Gorgeous Photos from The Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, 1945

These photographs document the Miss American Pageant held in Atlantic City in 1945. Models were wearing bathing suits and posing in high heels. There were speeches and displays of genuine talent on stage. LIFE photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt was there to document the event in his photographs.

Miss America’s annual competition was first held in 1921 a “bathing beauty revue”, and for almost five decades the only white women participated and won the title. African-American women did not even begin competing in the pageant until the 1970s. Vanessa Williams was the first African-American who won the first beauty pageant in 1984.

In the following competition, Miss Bess Myerson won the title, she was the first Jewish winner of the pageant and she also received a scholarship as part of her victory prize. Take a look at the photos below of the 1945 Miss America beauty pageant.

#1 The winner of the 1945 Miss America pageant, 21-year-old Bess Myerson of New York.

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#2 Spectators line up during the Miss America pageant festivities in Atlantic City, 1945.

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#3 Bess Myerson, Miss America, 1945.

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#4 Scene outside the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, 1945.

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#5 Scene during the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, 1945.

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#6 Outside the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, 1945.

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#7 Contestants in the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, 1945.

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#8 Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, 1945.

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#9 Contestant in the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, 1945.

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#10 Contestants in the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, September 1945.

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#11 Inside the Warner Theater during the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, September 1945.

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#12 Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, September 1945.

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#13 Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, September 1945.

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#14 Contestants in the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, September 1945.

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#15 Bess Myerson, Miss America in 1945, Atlantic City, New Jersey.

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#16 Bess Myerson, Miss America in 1945, meets the press, Atlantic City, New Jersey.

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#17 Miss America contestants in Atlantic City, September 1945.

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#18 Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, September 1945.

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#19 Miss America Bess Myerson (right) and friend, Atlantic City, New Jersey, September 1945.

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