Fashion
The Weirdest Gowns In Miss America History
We all love to watch pageants, but I think we can also all admit that the fashion can get a little bit wacky sometimes — let's be real, it's not like it's the Cannes Film Festival or the Met Gala. If you look back over the archives, there have actually been a ton of really weird gowns in Miss America history — from wildly patterned numbers to asymmetrical monstrosities.
Pageant fashion isn't all bad, in fact there are plenty of elegant streamlined ensembles that have walked across the Miss America stage over the years. But pageant wear tends to be a bit flashier than your average black tie get ups. There are lots of sparkles, puzzling details, and strange cuts to marvel over in between the more classic mermaid silhouettes and satin fabrics.
For every lovely dress we've seen during the Miss America competition there are at least three that have left us scratching our heads in bewilderment. Today, I'd like to pay homage to some of the more confusing numbers that contestants have worn over the years. Becomes sometimes the prettiest dresses are also the most boring. Without further ado, here are the weirdest dresses that the Miss America pageant has ever seen.
1. Joanna Guy, Miss Maryland 2012
This dress took the asymmetrical trend just a little bit too far.
2. Mallory Hagan, Miss New York 2012
Not technically a gown, but definitely, definitely weird.
3. Laura Kaeppeler, Miss Wisconsin 2011
Miss Wisconsin looked gorgeous, but LBR: Her dress looked like it had a giant rhinestone bullseye on it
4. Jessica Pray, Miss Iowa 2011
Very, uh, futuristic...
5. Claire Buffie, Miss New York 2010
This dress is almost the very picture of elegance — but the rhinestone pelvic arrows just take things a tiny bit too far.
6. Caressa Cameron, Miss Virginia 2009
Not to be terribly mean-spirited, but this kind of reminds me of that bridal shower game where you have to make a wedding gown out of toilet paper. That is quite the bow.
7. Amanda Tempel, Miss Ohio 2010
Very Carmen Miranda meets... a dinosaur? But she gets points of that original shade of emerald.
8. Kristy Cavinder, Miss California 2009
There's just a little bit too much going on here.
9. Ashlen Batson, Miss Arkansas 2008
Well, if you're going to play the flute, you might as well play it in style.
10. Molly Leigh Hazlett, Miss Texas 2007
Oh my goodness, that skirt.
11. Kandice Pelletier, Miss New York 2006
This dress has some velvet curtain vibes that I wouldn't mind at all if it wasn't for that odd strip of fabric across the neckline.
