With the recent media circus concerning Miss California USA, it became more apparent to me as a Pageant Director of 30 years that some clarification needed to be made. The media and general public often times confuse the various pageants. Media will be talking about Miss California USA and forget that they should be using the USA at the end of the title. The Miss California winner goes to Miss America. Miss Calfiornia USA goes to Miss USA. They are two completely different programs and have two different winners. Miss California is Jackie Geist. Miss California USA is Carrie Prejean. Having been involved for as long as I have in pageantry, I am well aware of the differences but the public and even the media does not, or if they do often times are too lazy to print the factual title thereby causing confusion with the general public.
The Miss America Pageant began in 1921 in Atlantic City, NJ. The four main areas of competition are Interview, Swimsuit, Evening Gown, and Talent. The Miss USA Pageant began in the early 1950's and their winner advances to the Miss Universe Pageant. Both the Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageant are co-owned by NBC and Donald Trump. The competitive categories for Miss USA and Miss Universe are Interview, Swimsuit, and Evening Gown. There is no talent competition in Miss USA or Miss Universe.
Pageants can provide many opportunities for young women. As the State Director of the Annual Miss Teenage California Scholarship Pageant for 31 years, we have no affiliation with either system.
