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Margaret Gorman (August 18, 1905 – October 1, 1995) was an American model and beauty queen who was the winner of the first Miss America beauty pageant after being crowned Miss District of Columbia in 1921.
Gorman was a junior at 
Gorman was the lightest Miss America at 108 pounds until 1949, when
Margaret Gorman at MissAmerica.orgMargaret Gorman: First Miss America And Washingtonian
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gorman, Margaret 1905 births 1995 deaths Miss America 1920s delegates Miss America winners People from Washington, D.C.
Pageantry
Gorman was a junior at Western High School Western High School may refer:
Schools in the United States
*Western High School (Anaheim, California) – Anaheim, California
* Western High School (Illinois) – Barry, Illinois
* Western High School (Florida) – Davie, Florida
* Western High S ...
in Washington, D.C. when her photo was entered into a popularity contest at the ''Washington Herald
''The Washington Herald'' was an American daily newspaper in Washington, D.C., from October 8, 1906, to January 31, 1939.
History
The paper was founded in 1906 by Scott C. Bone, who had been managing editor of ''The Washington Post'' from 1888 ...
.''
She was chosen as Miss District of Columbia
Miss (pronounced ) is an English language honorific typically used for a girl, for an unmarried woman (when not using another title such as " Doctor" or "Dame"), or for a married woman retaining her maiden name. Originating in the 17th century, i ...
in 1921 at age 16 on account of her athletic ability, past accomplishments, and outgoing personality. As a result of that victory, she was invited to join the Second Annual Atlantic City pageant held on September 8, 1921, as an honored guest. There she was invited to join a new event: the "Inter-City Beauty" Contest. She won the 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. She was expected to defend her positions the next year, but someone else had attained the title of "Miss Washington, D.C.," so 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 Jacque Mercer
Jacquelyn Joy Mercer (January 7, 1931 – February 2, 1982) was Miss America in 1949.
Biography
Mercer was born in Thatcher, Arizona. In 1949, she won the title of Miss America. She is mentioned (usually by title, once by name) several times ...
of Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix ( ; nv, Hoozdo; es, Fénix or , yuf-x-wal, Banyà:nyuwá) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona, with 1,608,139 residents as of 2020. It is the fifth-most populous city in the United States, and the on ...
, weighed in at 106 and won the title.
Gorman later said: "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." She still owned the sea green chiffon and sequined dress that she wore in the 1922 competition.
Personal life
Gorman continued to compete in 1922. In 1925, she married Victor Cahill, and was married until he died in 1957. She lived all her life inWashington D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, Na ...
, became a socialite and enjoyed traveling.
She died on October 1, 1995, aged 90.
References
External links
Margaret Gorman at MissAmerica.org
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gorman, Margaret 1905 births 1995 deaths Miss America 1920s delegates Miss America winners People from Washington, D.C.