Find Out the First Miss America Winner from Your State

#3: Miss Arizona, 1949 — Jacque Mercer

Jacque Mercer made history as the first and only Miss Arizona to win the Miss America crown, taking the title in 1949. Born in Thatcher, Arizona, she grew up in a small farming community before capturing the spotlight in Atlantic City. At just 18, she became the youngest winner up to that point.

Her reign was marked by a blend of glamour and controversy. Mercer famously married and divorced during her year as Miss America, which led the pageant to ban married women from competing in the future. Her story shows how one teenager from rural Arizona reshaped the rules of a national institution.