of Radio, highlighting the role of women in the industry.
