Miss Black America Pageant Celebrates 58 Years of Honoring Black Beauty

The historic pageant, founded in Philadelphia, has elevated Black women's presence and confidence for nearly six decades.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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The Miss Black America Pageant, founded in 1968 by John Anderson in Philadelphia, celebrated its 58th anniversary in 2026. Anderson started the pageant after realizing his daughters' dreams of becoming Miss America could never come true, as no Black woman had ever been crowned. The pageant has since moved from city to city, providing a platform for Black women to showcase their beauty, character, and confidence. Notable contestants include a young Oprah Winfrey, and the pageant's current executive producer is Anderson's daughter, Aleta Anderson.

Why it matters

The Miss Black America Pageant was created during the height of the Civil Rights Movement to elevate the presence and recognition of Black women in America, at a time when they were excluded from the mainstream Miss America Pageant. The pageant has stood the test of time, changing the face of beauty standards and boosting the confidence of Black women across the country.

The details

In 1968, John Anderson, who was already producing events in Philadelphia, booked a hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, right across the boardwalk from the Miss America Pageant, and held the first-ever Miss Black America Pageant on the same night. The pageant has since moved from city to city, hosting Black women from around the country to compete for the crown. The pageant's current executive producer is Anderson's daughter, Aleta Anderson, who says the responsibility is 'quite a weight' as the pageant is 'so important to community and race relations and provides a platform of confidence' for Black women.

  • The Miss Black America Pageant celebrated its 58th anniversary in 2026.
  • The first Miss Black America Pageant was held in 1968.

The players

John Anderson

The founder of the Miss Black America Pageant, who started the pageant in 1968 after realizing his daughters' dreams of becoming Miss America could never come true.

Aleta Anderson

The current executive producer of the Miss Black America Pageant, and the daughter of founder John Anderson.

Oprah Winfrey

A famous contestant in the early 1970s, representing Tennessee.

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What they’re saying

“Black women after that started looking into the mirror, seeing how beautiful they were and accepting the fact and the understanding and realizing the facts of their beauty and it's still going on today.”

— John Anderson, Founder, Miss Black America Pageant

“It's quite a weight. It's quite a responsibility, more so than just the family business, but a program that is so important to community and race relations and provides a platform of confidence.”

— Aleta Anderson, Executive Producer, Miss Black America Pageant

What’s next

The Miss Black America Pageant will continue its legacy of celebrating Black beauty and empowering Black women, with the next pageant scheduled for 2027.

The takeaway

The Miss Black America Pageant has stood the test of time, providing a platform for Black women to showcase their beauty, character, and confidence at a time when they were excluded from the mainstream Miss America Pageant. The pageant's enduring legacy has changed the face of beauty standards in America and continues to uplift and empower Black women.