Miss Teenage America

The Miss Teenage America Pageant was started in 1961 as a pageant for high school girls. It was sponsored by Dr. Pepper. From 1961–1967 Dallas, Texas hosted the national pageant. Then, from 1968–1973 the pageant was held in Fort Worth, Texas. Afterwards, different cities throughout the United States hosted the national pageant.

Unlike today's Miss Teen USA and Miss America's Outstanding Teen, this pageant featured girls representing cities and not states. The contestants aged between 13 and 17. There was also a talent segment. The organizers experimented with the finalist formats until 1967, when it was fixed at 8 finalists and then the Top 4. Finalists were always announced the night before the finals.

The winners received a four-year college scholarship, a car from Chrysler or Dodge, cash, a personal appearance contract, as well as Dr. Pepper and American Airline Stock Shares.

in 1976, Bob Hope, Erma Bombeck and Judith Houghton co-wrote the book "Miss Teenage America Tells How to Make Good Things Happen." The book was copyrighted by Miss Teenage America, Inc. All book proceeds were placed into a scholarship fund for the contestants. Abelard-Schuman published the book. The organization also printed and sold punch out paper doll sets featuring the reigning queen.

Hosts included Sally Field, Johnny Carson, Bob Barker, and Dick Clark. In 1975, NBC televised the national pageant. Bob Hope started hosting the pageant in 1976. Other notable hosts include Bud Collyer and John Davidson. The pageant was later televised on CBS with Richard Thomas as host. On February 15, 1979 the event was televised at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee with Anson Williams hosting.

Dr. Pepper sold the pageant to Teen Magazine in 1981.

Miss Teenage America 1964, Judy Doll, gave up her crown on May 19, 1964, to get married on May 31, 1964, to George Wolfe, a junior at Central Michigan University. The first runner-up, Jeanine Zavrel of Washington, DC, was awarded the title.