The Mr. Black America Contest was founded in 1975 by Ray and Pearli Killens of San Diego, California. The shows were created to showcase the positive images of African American men. The mission of the contest is to improve the image of Black males through positive visibility, and to generate awareness. The very first contest in 1975 involved 20 contestants and packed the ballroom of a San Diego landmark--the El Cortez Hotel. The crowd, exceeded 1,000 spectators. The show was reduced to 10 contestants. These contestants strive for perfection and display camaraderie unequal to others. Bathing suits were introduced in 1980.  Celebrities and stars have participated as judges, guests and masters of ceremony. Today, the Mr. Black America Contest has grown from a single annual event in San Diego to a year-round, multifaceted national extravaganza in various metropolitan cities.