Since its inception in 1921, the Miss America pageant has prompted a fierce debate over gender and the qualities of ideal femininity. What began as a "bathing beauty" contest on the Atlantic City Boardwalk soon became a prime target for...

The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands. The first-prize winner of the national pageant is awarded the title of "Miss...

THERE ARE worse things than being old-fashioned. Organizers of the Miss America Pageant should keep that in mind as they seek to revamp their 86-year-old bonbon of an entertainment extravaganza into something they hope will appeal to the often-raw tastes of reality TV audiences....

For reasons that are clear - if not at all convincing - the media absolutely loathe Howard Stern, the New York-based radio and TV personality who just happens to be the country's greatest living satirist. Stern is, of course, hugely popular with wide...

Miss California Jacquelynne Fontaine and Miss Pennsylvania Emily Wills were the winners Saturday as preliminary competition drew to a close for the 2007 Miss America Pageant.The televised finals and crowning of Miss America will be Monday at the Aladdin Resort & Casino.Fontaine, 24, of Moorpark,...

Miss America didn't look like she just got off a plane flight, or like someone who has traveled about 20,000 miles a month since winning her crown in January. Lauren Nelson was too cheery for that.The 20-year-old Lawton native and aspiring Broadway actress beamed, glowed...