By Anneta Konstantinides, Business Insider
August 25, 2026
Do you know the difference between Miss USA and Miss America?
They’re the two biggest pageants in the country, and both involve a sash and crown. But that’s where most of their similarities end.
From eligibility requirements and prize packages to swimsuit versus talent competitions, here are all the differences between Miss America and Miss USA.
The Miss USA pageant began because of a Miss America winner’s protest
Miss America predates Miss USA by 31 years. The first pageant — held in September 1921 — was part of a strategy to bring tourists to Atlantic City after Labor Day, according to the Miss America website. It was won by a 16-year-old named Margaret Gorman, who was competing as Miss Washington, DC.
The Miss America website states that the pageant also featured a “bathing beauty review,” which was an “act of rebellion during a time when women weren’t permitted to wear swimsuits in public.”
Miss USA began because of a very different act of rebellion. In 1951, the new Miss America winner, Yolande Betbeze, refused to pose for pictures in a swimsuit. Catalina, a swimwear company sponsoring the competition, was upset by her decision and decided to create its own pageants.
In 1952, Jackie Loughery was crowned the first Miss USA, and Armi Kuusela from Finland became the first Miss Universe. Nine American women have won Miss Universe since its inception — the most of any country.
To be eligible to compete in Miss America, contestants must be between the ages of 18 and 28. Women between 14 and 18 can compete in Miss America’s Teen, its sister pageant.
Miss America contestants cannot be married or have children. It’s a rule that past winners, including Grace Stanke and Camille Schrier, defended in interviews with Business Insider.
The Miss America pageant also previously had a strict “anti-boyfriend” rule. Madison Marsh, who won Miss America in January 2024, told Business Insider at the time that the policy had changed under current CEO Robin Fleming.
“She has been saying it’s a new day at Miss America, and she really meant that,” Marsh said. “There are a lot of outdated rules that have gone away, one being that you can’t be engaged and be Miss America.”
Miss USA has significantly changed its eligibility rules in recent years. The pageant began allowing married women and mothers to compete in 2023, and 2024 was the first year that all women 18 and over were eligible (the previous cutoff age was 28).
Women ages 14 to 19 can compete in Miss Teen USA.
Unlike Miss USA, Miss America does not have a swimsuit competition
Miss USA contestants are judged on swimsuit, evening gown, and interview rounds.
Unlike Miss USA, Miss America features a talent competition. It also has evening wear, interview, and fitness rounds.
The pageant removed its swimsuit round in 2018, announcing that it would no longer judge contestants based on their “outward physical appearance.”
The pageants also have very different prize packages
According to its website, Miss America was one of the first organizations in the country to offer college scholarships to women, beginning in 1945.
Instead of offering scholarships, the Miss USA Organization has typically paid the winner a salary for their yearlong reign. In past years, the prize package has also included an apartment in New York or Los Angeles for their time as Miss USA.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.businessinsider.com/miss-usa-miss-america-pageant-differences