| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
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| Born | Margaret Gorman August 18, 1905 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
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| Died | October 1, 1995 (aged 90) |
| Height | 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m) |
| Weight | 108 lb (49 kg) |
| Measurements | 30-25-32 in |
| Title(s) | Miss Washington, D.C. Golden Mermaid Award Miss America 1921 |
| Major competition(s) |
Miss America (winner) |
Margaret Gorman (August 18, 1905–October 1, 1995) is best known for being the first Miss America, from the year 1921.
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Miss America
At age 16, Gorman was chosen as "Miss Washington, D.C." due to her athletic ability, past accomplishments, and outgoing personality. She was invited on that count to join the Second Annual Atlantic City Pageant as an honored guest held on September 8, 1921. There Gorman was invited to join a new event: the "Inter-City Beauty" Contest see (Timeline of major beauty pageants). She won two titles, "Inter-City Beauty, Amateur," and "The Most Beautiful Bathing Girl in America" after competing in the Bather's Revue. She won the grand prize, the Golden Mermaid trophy.[1]
Gorman was expected to defend her positions the next year, but since someone else had reached the title of "Miss Washington, D.C.," she was instead crowned as "Miss America." She is the only Miss America to receive her crown at the end of the year. Gorman was the lightest Miss America, at 108 pounds, until 1949, when five-foot three-and-one-half inch Jacque Mercer of Phoenix, Arizona, weighing in at 106, won the now-coveted title.[2]
Gorman was later quoted as saying "I never cared to be Miss America. It wasn't my idea. I am so bored by it all. I really want to forget the whole thing."[3] She still owned the sea green chiffon and sequined dress she wore in the 1922 competition.[4]
Personal life
Gorman continued to compete in both 1922 and 1923, and though unsuccessful, was a favorite of the crowds. A few years later, she married Victor Cahill,[5] and was happily married until he died in 1957. She lived all her life in D.C., became somewhat of a socialite and enjoyed traveling. She died on October 1, 1995, age 90.[6][7]
References
- ^ "Fairest in a Thousand". Spartanburg Herald. 1921-09-15. p. 2.
- ^ "Miss America is short and is proud of height". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1949-09-13. p. 20.
- ^ Mattiace, Peter (1980-09-02). "First Miss America Says Pageant was "Boring"". Kentucky New Era: p. 6.
- ^ Associated Press (1995-10-03). "1st Miss America Margaret Gorman Cahill Dies". Deseret News. p. 2.
- ^ "Miss America of 1921 Wed". New York Times. 1925-11-16.
- ^ Associated Press (1995-10-03). "1st Miss America Margaret Gorman Cahill Dies". Deseret News. p. 2. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/442628/1ST-MISS-AMERICA-MARGARET-GORMAN-CAHILL-DIES.html.
- ^ "Year 1921: Margaret Gorman: District of Columbia". Archived from the original on 2006-05-26. http://web.archive.org/web/20060526161037/http://www.missamerica.org/our-miss-americas/1920/1921.asp. Retrieved 2006-06-18.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Margaret Gorman |
- Margaret Gorman at MissAmerica.org
- "Margaret G. Cahill, 90, Is Dead; Was First Miss America, in 1921" at New York Times
| Preceded by -- |
Miss Washington, D.C. 1921 |
Succeeded by Evelyn Lewis |
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