The Miss America Pageant Celebrates 90 Years

The Miss America Pageant will be celebrating 90 years on Sat., Jan.15, 2011 with a live broadcast from Las Vegas's Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. It's back to network television after being carried on cable TV since 2005. ABC will carry the Miss America Pageant festivities live at 9 P.M. Eastern Time. It's an event that pageant lovers from all over America are sure to enjoy. Celebrities, including Joy Behar from "The View'" will be judging the star studded event.

The Miss America Pageant has had its share of ups and downs and controversies over the years as any diligent pageant watcher will probably remember. Here are just a few of the past Miss America Pageant winners.

Margaret Gorman: This was the first Miss America to be crowned way back at the start of the Miss America Pageant. She was from Washington D.C. and was crowned at the ripe old age of 16.

Jean Bartel: This 1943 Miss America Pageant winner who hailed from the state of California was said to be the tallest gal at 5'8" in the pageant's history to win the title.

Jo-Carrol Dennison: In 1942 Miss Dennison was the first Texan to take the crown of Miss America. She focused on selling war bonds and visiting USO Clubs, as America was at war at that time.

Jacque Mercer: After winning the title of Miss America in 1949, Jacque Mercer received multiple mentions in the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, American Pastoral.

Marion McKnight: In 1957 this gal clinched the title of Miss America with her Marilyn Monroe act.

Vonda Kay Van Dyke: This 1965 pageant winner from Arizona had the honor of being the only contestant to earn both the Miss Congeniality and Miss America title.

Susan Powell: This 1981 Miss America winner from Oklahoma went on to host "House Matters", a Discovery Channel series.

Vanessa Williams: This most infamous Miss America winner's title was loaded with controversy. In 1984, Miss Williams was the first African-American to win the crown, but later was forced to relinquish her title amid rumors of reports that she had nude photos taken of herself in earlier years. She went on to create a career for herself that many would be envious of.

Angela Perez Baraquio Grey: In 2001 this Miss America winner was the first Asian-American to win the crown.

Caressa Cameron: Last years winner from Virginia was known for singing as well as her outspokenness on being bullied as a teen.

This list of 10 past winners is just a sampling of the many beauties that had the honor of wearing the crown of Miss America.

Sources:TodayShow.com/beautypageants