Miss America (2002)

Miss America is a documentary film directed by Lisa Ades that takes its viewer on a journey from the very beginnings of the Miss America pageant in 1921 to the present-day pageant while exploring how the pageant has reflected the country’s views and where the country was moving towards by whom it chose as its winners each year. As the categories became more substantial and the requirements to participate more rigorous, the Miss America Pageant became much more than just a national contest to be America’s female representative to the world. The pageant, hosted in Atlantic City every year since it started, transformed into a place where sexual politics as well as the position of women were subtly fought and battles against anti-semitism and racism were won. This documentary was released as an episode of American Experience season 14 in January 2002.

Julia Alvarez is an author who has written many books, poems, novels and essays. She was also awarded the 2009 F. Scott Fitzgerald Award for Outstanding Achievement in American Literature among other notable achievements.Margaret Cho has many occupations, but is best known as a comedian through which she tackles social and political issues. William Goldman is a novelist, screenwriter, and playwright and has won two Academy Awards. Isaac Mizrahi, although known for his fashion, is also a TV presenter and creative director of Xcel Brands. Gloria Steinem is a writer and an activist and founded Ms. Magazine among many other organizations and foundations. Steinem has also been inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, NY and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.