9 Beauty Pageants in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut

These 9 beauty pageants in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are among the most prestigious in the country and if you are looking to attend one, you can hardly go wrong with any of them.

Beauty pageants have been around since Ancient Greece. The Greeks adored human body and looking good was a sign of gods’ favor. Of course, they thought that all of their gods live on an overrated hill and nobody bothered to climb it and check, but that’s beside the point. Roman continued the cult of the human body, but as soon as Christianity came, it suddenly became indecent to even talk about, let alone show, any bare skin.

Modern beauty pageants trace their origin back to the early 20^th century. Today, they are a multi-billion dollars industry and one would be hard-pressed to find a corner of Earth where they aren’t held. They are a regular target for feminists’ attacks, claiming that they diminish women and eroding fight for women empowerment.  Jessica Valenti of the Guardian claims that they are nothing more than “an opportunity to ogle gorgeous, scantily-clad women and pit them against each”. While her comment does ring true, many beauty pageants, including those in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, claim that they in fact support women and provide for scholarship, although there are those who say that they aren’t quite truthful about that either, like John Oliver.

Be that as it may, beauty pageants are still popular among both contenders and audience. Every year thousands of girls apply to one of many beauty contests that are held around the globe. United States,  New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut included, lead the world when it comes to the number of national beauty pageants, with at least two dozen of them held annually. From the most well-known like Miss America and Miss USA, there are plenty of others to choose from. Some are restricted by age, like Miss Teen USA and Miss Teen America, others by ethnicities, like Miss Black America, Miss Arab USA, Miss Latina USA or Miss Brazil USA. Then there are those who are using both criteria, like Miss Teen US Latina.

Preparing for one of these events isn’t easy and many preparations start at least a year in advance. Apart from learning how to answer the Common Beauty Pageant Questions and Answers for Teenagers, there is plenty of gym going and dieting involved in order to fit in those gorgeous gowns. We made our selection of beauty pageants in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut from Pageant Center which offers a database of almost every beauty contest in the country. We have tried to include a little bit for everyone and not just the biggest pageants. Almost all of beauty contests on our list accept toddler applications, if you are interested in starting your daughter early on in pageants.

9. East Coast USA Pageant

East Coast USA Pageant is held in Trumbull, Connecticut and each year gives away more than $100,000 in prizes.

8. All American Girl & Boy Pageant

All American Girl & Boy Pageant, as the name suggests, is open to both male and female contenders. In 2017 it was held in White Plains, Connecticut

7. Miss Connecticut International Pageant

Miss Connecticut International is a part of Miss USA International system and it was held in Uncasville, Connecticut in 2017.

6. Miss Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant

The Miss Blind Diva Empowerment Pageant’s aim is to encourage women not to let their loss of vision define them.

5. America’s Miss Mid-Atlantic Regional Scholarship Pageant

America’s Miss Mid-Atlantic Reginal Scholarship Pageant is a part of Miss America system and number five on our list of beauty pageants in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut

4. StarJewel Showcase National Pageant

StarJewel Showcase National Pageant is open to all age groups. It is held in Dublin, New Jersey.

3. Mrs. New York America Pageant

No, it isn’t a spelling mistake, our copy editors aren’t on strike like those at CNN. Mrs. New York America is a beauty pageant for married women only. Now, let’s see what’s next on our list of beauty pageants in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

2. Miss New York USA Pageant

Miss New York USA is a preliminary beauty contest for Miss USA Pageant.

1. Miss New York Pageant

We conclude our list of beauty pageants in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut with another Miss America pageant, Miss New York.