The Miss America pageant has a complex history with race relations. For many years, the organization faced criticism for its lack of diversity and representation of Black women. It wasn't until 1983 that Vanessa Williams became the first Black woman to be crowned Miss America. However, her reign was cut short due to a scandal involving the publication of unauthorized nude photos, and she was forced to resign.

Since then, there have been other Black women who have won the title of Miss America, including Debbye Turner in 1990 and Erica Dunlap in 2004. These wins were seen as significant milestones for diversity and representation within the pageant world.

In recent years, the Miss America organization has made efforts to be more inclusive and diverse, but there is still ongoing discussion about the role of race in the pageant industry and the beauty standards it perpetuates.