Miss America
102 mins
Tracking the country’s oldest beauty contest—from its inception in 1921 as a local seaside pageant to its heyday as one of the country’s most popular events—Miss America paints a vivid picture of an institution that has come to reveal much about a changing nation. The pageant is about commercialism and sexual politics, about big business and small towns. But beyond the symbolism lies a human story—at once moving, inspiring, infuriating, funny, and poignant. Combining rare archival footage, with a host of intimate interviews with distinguished commentators including Gloria Steinem, Margaret Cho, Isaac Mizrahi, former contestants and behind–the–scenes footage and photographs, the film reveals why some women took part in the fledgling event and why others briefly rejected it - how the pageant became a battle ground and a barometer for the changing position of women in society.
Peter Nelson
Director of Photography
Stephen McCarthy
Director of Photography
Lisa Ades
Producer
Lesli Klainberg
Producer
Margaret Drain
Executive Producer
Susan Mottau
Coordinating Producer
Lisa Ades
Director
Michelle Ferrari
Writer
Sarah Kramer
Associate Producer
Cara Martes
Consulting Producer
Jeanne Houck
Executive Producer
Toby Shimin
Editor
Lola Van Wagenen
Executive Producer
Cheryl Teetzel
Associate Producer
Douglas J. Cuomo
Music
Curt Casassa
First Assistant Director