Most Memorable Miss America Gowns, great dresses!

   Everybody has their own favorite category when it comes to beauty pageants. Personally, I love the talent portion the most. When it comes down to it, though, the part most of us are really waiting to see is the evening dresses online. For Miss America 2016, I really hope there is no holding back and that we get to see some of the best gowns yet. Of course, the history of the pageant is littered with memorable Miss America gowns, from the fabulously kitschy to the too-much-glitter catastrophes.


When competing amongst 52 other women and trying to stand out, an amazing evening gown will really help your case. Most of the time, the dresses are either elegant or rhinestoned (or occasionally both). Other times, a truly unique dress will be presented by a contestant or two. For me, "memorable" can mean one of two things: A plus size cocktail dresses so beautiful that no one will ever forget it, or so ridiculous that nobody ever could.

In terms of Miss America, I feel like even if your dress is remembered for being ugly AF, it's still a good thing. It means the contestant did something different from the norm, and that should always be applauded. Celebrating different will arguably get us one step closer to recognizing these women as actual talented human beings, even if some of them have really bad taste. Here are the six most memorable Miss America gowns yet.

I love this dress more than words could express. It could have stopped before the knee and would've been amazing, but the added detail to the bottom is what really made Megan Ervin stand out in the 2012 competition. The ruffled detail especially makes me think of roses. In a world that's a bit too obsessed with minimalism and "being chic" for my liking, I adore this unique take on the fishtail cut.