September 14, 2014 8:31 PM EDT
F ifty-three young women from across the country will take the stage in Atlantic City Sunday night, vying for the 2015 Miss America crown. Here’s a look back at some of the more flamboyant moments in the yearly beauty contest for scholarship money.
Miss America 1999 Nicole Johnson (R) from Virginia reacts with first runner up Kelli Bradshaw (L) from North Carolina, after Johnson was named Miss America 1999 in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Sept. 21, 1998. Reuters Former Miss America Angela Perez Baraquio, top, crowns Miss Oregon Katie Harman as Miss America 2002, during the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, N.J. on Sept. 22, 2001. Charles Rex Aebogast—AP Miss New York Mallory Hytes Hagan reacts as she is announced Miss America 2013 on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, in Las Vegas. Isaac Brekken—AP Miss America contestant, Miss New York Nina Davuluri reacts after being chosen winner of the 2014 Miss America Pageant as 2013 Miss America Mallory Hagan places a tiara on her head in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Sept. 15, 2013. Lucas Jackson—Reuters Miss Oklahoma Jennifer Berry reacts with Miss Georgia Monica Pang (R) after being named Miss America 2006 at the conclusion of the Miss America pageant in Las Vegas on Jan. 21, 2006 Susan L. Gregg—Reuters Miss Nebraska Teresa Scanlan (R), 17, reacts after being announced Miss America 2011 during the Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada on Jan. 15, 2011. Steve Marcus—Reuters/Corbis Ericka Dunlap, left, reacts after being named Miss America 2004 as she is embrace by first runner-up Kanoelani Gibson on Sept. 20, 2003, in Atlantic City, N.J. Brian Branch-Price—AP Tara Dawn Holland (R), Miss Kansas, reacts upon being named Miss America 1997, as she hugs second runner-up Kimberly Massaro, Miss Missouri, on Sept. 15, 1996 in Atlantic City, NJ. Tom Mihalek—AFP/Getty Images Shawntel Smith, Miss Oklahoma reacts as she is named Miss America 1996 as she hugs first runner up Miss Oregon, Emily Orton, on Sept. 16, 1995 in Atlantic City N.J. Reuters Newly-crowned Miss America, Phyllis George reacts to the announcement of her title on Sept. 12, 1970 in Atlantic City, N.J. Bettmann/Corbis More Must-Reads from TIME