Miss America 1941, the 15th
Miss America pageant, was held at the
Boardwalk Hall
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, formerly known as the Historic Atlantic City Convention Hall, is a multi-purpose arena in Atlantic City in Atlantic County, New Jersey. It was Atlantic City's primary convention center until the opening of the Atlant ...
in
Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 6, 1941. Shortly after the crowning of
Miss California
The Miss California competition selects the representative for the state of California in the Miss America competition.
The pageant began in Santa Cruz in 1924 and was held there in 1925. During the years 1926 through 1946 in years when the Mi ...
,
Rosemary LaPlanche
Rosemary E. LaPlanche (October 11, 1923 – May 6, 1979) was an American beauty queen and actress. She won Miss California three years in a row (1939-1941), and won Miss America in 1941.
Early life
LaPlanche moved to southern California fr ...
, who had been first runner-up in 1940, the pageant committee adopted this rule: "No contestant can compete in Atlantic City for the title of Miss America more than once",
thus eliminating future state winners with more than one attempt at the national title.
LaPlanche became a film actress, as did her sister,
Louise LaPlanche.
1941 was also the first year that the special award, “Miss Congeniality” was created. It went to Mifaunwy Shunatona, a member of the Otoe and Pawnee tribes — she was also the first American Indian contestant in the pageant’s history.
Results
Awards
Preliminary awards
Other awards
Contestants
References
Secondary sources
*
External links
Miss America official website*
{{Miss America
1941
1941 in the United States
1941 in New Jersey
September 1941 events
Events in Atlantic City, New Jersey