We again see Sawyer at mark 18:50 as she sings a medley during the talent portion. By mark 17:07 the field had been narrowed down to eight finalists “and tonight one of them will be touched by magic” says Allen. Allen continues her narration as we watch the first of three preliminary competitions (mark 13:11 ) including seeing individual talents including a Russian dance by Miss Alaska, a flute solo by Miss North Dakota, and a song-and-twirling-flaming-baton act by Miss Mississippi (mark 16:06 ).

They participate in a pageant parade, submit to interviews, pose for photos, and prepare for the actual pageant. The film shows the girls as house guests of Mobile residents and site seeing including a trip to the Bellingrath Gardens (mark 07:30 ) where they are treated as celebrities. Among the participants, “Kentucky’s lovely Diane Sawyer” (mark 05:15 ). It would not be until 1974 that an African American girl made it to Mobile.)Īs Allen reminds the viewer, however, “we’re not here to talk about me” but rather the 1963 pageant as contestants arrive at a Mobile, Alabama airport for the competition ( 03:39 ) amidst pomp and circumstance. (Interestingly, the pageant at this time did not appear to have any girls of color in the finals. After being crowned, Allen recounts her world wind year as Junior Miss starting at mark 02:25 with a montage of scenes from parades and personal appearances.

The film opens with 1962 pageant winner Jean Allen (mark 00:25 ) who calmly explains that the pageant “is the search for the ideal high school senior in the nation” and details the various competitions leading up to the Junior Miss Pageant as scenes from her competition are shown. The 1963 America’s Junior Miss Pageant is the subject of this color film.

Junior miss pageant contest 13