Miss New Mexico Betha Young is 90 years old.
She was 22 when she won the pageant in 1948 – but never received a crown or sash.
According to the Miss America Organization Facebook page, it was due to the effects of the post-World War II depression.
To rectify the situation, the current Miss America, Betty Cantrell, presented Young with her own crown and sash at an event in Albuquerque on Saturday.
Young told CNN affiliate KOAT that her sorority sisters at the University of New Mexico convinced her to enter the pageant all those years ago.
“I was sunbathing on top of the sorority house and they said I should do it. And so I said I would.”
She still remembers the shock she felt when her name was called.
“I was quite surprised because I thought some of the other girls really wanted to win,” she said.
