New York Radical Women was established in New York City in 1967. Founded by Robin Morgan, Carol Hanisch, Shulmath Firestone, and Pam Allen, a group of friends in their twenties who had been active in the New Left movement, this feminist group garnered national attention for their role in organizing the Miss America Pageant protest in September 1968. Hoping to gain media attention for their movement, the New York Radical Women targeted the Miss America Pageant because of concerns about how beauty standards oppressed women. In a letter requesting a permit for the protest, Robin Morgan described the group’s objection to the pageant’s emphasis on physical appearance over intellect and on a standard of beauty valuing youth over maturity. She also denounced the commercial interests motivating the contest. Morgan served as the key organizer for the event, and she also wrote the press release announcing the protest.