In the late 1920s, the Mobile Junior Chamber of Commerce, now called Jaycees, began the annual Azalea Trail Festival to encourage community participation in city beautification projects. After World War II, the Jaycees invited local high school senior girls to compete for modest awards, plus the title of Azalea Trail Queen. Over the years the pageant grew, and girls from other southern states were also competing. In 1957, the program was incorporated and renamed the Junior Miss American Pageant. The following year, the organization revised its name to America's Junior Miss Pageant.
Girls compete in the areas of scholarship, talent, fitness and poise.
Among Junior Miss winners who have become nationally known in their careers are Diane Sawyer, Mary Frann, Kim Crosby Westenberg, Julie Bryan Moran, and Deborah Norville. Documentation includes a text report, photographs and a video.