Miss America Season 1 Episode 19 Miss America 1973

Miss America 1973 was a landmark year for the pageant, as it marked the first time a black woman was crowned as the winner. This episode of Miss America season 1 takes a deep dive into the events leading up to the pageant and the aftermath of the historic win.

The episode begins by introducing the audience to the reigning Miss America of 1972, Laurie Lea Schaefer. The show then explores the changing cultural landscape of the 1970s, with second wave feminism gaining steam and more marginalized voices clamoring for a seat at the table.

Against this backdrop, a group of feminist activists staged a protest at the 1970 Miss America pageant, calling for an end to the objectification of women and seeking to disrupt what they viewed as a patriarchal institution. The episode delves into the specifics of the protest, featuring archival footage and interviews with some of the key players.

Despite the controversy, the pageant continued to thrive in the years that followed, though it began to incorporate some of the feminist critiques and demands. In 1973, the pageant was rocked by a new challenge, as a group of black women banded together to call for greater representation and recognition within the competition.

The episode profiles several of these trailblazing contestants, including Saundra Williams, the first black woman to be crowned Miss Virginia. The women discuss the challenges they faced and the obstacles they overcame to be part of the pageant, which was still largely seen as a white, middle-class institution.

As the pageant approaches, tensions are high both within and outside of the Miss America organization. The episode examines the political and social factors that made the 1973 pageant such a pivotal moment, and features interviews with scholars and experts who contextualize the event within a broader historical framework.

When the winner is finally announced, it is met with cheers and tears from the audience and the contestants alike. The new Miss America, the trailblazing Terry Meeuwsen, is a beacon of hope and inspiration for women across the country, as well as a symbol of progress and change within the pageant itself.

Overall, Miss America season 1 episode 19 is a thoughtful, nuanced exploration of a pivotal moment in American history. The show expertly weaves together archival footage, contemporary interviews, and historical context, painting a vivid picture of the wider social and political movements that shaped the pageant and the country at large.