While Miss USA, Miss America and Miss Universe are the more well known “Beauty Pageants”, Canada has/had its fair share as well. From little hometown Pageants to big ones like “Miss Dominion of Canada”, the middles years of the 20th Century in Canada were just as busy “judging beauty” as our neighbour to the south.
For today’s post we are going to take a look back at some of these ‘Vintage Beauty Pageants’.
Vintage Canadian Beauty Pageants
MISS WAR WORKER
In 1942, more than 100 contestants from Canada’s major military manufacturing plants vied for the title of “Miss War Worker.” The winner, Dorothy Linham, starred in a Palmolive Soap advertisement (Source).
FURTHER READING: World War 2 Women’s Contributions & Homefront Posts
Police Chief D.C. Draper presents ribbon to Dorothy Linham, Miss War Worker 1942. Toronto, Canada.
Source: Wikipedia
MISS GREY CUP
ABOUT: The CFL (Canadian Football League) Grey Cup is the NFL equivalent to the Super Bowl. It’s very popular in Canada and even Toronto has a team (Go ARGOS!). One of the highlights of the Grey Cup was the ‘Miss Grey Cup Pageant’ featuring lovely ‘Unmarried’ ladies in cheerleading uniforms competing for the coveted title. It started in 1951 and ended in the 1990s after the public lost interest. Below is a couple of photos from the 1953 pageant.
(For more photos & information visit ‘A look back at the Miss Grey Cup Pageant‘ by the Globe and Mail)
Together for the first time in Toronto in 1953 were all the finalists for the Miss Grey Cup title, representing senior Canadian football teams.
Source: The Globe and Mail
Miss Grey Cup 1953 was chosen from a dozen finalists on the eve of the East-West football classic is Miss Saskatchewan Roughrider — Joanne Baird, 18-year-old Regina high school student, winner of several beauty and popularity awards in her home town.
Source: Globe and Mail
MISS DOMINION OF CANADA
ABOUT: Miss Dominion of Canada was a beauty pageant held in Niagara Falls for many years, primarily at the Sheraton Brock Hotel, on July 1, Canada’s Dominion Day (now known as “Canada Day”), beginning in 1959.
The winner of this pageant represented Canada at four of the world’s largest international beauty pageants, Miss Universe (until 1977), Miss World (1962–1979), Miss International, and Queen of the Pacific (Source).
Her crowning moment: Hamilton’s Carol Ann Tidey — now Carol Mason — savours the glory as she becomes Miss Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1965, in Niagara Falls.
Source: Hamilton Spectator
Marlene Leeson of Huntsville; Miss Dominion of Canada 1962; waits at Malton Airport for a plane which took her to London for the Miss World Contest.
Source: Toronto Public Library
MISS TORONTO PAGEANT
Learn about the history of the pageant and see more vintage photos on my blog post: Miss Toronto Pageant-The Early Days
Finalists in the Miss Toronto Pageant 1953. Winner Elizabeth Gibson is second from right.
PENETANG WINTERAMA QUEEN
1958-Ten girls still in the running for Penetang Winterama Queen title will appear on Pen Theatre stage Friday night in third elimination.
Left to right, front, Lucille Duquette, Barbara Labatte, Joan Somers, Mary Lou O’Leary, Betty Ann Mayer, Standing, Karen Robinson, Marguerite Gervais, Marita Lalonde, Anita Fournier, Carol Cummer.
Source: Huronia Museum
MISS CANADA
ABOUT: Miss Canada is a beauty pageant for young women in Canada. It was founded in Hamilton in 1945. No title was awarded from 1993 through 2008. According to the new Miss Canada and Miss Teen Canada web site, the title was re-established with a focus on personality over physical appearance. The Miss Canada competition is Canada’s oldest extant beauty pageant (Source).
The below video showcases the winners of Miss Canada from 1947-1972.
MISS PNE
(Pacific National Exhibition). Held from 1948 to 1993
Group photograph of Miss PNE 1957 contestants.
Source: City of Vancouver Archives
What came first? The chicken or the egg? Miss PNE 1954.
Source: PNE.ca
PNE Contestant 1957: “Miss White Rock” – Miss Fern Walker. What a dress!
Source: City of Vancouver Archives
MISS BY-LINE
I was not able to find any real information on this contest beyond that the winner was chosen at the “By-line Ball; Toronto Men’s Press club’s annual dance at the Royal York.” If any of my readers have information, please share in the comments below.
Meet Miss by-line ‘1966; Ellen Tsuji; 20-year-old representative of the Japanese press in the Metro.
Source: Toronto Public Library
Miss by-line 1960; Pretty Diane Oster; 19.
Source: Toronto Public Library
Do you know Veronica Foster (Ronnie), the ‘Bren Gun Girl’? She was Canada’s “Rosie the Riveter” and was also “Miss By-Line in 1943”. How fun is her dress of Ontario newspapers?
Read all about Ronnie on my blog post: The Canadian “Rosie the Riveter”-Veronica Foster, The Bren Gun Girl
Source: Emailed to the Vintage Inn Blog
Thanks for stopping by friends and I hope you enjoyed checking out some of the beauty contests from the past. I know I always enjoy the fashions and hairstyles.
Question Time: Did you ever try out for a beauty contest? Share your experiences in the comments below.
Liz