The miss america 2014 preliminaries are in full swing in atlantic city, n. Bettmann archive it was all over soon enough, including lou and bettes fledgling romance. October 7, 1916 september 12, 2001 was an american beauty queen who had the distinction of being twice crowned miss ohio 1931 and 1938 and miss america. Bette cooper was 17 years old when she was selected as the most beautiful girl in evening gown at the miss america. Miss new york, kira kazantsev, was named miss america 2015 on sunday, sept. Slaughter initiated an allout crusade to improve the. Bette cooper originally entered the miss america pageant as a dare but ended up winning the title. She was crowned by last years winner kira kazantsev during abcs live broadcast of the 2016. In 1937, bette cooper ran away, historians say, because she didnt want to be miss america. It was later discovered that cooper shocked at winning and unwilling to leave.
In the beginning, the pageant was run by the jaycees and kiwanis clubs of new jersey and held in wildwood, new jersey. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. The 16yearold hackettstown resident was at lake hopatcongs bertrand. Her name was bette cooper, and she was miss america in. Miss america timeline american experience official site pbs. The other to main events were the choosing of the girl with the most charming personality, won by miss westchester county, n. Elizabeth hailed from hackettstown, new jersey, and entered the miss america competition as miss bertrand island at the age of 17. The first winning miss new jersey was a 16yearold who entered on a lark in 1937. The twoday event evolved into the miss america pageant that we know today. Jean bartel, who died on march 6 aged 87, was crowned miss america of 1943 and followed her reign with an acting career on broadway and on television in. In 2011, miss nebraska won the miss america pageant for the first time in history. Ap venus ramey, a former miss america who helped rally the nation during world war ii and found renewed fame later in life by shooting out the tires of intruders at her kentucky farm, has died. Dec 21, 2019 the miss america pageant has been around since the 1920s, and it always bring fullon glitz when it comes to the evening gown portion of the show.
Elizabeth bette cooper moore august 11, 1920 december 10, 2017 won the miss america 1937 pageant as miss bertrand island, representing an amusement park on lake hopatcong in new jersey early life. In 1950, the winner was crowned miss america 1951, and that practice has continued. Apr 26, 20 a shy, 17yearold blonde from hackettstown, n. Her name was bette cooper, and she was miss america in 1937. Bette cooper far right stands next to the four girls from whom were selected miss america of 1937. Miss america 1937 bette cooper, then 17, ran off the night of.
Evidently overwhelmed by what was expected of her, she insisted upon a much lighter schedule than planned by pageant. The night she won miss america is a delightfully dramatic and fast. Miss america 1937, the 11th miss america pageant, was held at the steel pier in atlantic city, new jersey on saturday, september 11, 1937. The author really nailed the social climate of debutantes and. While new jersey is famous as the home of the miss america pageant, the states reputation for producing a beauty to hold the title itself has been dubious at best. List of miss america winners simple english wikipedia. Miss kansas bares tattoos and 6 other memorable miss america moments. Bettmann archive it was all over soon enough, including lou and bette.
May 24, 2015 bette cooper wound up being a 1937 miss america contestant purely through chance. Elizabeth bette cooper moore won the miss america 1937 pageant as miss bertrand island, representing an amusement park on lake hopatcong in new jersey. Bette cooper, the young kewpie doll from the garden state, was crowned miss america 1937. An appended authors note introduces the true 1937 miss america story about bette cooper, on which the novel is based.
Hackettstown native and miss bertrand island elizabeth bette cooper explains her hesitance to be miss america after winning the pageant in 1937. Perhaps the weight of the crown was too heavy for bette cooper, miss america 1937, to. Coyle, miss america 1936, crowns bette cooper of hackettstown, n. The story of bette coopers reign as miss america was recently featured in a segment of the travel channel show mysteries at the museum. No one else was crowned miss america for her year, though some titleholders have tried to claim the title over the decades. Her win marked the third year in a row that miss new york. Betty cantrell, representing the state of georgia, was named miss america 2016 on sunday. Aug 21, 2011 following a third place finish in 1936, 17yearold bette cooper of hackettstown won the miss bertrand island pageant in july 1937.
After chiding from her friends, bette entered on a lark. No one else was crowned miss america for her year, though some titleholders have. It was later discovered that cooper shocked at winning and unwilling to. Cooper attended centenary junior college now centenary university in hackettstown where she was a member of the delta sigma sigma sorority. The 16yearold hackettstown resident was at lake hopatcongs bertrand island amusement park with a few friends. She fled atlantic city before her press conference. Apr 04, 2017 i found this rly haunting cover of the miss america theme song and thought you know what. Bette cooper facts, bio, family, life, updates 2020. The sweepstakes prize was the crown of miss america 1937, awarded last night. Miss america 1937 bette cooper, then 17, ran off the night. Elizabeth hailed from hackettstown, new jersey, and entered the miss america competition as miss. The author really nailed the social climate of debutantes and their mothers, where manners and obligations ruled.
In memory of miss america 1937 bette cooper miss america 2. Beauty pageants on lake hopatcong lake hopatcong news. She later married a wall street executive and had two children. Elizabeth bette coopermoore august 11, 1920 december 10, 2017 won the miss america 1937 pageant as miss bertrand island, representing an. Aug 28, 2018 just 17 years old, she was the youngest miss america since bette cooper earned the title in 1937, according to people. Aug 20, 2018 19 former miss america winners call for resignation of gretchen carlson and board its never the wrong time to do the right thing, miss america 2010 caressa cameronjackson says jennifer. It might surprise you to know that centenary college had its own miss america. More than a pretty face lake hopatcong historical museum. Blonde, blueeyed bette cooper, 17 is pictured on her royal robes and with trophy after her selection as miss america 1937.
Here miss cooper entered the contest as miss bertrand island is from. Ramey was the first redhead to win the miss america title and the first to be photographed in color. Elizabeth bette coopermoore august 11, 1920 december 10, 2017 won the miss america 1937 pageant as miss bertrand island, representing an amusement park on lake hopatcong in new jersey. Pageant organizers were busy making all the right moves and increasing the programs momentum when their newly crowned miss america 1937, bette cooper, jolted them by vanishing only hours after her victory. Elizabeth bette cooper moore august 11, 1920 december 10, 2017 won the miss america 1937 pageant as miss bertrand island, representing an amusement park on lake hopatcong in new jersey. Beauty pageant mystery the strange disappearance of miss.
An educated man who played a pivotal role in the american revolution as well as being the writer of the declaration of independence, one would think that jefferson would have greatly opposed slavery since the declaration states that all men are created equal. This woman was crowned miss america in 1937 then disappeared. Following a third place finish in 1936, 17yearold bette cooper of hackettstown won the miss bertrand island pageant in july 1937. Shortly after being presented as miss america, the newly crowned 17yearold winner, bette cooper, left atlantic city and returned home.
Bette cooper born 1920 won the miss america 1937 pageant as miss bertrand island, representing an amusement park on lake hopatcong in new jersey. Dont be deceived by the wholesome, apple pie image. Our first miss america was bette cooper, miss new jersey 1937. Glamour of 20th century beauty pageants revealed daily. During the early years of the miss america pageant organizations throughout the country, including. The title she won, miss bertrand island, was a preliminary to the miss america pageant only in 1937. There have only been two miss new jersey contestants to be crowned miss america. Miss georgia, betty cantrell, crowned miss america 2016. Bette cooper brief biography bette cooper born 1920 won the 1937 miss america pageant as miss bertrand island, representing an amusement park on lake hopatcong, new jersey. The miss america pageant has seen its share of controversy and intrigue in its 90some year history. Just 17 years old, she was the youngest miss america since bette cooper earned the title in 1937, according to people. Miss america 1942, jean bartel, turns down a lucrative movie offer to sell a record number of war bonds. She caused a stir when she disappeared for some 24 hours after winning the title.
Photos show how the winning gowns from the miss america. The 2015 miss america pageant is this month, and the contestants are in atlantic city right now, participating in pageant festivities. Only twice has contestant from our state gone on to be crowned miss america. She and some friends were at new jerseys bertrand island amusement. Bette cooper project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Bette cooper wound up being a 1937 miss america contestant purely through chance. Bette started pageant competition by accident on the dare of some friends. See miss america evening gown photos best miss america. The night she won miss america was a chick kit book surrounding the miss america pageant in the 1950s. It is run by the miss america organization, a nonprofit organization based in linwood, new jersey. Miss kansas bares tattoos and 6 other memorable miss america. The fascinating real story of the miss america who went.
The 16year old hackettstown resident was at lake hopatcongs bertrand island amusement park with a few friends when they saw a notice soliciting contestants for the miss bertrand island contest. We were so excited to have the crew come film, and we think they did a great job telling her story. It is an annual competition open to women from the united states between the ages of 17 and 24. The miss new jersey pageant was formed in 1933, with our first miss new jersey, gertrude christman.
Bette cooper presents trophy to miss lake hopatcong 1938, margo lundgren, at bertrand island park bette cooper in a publicity photo at 1939 new york worlds fair with marilyn meseke, miss america 1938 center and patricia donnelly, miss america 1939 right bette did return home after the pageant to finish high school and went on to. Jul 31, 2018 few figures are more controversial in the history of american slavery than thomas jefferson. She never publicly discussed her time as miss america. Apr 16, 2017 bette cooper far right stands next to the four girls from whom were selected miss america of 1937. One of the most infamous moments in miss america history was in 1937, when bette cooper changed her mind about being miss america. Atlantic city, nj the miss america organization honors the memory of miss america 1937 elizabeth moore, previously known as bette cooper, who passed away at the age of 97. Few figures are more controversial in the history of american slavery than thomas jefferson. In august, she was named miss lake hopatcong and was sent to the competition in atlantic city.
The measurements of americas new beauty queen are five feet, six and onehalf inches tall. On september 11, bette was named miss america 1937. Dec 20, 2019 bette cooper originally entered the miss america pageant as a dare but ended up winning the title. Yearbyyear list of miss america winners since 1921 las. Verdict fans of midcentury drama, beauty queens, and gripping romance will enjoy this adventurous read. From 1921 through 1949, the date is the year in which the winner was chosen. Winner bette cooper changes her mind about being miss america, and flees atlantic city. October 7, 1916 september 12, 2001 was an american beauty queen who had the distinction of being twice crowned miss ohio 1931 and 1938 and miss america in 1938. Bette cooper was born in 1920 in hackettstown, new jersey, usa. Sep 14, 20 the miss america 2014 preliminaries are in full swing in atlantic city, n. Bette cooper holds a special place in beauty pageant history. In 1984, the firstrunner up suzette charles also miss new jersey was crowned miss america, only after the original winner vanessa williams resigned 10 months after the contest. The setting of atlantic city brought a fun element to this and made it a great summer read.
As of 2017, she is the only miss new jersey to have won the miss america contest. Since then, there have been dozens of miss new jerseys to hold the title with grace and poise. Bette cooper and louis off, partners in a 1937 miss america escape. Defying the predictions of almost everyone, bette cooper, the kewpie doll waif from new jersey, bested southern heavyweights miss texas and. Miss america 1937 bette cooper, then 17, ran off the night of her crowning to spend the night in a boat with her escort. Teresa scanlan, the woman who won, was only 17 at the time. Atlantic city, nj the miss america organization honors the memory of miss america 1937 elizabeth moore, previously known as bette cooper, who passed. But even if miss kansas, theresa vail, doesnt win the crown, the 22yearold will definitely go down in history as one of the pageants most memorable contestants.
Cooper attended centenary junior college now centenary university in hackettstown where she was a member of. Miss kansas bares tattoos and 6 other memorable miss. Margaret gorman mary campbell ruth malcomson fay lanphier norma smallwood lois delander marian bergeron henrietta leaver rose coyle bette cooper marilyn meseke. A local newspaper would describe the new queen thusly. Marilyn meseke was crowned the pageant winner in 1938. Jul 31, 2018 bette cooper holds a special place in beauty pageant history. Teresa scanlan, miss america 2011 and ducttape fan, is. The miss america organization and pageant icons american. Later, miss america 1937, eighteenyearold bette cooper, changed her mind about becoming miss america and escaped in the middle of the night. Jan 03, 2019 bette cooper presents trophy to miss lake hopatcong 1938, margo lundgren, at bertrand island park bette cooper in a publicity photo at 1939 new york worlds fair with marilyn meseke, miss america 1938 center and patricia donnelly, miss america 1939 right bette did return home after the pageant to finish high school and went on to. Ap venus ramey, a former miss america who helped rally the nation during world war ii and found renewed fame later in life by. Contestants are judged on talent and interviews in addition to their physical attractiveness.
Starledger file photo cooper, who was born in hackettstown, had bonded with her pageant escort, a young man named lou also. She was the youngest miss america since bette cooper won in 1937. It might surprise you to know that centenary university had its own miss america. Sixteenyearold bette cooper never set out to become miss america. Bette cooper won the title of miss america in 1937, but within 24 hours of receiving the crown, she decided that she would rather pursue an education instead of performing the duties of the winner.