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Miss America

01/27/2002

|

1hr 42min

|

Documentary

,TV Movie

STORY

Tracking the country’s oldest beauty contest—from its inception in 1921 as a local seaside pageant to its heyday as one of the country’s most popular events—Miss America paints a vivid picture of an institution that has come to reveal much about a changing nation. The pageant is about commercialism and sexual politics, about big business and small towns. But beyond the symbolism lies a human story—at once moving, inspiring, infuriating, funny, and poignant. Combining rare archival footage, with a host of intimate interviews with distinguished commentators including Gloria Steinem, Margaret Cho, Isaac Mizrahi, former contestants and behind–the–scenes footage and photographs, the film reveals why some women took part in the fledgling event and why others briefly rejected it - how the pageant became a battle ground and a barometer for the changing position of women in society.

CAST & CREW

    Cast

  • Cherry Jones
  • Julia Álvarez
  • Sarah Banet-Weiser
  • Margaret Cho
  • Kimberly Clarice Aiken

    Directors

  • Lisa Ades
  • Lesli Klainberg
  • Curt Casassa

INFORMATION

    Production Companies

  • Clio TV
  • Doug Orchard Films
  • Visualizing History
  • GBH

    Production Countries

  • United States of America

LANGUAGES

    Cast

    Cherry Jones

    Narrator

    Sarah Banet-Weiser

    Self

    Margaret Cho

    Self

    Kimberly Clarice Aiken

    Self

    Ric Ferentz

    Self

    Vicki Gold Levi

    Self

    Lee Meriwether

    Self

    Isaac Mizrahi

    Self

    Mary Ann Mobley

    Self

    Robin Morgan

    Self