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NJ Could Urge Miss America Pageant to Make an Atlantic City Comeback
New Jersey lawmakers are advocating for the Miss America Pageant to return to its 1921 birthplace in Atlantic City after recent relocations, including Orlando

New Jersey lawmakers are making another push to bring the Miss America Pageant back to its roots in Atlantic City.
Despite the pageant’s recent relocations, most recently to Orlando, Florida, legislators are considering a resolution urging its return to the seaside city where it all began in 1921.
The Bill, Awaiting Thursday’s Review
The bill will be reviewed on Thursday, emphasizing the deep historical connection between Miss America and Atlantic City.
Copies of the resolution that was introduced on October 21, 2024, will also reach the chief executive officer of the Miss America Organization and the current Miss America, Abbie Stockard of Alabama, who was crowned on January 5 this year.
“The long and storied history of the Miss America Pageant has been inextricably tied to its origins and long-standing relationship with Atlantic City,” the resolution declares.
Lawmakers hope the pageant’s return will boost tourism, extend the summer season, and revive an iconic piece of Americana.
Miss America’s origins are the Inter-City Beauty Contest, which debuted in Atlantic City almost a century ago.
Over the years, the event evolved into a national competition, attracting contestants from across the United States.
In 1937, Bette Cooper, the 17-year-old daughter of a state highway engineer in rural Hackettstown, New Jersey, was crowned Miss America. As expected, Bette’s victory tied the pageant to the local community even more.
The Largest Scholarship Program Aimed at Women
Beyond its undeniable glitz and glamour, Miss America has also become synonymous with empowerment and acts of philanthropy.
Since 1945, the organization has awarded over $150 million in scholarships, strengthening its position as the most extensive scholarship program for women globally.
More than four decades later, the pageant also embraced a socially conscious role when it introduced platforms that enabled contestants to champion their causes and raise awareness on topics of importance to them.
Since then, every Miss America has dedicated her reign to promoting impactful initiatives nationwide.
Despite its historical ties to Atlantic City, Miss America has strayed far from its original home in recent years.
After decades of hosting the pageant, the city lost the event to other venues. The most recent competition was held in Orlando at the Walt Disney Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center, running from December 31, 2024, to January 5, 2025.
The proposed resolution wants to see the pageant make a comeback to Atlantic City in 2025, where it urges it to stay in upcoming years.
Lawmakers argue that returning to its birthplace would honor its history and revitalize the city’s cultural and economic landscape.
As the state’s 221st Legislature considers the issue, New Jersey hopes to convince the Miss America Organization to restore Atlantic City as the annual host of one of the nation’s most enduring traditions.
Last May, Glenn Straub, the former owner of an Atlantic City casino, filed a lawsuit challenging the ownership of Miss America and claiming ownership of the pageant’s intellectual property after his company acquired the Miss America Organization in December 2022.
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After finishing her master's in publishing and writing, Melanie began her career as an online editor for a large gaming blog and has now transitioned over towards the iGaming industry. She helps to ensure that our news pieces are written to the highest standard possible under the guidance of senior management.
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