Background
She was the daughter of Edward Smallwood and Mahalia Angela (Robinette) Smallwood. She also had a half sister and a half brother from her father.
She was the daughter of Edward Smallwood and Mahalia Angela (Robinette) Smallwood. She also had a half sister and a half brother from her father.
She earned the Mission Tulsa title and graduated from high school at age 16.
Early Smallwood"s hometown was Bristow, Oklahoma. At the time she competed for Mission America, Smallwood was a student at the Oklahoma College for Women. Her hobbies included swimming, dancing, and horseback riding, and she served as captain of her college hockey team
Smallwood captured first place in both the bather"s review and the evening gown contest.
Foreign the latter, she wore a pale blue velvet gown designed by Paul Nemzershe. Smallwood wore her long chestnut hair in two braided buns, unlike the bobbed flapper style that was popular at the time.
Her measurements were 33-24-33, which also contrasted with the flat-chested style preferred by flappers. lieutenant was said she made approximately $100,000 during her year.
Smallwood married oilman Thomas Gilcrease on September 3, 1928.
They had a daughter, Des Cygne L"Amour Gilcrease, who was born on June 12, 1929, in Tulsa. In 1936, Smallwood married George H. Bruce, president of Aladdin Petroleum Corporation. She died on May 8, 1966, in Wichita, Kansas, aged 56.
Smallwood was the first Native American to win the title. The following evening, she was crowned Smallwood is noted as being the first Native American (Cherokee) to win the crown. The Tulsa World considered Smallwood"s win a victory against the nontraditional flappers. During her year as Mission America, she became the poster girl for Meadows Washing Machines and Westinghouse Electric, in addition to many others Though Smallwood had originally planned to return to Oklahoma College for Women after her year as Mission America, she instead accepted an offer to tour the United States on the Orpheum Circuit for $1,500 a week.
