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Show While "Miss America of 1949" was being chosen chos-en at Atlantic City, the Seminole Indians of the Florida Everglades were picking their own prize beauty in a new and unusual un-usual procedure. At right, tribal chieftain Sam Willie Wil-lie places the crown on "Miss Early America." It was the first time a Seminole Semi-nole female ever had been seen in a swimsuir. A , -X jv- -v ?, I r Cv i I 1 i -. r - i y -JL M ,..iL..,.. J flAA0 O f) 0 These were the judges (left). Jack Willie, at right in the group, young son of the tribal chief, was joined by Stanley Cypress and Joe Smith, Their unanimous choice was 17-year old Dorothy Frank. ' "4r "A f t l ' 1 v I j I j Here she is (right) "Miss Seminole, 1949." Dorothy Frank, the winner, poses in front of the totem pole which is supposed to keep evil spirits away and bring good luck to the tribe. She won her title over a field of beauties from various Seminole settlements set-tlements in south Florida. The contestants seemed to enjoy the I innovation of appearing in bathing suits. I ' J ' i i : ; r ' n v i 6 u h u i . I t L I f A i ? t r V) t-1 r . 1 I : fi I" h Ma U In their attractive, modern beauty - contest garb the hopeful Seminole Semi-nole beauties line up (left) for the start of the unique contest to show what a marked contrast was worked in appearance appear-ance as compared with the colorful native garb they wear in the photo below. After the coronation ceremony, the girls donned their traditional robes to pose for the photographer. pho-tographer. Some of the girls are students at the U. S. government Indian school at Cherokee, N. C, but while they have adopted many American customs, the beauty contest was the first occasion they had been seen in such revealing costumes as swimsuirs. |