10 of the biggest beauty pageant scandals of all time

Nicole PomaricoNov 9, 2020, 21:22 IST

A lot of people were not pleased with the pageant.AP

Throughout the years, beauty pageants have had a number of scandals.
Steve Harvey announced the wrong Miss Universe winner in 2015.
Vanessa Williams had to give up her crown after nude photos of her surfaced in Penthouse magazine.

Love them or hate them, beauty pageants have been a part of American culture for years — in fact, the first Miss America pageant took place in 1921.

And over the past century, there have definitely been a few scandals here and there, involving both the contestants and the pageants themselves.

Read on for some of the biggest scandals involving beauty pageants that have happened over the years.

Former Miss America CEO Sam Haskell's emails were exposed and they were filled with misogynistic language.

Sam Haskell has since resigned. Getty/Donald Kravitz

This wasn't why she was stripped of her title. Ethan Miller/ Getty Images

By the time he apologized, the damage was already done. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Vanessa Williams has made quite a comeback. Associated Press

A lot of people were not pleased with the pageant. AP

Karlie Hay was allowed to keep her crown. AP/Ethan Miller

Mary Leona Gage wasn't able to keep her title. AP

Victoria Cowen ended up with the crown. AP/Wayne Parry

Genesis Davila sued the pageant for defamation. AP

The act was meant to be symbolic. luba/Getty Images