The winner of the 1945 Miss America pageant, 21-year-old Bess Myerson of New York — the first Jewish woman to win the crown. She went on to a career in public service. (Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Not originally published in LIFE. Contestants in the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, 1945. (Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Not originally published in LIFE. Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, 1945. (Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Not originally published in LIFE. Outside the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, 1945. (Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Not originally published in LIFE. Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, September 1945. (Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Not originally published in LIFE. Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, September 1945. (Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

On September 7th, the 91st anniversary of the first Miss America pageant, LIFE.com presents a series of photos — most of which never ran in LIFE — from the 1945 contest, when a young woman named Bess Myerson made history.