Pageant History· 1980s

The History of Pageants: 1980s

Vanessa Williams, Miss America Platforms and the GuyRex Miss USA® Winning Streak

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1980

After 25 years as emcee of the Miss America Pageant, Bert Parks is dismissed. Fans are outraged and talk show host Johnny Carson starts an unsuccessful "Bring Back Bert" campaign. Parks is replaced by Ron Ely, television's Tarzan.

1980

The Miss T.E.E.N. Pageant, a program honoring teen excellence, is founded. Susan McDonald wins the first title.

1980

Lenola Sullivan, Miss Arkansas, is the first African-American woman to make the top five at the Miss America Pageant. She also wins the swimsuit competition.

1980

Twenty-year-old Shawn Nichols Weatherly, Miss South Carolina-USA wins the coveted triple crown when she is awarded the titles of Miss USA and, then, Miss Universe. The South Carolinian is the first American in thirteen years to accomplish the feat. Upon Shawn's victory as Miss Universe, Jineane Ford, Miss Arizona-USA and the first runner-up, assumes the Miss USA title.

1981

Moments after the credits roll for the 1979 Miss Universe Pageant in Australia, the stage collapses as 200 reporters and contestants rush forward to congratulate the winner, Maritza Sayalero, of Venezuela.
Eight contestants plunge through the stage floor to the concrete beneath and Miss Malta and Miss Turkey are hospitalized for minor injuries after rescue workers pull them from the debris.

1981

'TEEN Magazine acquires the rights to the Miss Teenage America Pageant from the Dr. Pepper Company and transforms it into a nationwide mail-entry contest celebrating teen achievement. Finalists are judged on grades, community service, and intelligence. The winner serves as a ‘TEEN columnist and spokesperson.

1982

Ron Ely is replaced as master of ceremonies by popular actor Gary Collins, husband of former Miss America Mary Ann Mobley (1959). Collins had starred in the film Born Free, while Mobley had appeared in two Elvis Presley movies.

1982

The coronation song There She Is is replaced by Look at Her and Miss America, You're Beautiful after a contract dispute between pageant officials and songwriter Bernie Wayne. However, the public is disappointed and There She Is soon returns by popular demand.

1983

BS televises the first Miss Teen USA Pageant from Lakeland, Florida. Ruth Zakarian, of New York, wins.

1983

Marking the most important racial milestone in pageant history, Vanessa Williams becomes the first African-American to win the Miss America title.

1984

A media frenzy ensues after reporters reveal that Williams posed for sexually explicit pictures before her victory. When Penthouse publishes the photos, officials request that Vanessa step down. She resigns during a nationally televised press conference.
William's first runner-up, Suzette Charles, becomes the second African-American woman to hold the title.

1984

The Miss Teen of America Pageant is founded. Debbie Brooks of Modesto, California wins the first title.

1984

For the first time, an Eurasian woman wins the Miss USA title, Mai Shanley, of Philippine and Irish parentage.

1985

In another racial breakthrough, 1985 became the year of the Latina beauties. Laura Martinez Herring, a naturalized Mexican-American, is named Miss USA, making her the first Hispanic to win a major U.S. pageant title. She later marries a European count. Deborah Carthy-Deu, Miss Puerto Rico, wins the Miss Universe title the same year.

1985

The Mrs. World Pageant is founded. Rosie Senanayake, Mrs. Sri Lanka, wins the first title.

1985

The Mother/Daughter Pageant is started.

1986

The first beauty contest television series is started, the syndicated Dream Girl USA Pageant. It lasts one season before being canceled.

1986

Miss Black USA Pageant is founded by Karen Arrington.

1986

The Mrs. United States Pageant is founded. Sharon Kirkby wins the first title (1987).

1987

Kaye Lani Rae Rafko, an oncology nurse from Michigan, wins the 1988 Miss America title. When she voluntarily devotes part of her year of service to advocating hospice care and promoting the nursing profession, she sets a new precedent of social activism for titleholders. Her actions are so positively received by the public, that the pageant begins developing an official "platform" through which future titleholders can be role models for public service.

1987

The first Miss Black USA Pageant is held at the J.W. Marriott hotel ballroom in Washington, DC., with twenty-one intelligent, beautiful and talented African-American women from across the nation. Tamiko Gibson, Miss Black Maryland, a 21-year-old University of Maryland Broadcasting Journalism major is crowned the first ever "Miss Black USA".

1988

For the first time, an American wins the Mrs. World title, Mrs. America, Pamela Nail of Mississippi. 

1989

The Mrs. International Pageant is founded. Rhonda Berglan, of Oklahoma, the mother of two children, wins the first title.

1989

The Lone Star state achieves a monopoly on the Miss USA title when Texans win the national crown for five consecutive years, 1985-1989. All five women prepare under the tutelage of Richard Guy and Rex Holt, the flamboyant founders of GuyRex, Inc.

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