Miss America is an annual U.S. competition for women aged 18-28, which began in 1921 as a "bathing beauty revue" and has since evolved into a multifaceted contest. Contestants are judged across five segments: Private Interview (30%), On Stage Question (10%), Talent or HER Story (20%), Health and Fitness (20%), and Evening Gown (20%). The most recent winner is Regan Hutsell of Texas, crowned Miss America 2027 on September 6, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Florida. The pageant's roots trace to a 1920 Atlantic City "Fall Frolic," with the first official contest in 1921 crowning 16-year-old Margaret Gorman as the "Golden Mermaid." It was suspended from 1928-1932 due to the Great Depression and moral concerns, but upon revival in 1933, the age limit was adjusted after 15-year-old Marian Bergeron won. Key reforms under director Lenora Slaughter (hired in 1935) included adding a talent segment in 1938 and switching the prize to college scholarships in 1944, a change credited to Jean Bartel.