The Official Preliminary to the Miss America Pageant 
 
The Miss America Pageant was organized in 1921 by a group of Atlantic City merchants and civic leaders. It was known at that time as the Atlantic City Bathing Beauty Contest and was intended to be a special event designed to extend the summer season one more week.

Today, the Miss America Pageant and its 1500 local and state pageants comprise the largest single source of scholarship funds available to young women in the world. Annually, an estimated 40 million dollars is made available to more than 30,000 young women who participate in the Miss America Programs. An estimated 300,000 volunteers donate more than 6 million hours every year to local, state and national pageants.

Delaware joined the Miss America Pageant family in 1933 with its first representative, Victoria George. Through the early years the pageant was not an annual event due to the world wars and other economic conflicts which suffered throughout the nation.

In 1966, the Miss Delaware Pageant moved to Convention Hall in Rehoboth Beach, a resort oriented community similar to Atlantic City. For over 30 years the merchants and citizens of Rehoboth Beach and the State of Delaware have continued to support the largest scholarship foundation for women in the world.  In 2006 Miss Delaware Pageant moved to Dover Downs Hotel and Casino in Dover, the Capital of the First State.

In 1969, with the help of Senator Richard Cordrey, Miss Delaware became the Official Hostess to the state.

The original Rehoboth Beach franchise was held by the Chamber of Commerce and the pageant directors were chosen from its membership. In 1973, a board of directors was chosen and the Miss Delaware Scholarship Organization was born. To this date a board holds the franchise.

In 1972, Catherine Lawton was the first Miss Delaware to be named as a Preliminary Talent Winner and selected for the top ten in the Miss America Pageant. She traveled with the U.S.O. Troupe overseas to entertain U.S. Servicemen. In 1976, Debora (Day) Lipford was also named to the top ten in the Miss America Pageant. Other state title holders have gone on to win swimsuit, congeniality and non-finalist talent awards.  Most recently, Miss Delaware 2008, Galen Giaccone was named as a Preliminary Talent Winner and selected for the top fifteen at the 2009 Miss America Pageant.

To learn more about the results of past Miss Delaware's at the Miss America Pageant, Click Here!

Check out some Photos of our Miss Delaware's  too!

Decades of Delaware Stars

Please Note that No Pageant 1934, 1935, 1938, 1939, 1945 to 1949
*Deceased

To see title of the pictures below place your cursor over the picture.