SEVEN SCANDALS THAT ROCKED MISS AMERICA!

Sex sins, racism & harassment scar beloved beauty pageant

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AS THE iconic Miss America pageant nears its 100th anniversary, a special investigation by GLOBE reveals the shocking scandals behind the glamorous beauty contest featuring toothy smiles, glittering tiaras and clean-scrubbed, all-American girls.

The popular fall event in Atlantic City has been canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but officials are already working feverishly to reboot the contest for 2021 at its traditional New Jersey setting or another location.

Meanwhile, GLOBE’s investigation reveals that since the contest exploded on the scene in 1922 — two years after women won the right to vote — it has been marred by scandals, including the mysterious disappearance of a winner, religious prejudice, nude photos, a bizarre swimsuit battle, weight-shaming and twisted sex.

BETTE COOPER, 1937

The morning after blond Bette’s crowning, she was scheduled to appear for photos with the runners-up — but didn’t show up because she had fallen head-over-heels in love with Louis Off, her pageant driver and escort! Both Louis and Bette were freaked out by her unexpected win, so she sneaked out of the hotel and ran away with him, say sources. The affair soon fizzled, and she made a few appearances before her reign was up. Bette later married a rich exec and died in 2017 at 97!

BESS MYERSON, 1945