In 1921, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat newspaper held a beauty contest.
About 7,000 girls from across the U.S. entered the contest by sending in their photographs.
These entrants were split up into 4 “districts” depending on where they were from — the city of St. Louis, the state of Missouri, the state of Illinois, or anywhere else in the United States.
Several dozen finalists were asked to come to St. Louis for in-person judging, and ultimately a first ($1,000), second ($500), and third ($100) place winner was chosen for each district.
I’m not sure who won 1st place in the city of St. Louis, but here are the other three first-place winners:
- Illinois: Leola Aikman, 18 years old, from Salem, Illinois
- Missouri: Garnelle Haley, 17 years old, from Moberly, Missouri
- United States: Edith Mae Patterson, 19 years old, from Pine Bluff, Arkansas
As it turns out, two of these winners had a small influence on U.S. baby names…
Garnelle
Garnelle Haley’s photo was featured on the front page of several Missouri newspapers after her win.
That year, the baby name Garnelle debuted in the U.S. baby name data with 11 baby girls — five born in Missouri specifically.
- 1923: unlisted
- 1922: unlisted
- 1921: 11 baby girls named Garnelle [debut]
- 1920: unlisted
- 1919: unlisted
Garnelle never appeared on the list again, but its debut was impressive enough to make Garnelle the top one-hit wonder baby name of 1921.
The name Garnell also debuted on the girls’ list in 1921.
Edithmae
Edith Mae Patterson wasn’t just a district winner, but also the grand prize winner. Her title was “The Most Beautiful Girl in the United States,” and she received an additional $2,500.
Right on cue, the baby name Edithmae made its debut in the national dataset in 1921:
- 1924: unlisted
- 1923: 5 baby girls named Edithmae
- 1922: unlisted
- 1921: 5 baby girls named Edithmae [debut]
- 1920: unlisted
It made the list again in 1923, perhaps because Patterson remained in the public eye for several more years, “cross[ing] the country in the capacity of everything from civic-club speaker to fashion model to aspiring Hollywood actress.” She gave it all up in the mid-1920s, though, after a religious conversion.
Which name do you like more, Garnelle or Edithmae? Why?
P.S. The Miss America competition began the very same year.
Sources:
- “Egyptian Girl is Handsomest.” Marion Semi-Weekly Leader 30 Sept. 1921: 1.
- Full Gospel Temple Plant of Renown, Inc. Founder
- Lindsey, William D. and Mark Silk. Religion and Public Life in the Southern Crossroads: Showdown States. Walnut Creek, CA: Rowman Altamira, 2005.
- “Miss Garnelle Haley.” Mansfield Mirror 22 Sept. 1921: 1.
- “A Moberly Girl Wins.” Chariton Courier 23 Sept. 1921: 1.
- Pennington, Edith Mae. “From the Foot-Lights to the Foot of the Cross.” Latter Rain Evangel Aug. 1931: 16.
- SSA
