Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Meet The "Miss Subways" That Graced The Underground From 1941 Through 1976
By
Jen Carlson
Published Oct 2, 2012
Modified Oct 2, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
View all 16
By
Jen Carlson
Published Oct 2, 2012
Modified Oct 2, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
In 2009 we looked back at the Miss Subways of yesteryear, as the ol' gals gathered for a bit of a reunion when photographer Fiona Gardner and journalist Amy Zimmer got them together to gather their stories, along with some new portraits. Now they've funded the resulting book via Kickstarter, and the Transit Museum is hosting a new exhibition called "Meet Miss Subways: New York’s Beauty Queens 1941-76," which will open on October 23rd.
"For over thirty years, photos and biographies of New York women were displayed in subway cars as part of the “Meet Miss Subways” advertising campaign and beauty pageant. Young women of mostly middle and working class backgrounds were selected, not just for their looks, but for their hopes and aspirations. 'Meet Miss Subways: New York’s Beauty Queens 1941-76' will look beyond the pretty faces and pageant sashes to expose a fascinating and invaluable record of the changes and challenges which have shaped New York women. Originally conceived as a way to draw attention to nearby ads for chewing gum, tobacco and other products, the contest became a compelling platform for civil rights debates in the city."
While the program ended in 1976, it was brought back in 2004 to honor the 100th anniversary of the subways. Click through for a little sneak peek at the exhibit, which will also include a few events.
Tagged
Amy Zimmer
exhibit
Fiona Gardner
miss subways
transit museum
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 16, 2026
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .