Beauty contests became more popular in the 1880s. In 1888, the title of ‘beauty queen’ was awarded to an 18-year-old Creole contestant at a pageant in Spa, Belgium. All participants had to supply a photograph and a short description of themselves to be eligible to enter and a final selection of 21 was judged by a formal panel. Such events were not regarded as respectable. Beauty contests came to be considered more respectable with the first modern “Miss America” contest held in 1921.
![On Aug. 2, 1926, Mae Greene, 18, was chosen as Miss Chicago 1926 out of 4,000 rivals at the Trianon Ballroom in Chicago](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/vintage-american-beauty-queens-1920s-01.jpg)
On Aug. 2, 1926, Mae Greene, 18, was chosen as Miss Chicago 1926 out of 4,000 rivals at the Trianon Ballroom in Chicago
![Estelle Kosloff, 20, August 16, 1927. Kosloff won the Miss Chicago beauty pageant in 1927, but was disqualified when the pageant found out she was recently married](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/vintage-american-beauty-queens-1920s-03.jpg)
Estelle Kosloff, 20, August 16, 1927. Kosloff won the Miss Chicago beauty pageant in 1927, but was disqualified when the pageant found out she was recently married
![Miss America Lois Delander, a Joliet High School junior who was selected queen of beauty at the Atlantic City pageant, is seen with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albin Delander, 1927](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/vintage-american-beauty-queens-1920s-05.jpg)
Miss America Lois Delander, a Joliet High School junior who was selected queen of beauty at the Atlantic City pageant, is seen with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albin Delander, 1927
![Miss Myrtle Christine Valsted, 17, July 11, 1927. Valsted became Miss Chicago 1927 after the original winner, Estelle Kosloff, was found out to be married](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/vintage-american-beauty-queens-1920s-06.jpg)
Miss Myrtle Christine Valsted, 17, July 11, 1927. Valsted became Miss Chicago 1927 after the original winner, Estelle Kosloff, was found out to be married
![Mrs. Wallace Ford models a dress that she will wear to the Miss America costume for arts ball at the Stevens Hotel, Nov. 20, 1927](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/vintage-american-beauty-queens-1920s-08.jpg)
Mrs. Wallace Ford models a dress that she will wear to the Miss America costume for arts ball at the Stevens Hotel, Nov. 20, 1927
![Virgina Stonesifer, from left, Betty Ann Savers, Doris Rutkin, Margaret Dorney, Novene LaRue, and Myrtle Christine Valsted in the Miss Chicago contest, 1927](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/vintage-american-beauty-queens-1920s-09.jpg)
Virgina Stonesifer, from left, Betty Ann Savers, Doris Rutkin, Margaret Dorney, Novene LaRue, and Myrtle Christine Valsted in the Miss Chicago contest, 1927
![Miss Chicago Georgia Theodora Hale was the winner in the first year of the Miss Chicago contest in 1922](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/vintage-american-beauty-queens-1920s-10.jpg)
Miss Chicago Georgia Theodora Hale was the winner in the first year of the Miss Chicago contest in 1922
![The recently-crowned Miss Universe, Ella Van Hueson, 22, arrived home in Chicago for a parade in her honor on June 8, 1928 after winning the International Pageant of Pulchritude in Galveston, Texas](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/vintage-american-beauty-queens-1920s-13.jpg)
The recently-crowned Miss Universe, Ella Van Hueson, 22, arrived home in Chicago for a parade in her honor on June 8, 1928 after winning the International Pageant of Pulchritude in Galveston, Texas
![Miss Chicago Margaret Leigh came in fourth place at the Atlantic City Miss America beauty contest, the most prestigious beauty contest in America, September of 1924](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/vintage-american-beauty-queens-1920s-14.jpg)
Miss Chicago Margaret Leigh came in fourth place at the Atlantic City Miss America beauty contest, the most prestigious beauty contest in America, September of 1924
![Miss Milwaukee Clare Koehler, from left, Miss Chicago Margaret Leigh, Miss Los Angeles Lillian Knight and Miss Sioux City Alta Sterling, Sept. 1924](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/vintage-american-beauty-queens-1920s-15.jpg)
Miss Milwaukee Clare Koehler, from left, Miss Chicago Margaret Leigh, Miss Los Angeles Lillian Knight and Miss Sioux City Alta Sterling, Sept. 1924
![Miss Chicago of 1925, Margarita Gonzales, circa 1925. Gonzales was a candidate for the national title at the Atlantic City beauty contest in 1925, but was eliminated in the first round](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/vintage-american-beauty-queens-1920s-16.jpg)
Miss Chicago of 1925, Margarita Gonzales, circa 1925. Gonzales was a candidate for the national title at the Atlantic City beauty contest in 1925, but was eliminated in the first round
via vintag.es