Black Women in Fashion and Public Representation Miss Black America Press Photograph Collection
- 1968
1968. [African American] [Fashion & Beauty] Miss Black America beauty pageant contestants and winners photo archive dating from the 1968-1981. Black women combated racial discrimination by creating their own space to celebrate Black beauty in an all-Black pageant. Starting in 1970, Miss Black America was originally a local Philadelphia area contest to protest the lack of black women in the Miss America pageant. With the support of the NAACP, the pageant gained nationwide coverage, eventually being televised by NBC in 1977, a day before CBS aired the Miss America Beauty Pageant.
Archive of 9 silver gelatin photographs measuring approximately 8" x 10" with two measuring 7" x 9" This archive of mostly press photographs show Black women adorned in sashes, tiaras, and ornate evening gowns competing for the crown. Pageants were a means for young women to begin their careers in beauty and fashion, as well as gain financial reward or scholarships to further their education. Many photos have the original publisher's article pasted or printed en verso or on the margins. The earliest photo from 1968 shows three beautiful smiling Black contestants as Saundra Williams of Philadelphia is crowned as Miss Black America next to the other two finalists, Linda Johnson and Theresa Taylor. A photo from 1975 shows the smiling Helen Ford representing Mississippi as she's chosen to represent Miss Black America held in Gary, Indiana. A studio portrait from 1977 shows the reigning Miss Black America, Twanna Kilgore, posed in a one piece bathing suit. The article en verso states that she will be shown live on the first network television presentation of the pageant on NBC as she crowns the next winner. Another studio photo of her is shown promoting the same broadcast. Two photos from 1979 show winner Donna Mitchell being crowned with tears in her eyes as she holds a large trophy, the other photo shows her and another contestant, Kim Peterson, in workout attire shaking hands. One photo from 1979 shows Miss Black Florida finalists lined up in dotted dresses and sashes representing their cities before one lucky finalist is chosen to represent Florida in the Miss Black America pageant. Two photos from 1981 show two different women, one unnamed woman holding the mic at the time of the pageant, unsashed, possibly a host. Another shows winner Sharon Wright seated in a studio wearing a light pantsuit and wearing the "Miss Black America" sash.
Modeling in fashion and print has historically been dominated by white women, reflecting a bias in beauty standards in the United States. Overall very good condition. These images show black women claiming space in the still often exclusionary fashion and beauty world of the mid-late 20th century.
Archive of 9 silver gelatin photographs measuring approximately 8" x 10" with two measuring 7" x 9" This archive of mostly press photographs show Black women adorned in sashes, tiaras, and ornate evening gowns competing for the crown. Pageants were a means for young women to begin their careers in beauty and fashion, as well as gain financial reward or scholarships to further their education. Many photos have the original publisher's article pasted or printed en verso or on the margins. The earliest photo from 1968 shows three beautiful smiling Black contestants as Saundra Williams of Philadelphia is crowned as Miss Black America next to the other two finalists, Linda Johnson and Theresa Taylor. A photo from 1975 shows the smiling Helen Ford representing Mississippi as she's chosen to represent Miss Black America held in Gary, Indiana. A studio portrait from 1977 shows the reigning Miss Black America, Twanna Kilgore, posed in a one piece bathing suit. The article en verso states that she will be shown live on the first network television presentation of the pageant on NBC as she crowns the next winner. Another studio photo of her is shown promoting the same broadcast. Two photos from 1979 show winner Donna Mitchell being crowned with tears in her eyes as she holds a large trophy, the other photo shows her and another contestant, Kim Peterson, in workout attire shaking hands. One photo from 1979 shows Miss Black Florida finalists lined up in dotted dresses and sashes representing their cities before one lucky finalist is chosen to represent Florida in the Miss Black America pageant. Two photos from 1981 show two different women, one unnamed woman holding the mic at the time of the pageant, unsashed, possibly a host. Another shows winner Sharon Wright seated in a studio wearing a light pantsuit and wearing the "Miss Black America" sash.
Modeling in fashion and print has historically been dominated by white women, reflecting a bias in beauty standards in the United States. Overall very good condition. These images show black women claiming space in the still often exclusionary fashion and beauty world of the mid-late 20th century.
Details
Title
Black Women in Fashion and Public Representation Miss Black America Press Photograph Collection
Author
Miss Black America
Condition
Unknown
Date
1968