Miss America Season 1 Episode 10 Miss America 1964

The TV show Miss America season 1 episode 10 is titled "Miss America 1964" and takes a look back on one of the most controversial beauty pageants in American history. The episode showcases the events leading up to the 1964 Miss America pageant, featuring interviews with some of the key figures involved such as Mary Ann Mobley – who was the winner of the competition– and writer Robin Gerber.

As the episode covers events of the past, viewers are transported back to a time when beauty pageants were more controversial than they are today. The 1964 Miss America pageant was particularly significant as it marked the beginning of a new era. The pageant was held during a period of significant change in the US, with the civil rights movement gaining momentum and feminism starting to emerge.

The episode highlights how a group of women disrupted the pageant in protest, forcing the organizers to realize the cultural significance of the competition and take action. The women, who identified as feminists, picketed outside of the convention center in Atlantic City where the pageant was taking place. Their presence brought a new level of scrutiny to the competition, shining a light on the unrealistic beauty standards that contestants were expected to meet and the lack of diversity among participants.

In addition to the protests, the episode also covers the events leading up to the pageant and the competition itself. From the preliminary rounds to the final event, viewers get an inside look at what it was like to participate in the contest in 1964. The episode showcases how the contestants prepared for the competition and how they coped with the intense pressure that came with being on the stage.

As a result of the women's protest and the public scrutiny that followed, the Miss America pageant underwent significant changes in the years that followed. The pageant diversified its competitions, allowing participants of different races and ethnicities to compete. It also changed its rules, eliminating outdated standards like the requirement that contestants be unmarried.

The episode concludes by examining the legacy of the 1964 Miss America pageant and its impact on American society. It highlights the ways in which the pageant helped to bring attention to issues of sexism and inequality, paving the way for future discussions about these topics. Ultimately, the episode paints a picture of a time when beauty pageants were viewed differently than they are today, and how a small group of women helped to change the course of history by speaking out against what they saw as injustice.

Overall, Miss America season 1 episode 10 is an insightful and thought-provoking look at an important moment in American cultural history. It offers a window into the past, allowing viewers to gain a deeper understanding of the social and political landscape of the 1960s. It also challenges us to think critically about the role that beauty pageants have played – and continue to play – in society.