26 Vintage Photos That Show the Timeless Chicago Beauties From the 1920s

With the flapper era bringing in a new breed of girls, bathing beauty contests were popping up in cities throughout the United States. Miss America began in Atlantic City in 1921. Chicago capitalized on this trend in 1922 by starting the Miss Chicago contest, which is still held yearly, and Texas followed suit in 1926, creating the International Pageant of Pulchritude (a fancy word meaning beauty), which became the Miss Universe competition.

 

One Chicago beauty was Ella Van Hueson, Miss Universe in 1928. Van Hueson had this to say after her win: “Chicago girls are beautiful. Other cities have pretty girls, but Chicago has the beautiful ones.”

Miss Chicago Georgia Theodora Hale was the winner in the first year of the Miss Chicago contest in 1922. Hale, who was from Englewood, became a silent movie star after competing in the Miss America beauty pageant. Hale's most notable role was in Charlie Chaplin's "The Gold Rush" and she also played Myrtle Wilson in the first film adaptation of "The Great Gatsby" in 1926. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Miss Chicago Margaret Leigh came in fourth place at the Atlantic City Miss America beauty contest, the most prestigious beauty contest in America, in September of 1924. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Miss Milwaukee Clare Koehler, from left, Miss Chicago Margaret Leigh, Miss Los Angeles Lillian Knight and Miss Sioux City Alta Sterling, circa Sept. 1924. This was most likely a gathering during the national Atlantic City Miss America beauty pageant, held on Sept. 6, 1924. Leigh was included in the final round of judging, along with Miss Los Angeles. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Miss Chicago of 1925, Margarita Gonzales, circa 1925. Gonzales was a candidate for the national title at the Atlantic City beauty contest in 1925, but was eliminated in the first round. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Cars are covered in flowers as part of a Chrysler Parade to honor beauty queens, Sept. 1, 1926. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

On Aug. 2, 1926, Mae Greene, 18, was chosen as Miss Chicago 1926 out of 4,000 rivals at the Trianon Ballroom in Chicago. She went on to represent Chicago at the Atlantic City Miss America beauty pageant on Sept. 7, 1926. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

On Aug. 2, 1926, Mae Greene, 18, was chosen as Miss Chicago 1926. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Margaret Knight, right, and two other girls participate in the 1926 Miss Chicago contest. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Miss Chicago contestant Lucille Burgess, left, with Betty Blythe, circa March 20, 1926. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Maebelle Soller at the Miss Chicago contest, circa Aug. 31, 1926. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Miss Myrtle Christine Valsted, 17, circa July 11, 1927. Valsted became Miss Chicago 1927 after the original winner, Estelle Kosloff, was found out to be married. Valsted competed in the Atlantic City pageant of 1927 and then moved to Hollywood to pursue an acting career. Valsted died one year later, after turning 18, following surgery for appendicitis. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Miss Myrtle Christine Valsted, 17, was Miss Chicago in 1927. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Virgina Stonesifer, from left, Betty Ann Savers, Doris Rutkin, Margaret Dorney, Novene LaRue, and Myrtle Christine Valsted in the Miss Chicago contest, circa 1927. Miss Myrtle Christine Valsted, 17, took the title for Miss Chicago in 1927. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Mrs. Wallace Ford models a dress that she will wear to the Miss America costume for arts ball at the Stevens Hotel on Nov. 20, 1927. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Miss America Lois Delander, 16, circa Oct. 11, 1927. Delander was a Joliet native who won the Miss Illinois contest and went on to compete in Atlantic City for the Miss America title, which she won in 1927. She was a junior in high school and said she would not go into theater like past pageant winners. She was more interested in art. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Miss America Lois Delander, a Joliet High School junior who was selected queen of beauty at the Atlantic City pageant, is seen with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albin Delander, in 1927. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Estelle Kosloff, 20, circa August 16, 1927. Kosloff won the Miss Chicago beauty pageant in 1927, but was disqualified when the pageant found out she was recently married. Myrtle Christine Valsted, 17, was runner up and therefore became Miss Chicago 1927. Kosloff was divorced a year later. The Tribune quoted the young bride as saying "I gave up stage and movie offers for him....he was jealous of the theater audiences which saw me in a bathing suit." — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Ella Van Hueson, circa June 2, 1928. On June 4, 1928, Chicago girl Van Hueson, 22, was chosen as the most beautiful of 32 girls from various parts of the United States entered in the third annual International Pageant of Pulchritude in Galveston, Texas. She was given the title of "Beauty Queen of the United States." The next day Van Hueson competed against foreign beauties and was the unanimous choice of the seven judges. Van Hueson became Miss Universe. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

The recently-crowned Miss Universe, Ella Van Hueson, 22, arrived home in Chicago for a parade in her honor on June 8, 1928 after winning the International Pageant of Pulchritude in Galveston, Texas. The Tribune wrote, "Clad in a pea green hat and green polka dot dress and carrying two big bunches of red roses, she stepped off No. 652 of the Chicago and Alton with a radiant smile for the homecoming reception." On June 4, 1928, Van Hueson was chosen as the most beautiful of 32 girls from various parts of the United States and was given the title of "Beauty Queen of the United States." — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Miss Universe Ella Van Hueson, circa June 16, 1928. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Ella Van Hueson, circa June 16, 1928. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Ella Van Hueson, circa July 3, 1928. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Beauty queen Evelyn Cushing, 24, circa Feb. 2, 1932. Cushing won Miss Illinois in 1932 and went on to compete for Miss America. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Beauty queen Evelyn Cushing, 24, circa Feb. 17, 1932. — Chicago Tribune historical photo

Candidates for the title of Miss Great Lakes seen here on State Street, circa July 4, 1935. — Chicago Tribune historical photo