Miss America 1926

DateSeptember 10, 1926

PresentersKing Neptune (De Wolfe Hopper)

VenueMillion Dollar Pier Ballroom, Atlantic City, New Jersey

Entrants73

Miss America 1926
Date	September 10, 1926
Presenters	King Neptune (De Wolfe Hopper)
Venue	Million Dollar Pier Ballroom, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Entrants	73
Placements	15
Winner	Norma Smallwood Tulsa
← 1925 1927 →

Miss America 1926, the sixth Miss America pageant, was held at the Million Dollar Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Friday, September 10, 1926.^[1][2][3] In selecting the new Miss America, it was the opinion of the judges that not only did the winner, Norma Smallwood, Miss Tulsa, have an excellent figure, but also possessed a smile like that of the Mona Lisa.^[4]

Smallwood was the first Miss America to also win the award for "the most beautiful girl in evening gown" at the highly-promoted National Beauty Tournament held during pageant week of the twenties. She proved to be an enormously popular selection.^[5]

Upon victory, Smallwood, who was an art major at Oklahoma College for Women^[6][7][8] in her sophomore year, stated she "might leave school for a year" and looked at her tenure as Miss America from a financial standpoint. She became the poster girl for Meadows Washing Machines and Westinghouse Electric, in addition to many others. It was said she made approximately $100,000 during her year.^[9]

One of the finalists, Rosebud Blondell, became the successful Hollywood actress Joan Blondell.

Pictured are 63 of the 73 contestants of the 1926 Miss America Pageant