A S THE iconic Miss America pageant nears its 100th anniversary, a special investigation by GLOBE reveals the shocking scandals behind the glamorous beauty contest featuring toothy smiles, glittering tiaras and clean-scrubbed, all-American girls.
The popular fall event in Atlantic City has been canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but officials are already working feverishly to reboot the contest for 2021 at its traditional New Jersey setting or another location.
Meanwhile, GLOBE’s investigation reveals that since the contest exploded on the scene in 1922 — two years after women won the right to vote — it has been marred by scandals, including the mysterious disappearance of a winner, religious prejudice, nude photos, a bizarre swimsuit battle, weight-shaming and twisted sex.
BESS MYERSON, 1945
Raven-haired Bess is the only…