Throughout history, the Miss America pageant has been criticized for its lack of diversity and representation of Black women. The first Black woman to compete in the Miss America pageant was Vanessa Williams in 1983, who went on to become the first Black woman to win the title. However, she was forced to resign due to a scandal, and it wasn't until 1990 that another Black woman, Debbye Turner, was crowned Miss America.

Since then, several Black women have won the Miss America title, including Kenya Moore (1993), Ericka Dunlap (2004), and Nina Davuluri (2014). These women have made significant strides in showing the diversity and beauty of Black women in the pageant world. Despite these victories, the pageant has continued to face criticism for its lack of representation and inclusivity, and there is ongoing work to create a more diverse and inclusive platform for all women to participate in.