Former Miss America Auctioning Crown for the First Time to Aid Teachers Struggling Amid the Pandemic

By Peyton Phillips October 26, 2021

Marilyn Van Derbur was Miss America in 1958 — now, she is auctioning off her crown and its matching bracelet to the highest bidder to raise money for teachers in Colorado.

After sixty years, former Miss America Marilyn Van Derbur is giving bestowing her crown upon someone else.

Van Derbur won the crown in 1958. “It’s one of my most prized possessions,” she told The Washington Post. “Anyone who knows a Miss America knows that a crown is the most special thing that she would personally own.”

The crown is currently being sold by Heritage Auctions to raise money for teachers in Colorado. The bidding starts at $20,000 and marks the first time that a Miss America crown has ever been auctioned. Van Derbur said she was compelled to sell it due to “unexpected expenses needed for COVID protections.”

The Swarovski crystal-adorned crown and matching “crown motif” bracelet are rare, according to jeweler David Talarico, and could sell for up to $40,000. “I’m not sure why it was so rare and fleeting. I can’t believe she has it,” said Talarico.

Image source: Insider