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By Bill Dedman
Investigative reporter
msnbc.com
After 90 years, Nebraska finally has its first Miss America. Teresa Scanlan, 17, won the crown on Saturday evening.
But what about Louisiana, Massachusetts and the other states that have yet to have a winner. When will their turn come?
These 21 states and territories so far have no winners in the Miss America pageant: Alaska, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.
States with the most winners: California, Ohio and Oklahoma, each with six.
Many of the states with no winners are among the least-populous states, but that alone doesn't explain the results. Oklahoma, with six winners, has only about half the population as Massachusetts, with none. Oklahomans have also won twice as often as Texans.
One could say that Alaska has an excuse: It didn't become a state until 1959. But Hawaii became a state in the same year, and has won twice. (More swimsuits there.)
Here's a ranking of states by the number of winners since 1921, compiled from the official list of winners:
Six winners: California, Ohio, Oklahoma.
Five winners: Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania.
Four winners: Mississippi.
Three winners: Alabama, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, New York, Texas, Virginia.
Two winners: Arizona, Arkansas, District Of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah.
One winner: Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, Wisconsin.
No winners: Alaska, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming.
Why do you think some states dominate? Comments are welcome below. (Comments with a high tone, of course.)
Leave a Comment:
For one... Californians half more Blondes and hold a Tan longer. Notice all but 4 states that have never won are not in a Warm Climate belt area. Not to mention.... by the time the judges get half way through the alphabet .. they are proabelly bored to death. Just my opinion. Virgin Island ? Washington ? Wyoming ?
I'm surprised that Texas and Florida are not in the top positions. Both states, in my opinion, have tough state level competitions in all pageants. That being said, I think the support system of the states must be greater in the states that are winning more often. I am really surprised that OH and OK are in the top position. I didn't realize and would have never suspected that.
I think it's the state's culture. Having lived in both the north and the south, I can honestly say that there's a much stronger focus on pageants at a much younger age in the south. By the time they get to the Miss America level, they've competed more and have more experience.
Well, East Coast girls are hip, I really dig those styles they wear. And Southern girls really knock me out when I'm down there. The Mid-West farmer's daughters really make you feel alright, and the Northern girls with the way they kiss, they keep their boyfriends warm at night.
But...
I wish they all could be California girls.
What's wrong with Washington - big state for having no winners at all.