Localized beauty pageants spread to cities across the United States, and colleges combined aspects of the pageants with Homecoming Queen and May Day traditions to create collegiate pageantry. In 1954, the Miss America Pageant was telecast for the first time by ABC, turning the experience of the event into a national phenomenon. This event evolved over the course of the next two decades into the Miss America Pageant. However, the first true beauty pageant in the modern sense of the word was not held until 1921, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Beauty pageants had their origin in photographic beauty contests that were publicized in newspapers in the 1850’s, and bathing beauty contests in the 1880’s. NC State pageant, State’s Mates was associating itself with a tradition of displayed femininity in twentieth century America. NC State pageant line up in their evening wear.
