Freeda Grace Rowley

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Silver Sea Shell Bathers Revue 1923 - winner Ruth Malcomson

Miss America 1924 Winner: Ruth Malcomson (Miss Philadelphia)
(Previous winner of Silver Sea Shell in 1923) (d)

At seventeen, after being coaxed into the competition, Ruth Malcomson won a Silver Sea Shell as the winner of the amateur division in the 1923 Bather's Revue. A year later she returned as "Miss Philadelphia" in the Inter-City contest for the Miss America title and to face-off against the largest field in Miss America History -- 84 representatives. She narrowly defeated returning champion Mary Katherine Campbell after hours of deliberation.

Ruth spent most of her year around the Philadelphia area visiting schools, hospitals, and senior centers.

Ruth decided not to defend her title due to her belief that professionals were entering the Inter-City competition as a Hollywood film was to be shot around the 1925 pageant. Her decision drew controversy in the press, and began false speculation that the pageant wasn't on the up and up. The pageant committee quickly instituted a new rule that no Miss America could return to competition.

Several years later Ruth married Carl Schaubel, and enjoyed a quiet life in her native Philadelphia. "The simple life for me," she once said.

Ruth's niece became Miss Pennsylvania 1956, and her grandniece became Miss Delaware 1981. Ruth remained a firm supporter of the pageant until her passing in 1988.

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