The concept of beauty contests can be traced back to the ancient Greeks, who held beauty competitions as part of their festivals to honor their deities. These contests were known as "pageants" and typically involved women competing in categories such as physical beauty, talent, and intelligence. In the United States, beauty pageants became popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the first modern beauty pageant being held in 1921. The most famous beauty pageant in the United States is the Miss America pageant, which was first held in 1921 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Miss America pageant quickly became a national phenomenon, attracting contestants from across the country and gaining widespread media attention.
