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

1940s vintage photo of the Canadian Miss War Worker Pageant in 1942. The image features women wearing their factory uniforms.

Police Chief D.C. Draper presents ribbon to Dorothy Linham, Miss War Worker 1942. Toronto, Canada.

1940s vintage photo of Miss War Worker Beauty Contest 1942 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.

1950s Vintage Photo: 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.

1953 Winner of Miss grey Cup 1950s Photo

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.

1960s Vintage Photo of Miss Dominion of Canada 1965. 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.

1960s vintage photo of Miss Dominion of Canada 1962 in 1960s fashion. 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.

1950s Vintage Photo of the Miss Toronto Pageant 1953 featuring the constestants in 1950s swimsuits.

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.

1950s vintage photo of the Penetang Winterama Queen pageant contestants in 1950s fashions-1958.

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.

Miss P.N.E. Contest-1950s Beauty Pageant Contestantsin 1950s dresses.

Source: City of Vancouver Archives

What came first? The chicken or the egg? Miss PNE 1954.

1950s Vintage phot of Miss PNE 1954 Beauty Pageant Winner holding a chicken egg.

Source: PNE.ca

PNE Contestant 1957: “Miss White Rock” – Miss Fern Walker. What a dress!

1957 Miss PNE Contestant beauty contest "Miss White Rock" - Miss Fern Walker. What a stunning 1950s 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

1940s Vintage Photo of Veronica Foster (Ronnie), The Bren Gun Girl as Miss By-Line 1943 in Toronto posing in Ontario Newspapers as a dress.

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

For today’s ‘Vintage Photo Tuesday‘ I am going to open up ‘The Pine Knot” a 1941 Barton College yearbook from the North Carolina Yearbooks Digital Archive and share some of the goodies that was behind its cover.

Let the fun begin!

A Look into 1941 Barton College-Pine Knot Yearbook

The Vintage 1940’s Photos

Roommates… it’s Class Time! Collection of images of students heading to class or in class.

Super 1940’s jackets on our ladies in the top photo.

1940s Vintage Photo of students in college in a 1940s yearbook photos. Fantastic 1940s fashions.

1940s Photo of young men in school in 1940s fashion in a vintage yearbook photos

Officers of the Senior Class.

What a well dressed group of young men and woman. The names are so fantastic as well. “Elmer” and “Burney” are names that don’t come across the social media channels anymore.

1940s Yearbook Photo of Senior Officers. 1940s fashion seen in a 1941 vintage yearbook

I am not going to post every page with the students yearbook photos (you can visit the yearbook yourself to see their images), so here is a small sampling instead (Note: Click on the images to see their original larger versions).

Love the 1940s Hairstyles on the women and the men!

1941 college yearbook photo of seniors featuring 1940s vintage hairstyles for men and women on display in the vintage yearbook from Barton College

Some Yearbook Quotes that just have to be shared

Senior-Carthiene Hoell: “Just by being herself she changed the climate of the days of those she met”

1940s Photo of a young woman in college vintage yearbook book photo from 1941.

Senior-Agnes Elizabeth Best: “Without music life would be a mistake”

1940s Photo of a young woman in college vintage yearbook book photo from 1941. The woman is wearing a 1940s hairstyle.

Junior Class Officers.

Another collection of fantastic 1940’s hairstyles for young women and men.

1940s photo of juniors in college in a 1941 barton college vintage yearbook photo. Lots of early 1940s vintage hairstyle inspiration for men and women.

The Officers of the Freshman Class.

Sampling of some of the freshman students (Another GREAT btach of early 1940s hairstyles).

1940s Yearbook Photo of College Freshman from 1941 featuring 1940s hairstyles for men and women.

Roommates Afternoon Activity-Break from class means time to chill with friends, pickup garbage or play some sports.

1940s Photo of Students in College in a 1941 Yearbook featuring 1940s Fashions in the vintage images.

Sororities are very big in the United States (not so much here in Canada, they exist but not to the same level as the States) and in 1941 at Barton College you had the ‘Phi Sigma Tau‘. Founded in 1912, it is the oldest Greek Letter Organization on Campus. The Black Eyed Susan is their flower because it matches their colours, black and gold. And the members are chosen for their scholastic standing, as well as qualities of character, personality, sociability, and leadership.

Also, look at all those Saddle Shoes! They should be also nominated for their great taste in shoes!

FURTHER READING: Vintage Photo Tuesday: Sororities 1920s-1950s

1940s College Sorority-1941 yearbook photo-1940s-womens fashion-Saddle Shoes

Roommates-6:30 Till….

This is the time to get some studying in and do a bit of socializing. Apparently roommates also meant sharing a bed. That would of been a no go for me in my University days lol!

1940s Photo of College Life for young college women living in a dorm in 1940s yearbook photos

1940s Photo of College Life of young men living in the dorm in 1940s yearbook photos

The Dormitory Councils- In my University days they were called RA’s (Resident Assistant).

1940s Yearbook Photo of the Dormitory Councils in early 1940s Fashion for women and men.

Rah Rah Rah! Go Barton College! 1940s College Cheerleaders.

1941 College Cheerleaders from a 1940s yearbook photo

College life would not be College life, if dating was not involved. “It’s the only kind of knowledge they don’t teach at College..L.O.V.E”

1940s vintage yearbook photos featuring Roommates evening activities for men and women (like dating).

1940s vintage yearbook photos featuring Roommates evening activities for men and women

Lastly, did you know that the “Pine Knot” had a very special attendee? Have you ever heard of Ava Gardner (that is 100% a joke. Everyone has heard of Ava)? Well as I was scrolling thru the photos I stumbled upon her photo as a “Campus Beauty” (seen below). How Cool!!!

From the Ava Gardner Museum I discovered that she was studying to become a secretary in 1940. In late 1941 she has signed a contract with MGM to become a big movie star and well you know the rest (Source).

1941 Yearbook photo of Ava Gardner as a campus beauties along with other 1940s women in 1940s hairstyles.

Ava Gardner’s 1941 Freshmen Yearbook Photo.

I hope you enjoyed this fun little walk thru a 1941 yearbook. I know I always enjoy looking at memories like this, even when they are not my own.

It’s also important to note that during this time, WW2 was in full swing and as you get into other yearbooks “In Memoriams” and “In Service” pages would appear more and more. It’s a sober reminder that while life was still going on at home, many young men and women who would of filled these halls were doing something very brave overseas.

Liz

FURTHER READING:

Month: July 2019