68 Historical Photographs That Help Us Understand What Life Was Like in the 1920s

#33: Marcia Pickenfield: America’s Darling of 1927

Meet Marcia Pickenfield, the embodiment of America’s heart in 1927, who clinched the title of America’s Most Beautiful Child at six months. Surrounded by trophies in her photo, Marcia’s adorable expression captured the hearts of many, marking her as a standout beauty in infant history.

Marcia graced the world with her presence until 2009, living to the ripe age of eighty-two. The legacy of child beauty contests, like the one Marcia triumphed in, lives on, with entry fees hovering around $99. Interestingly, the ‘Baby Miss America Pageant’ persists, upholding a strict ‘no makeup or modeling’ rule, focusing on natural beauty.