“Miss Europe” and “Miss Austria,” the two Jewish girls among those who will contest for the title “Miss Universe” at the international beauty contest to be held this Summer in Galveston, Texas, received letters of warning against participating in what is termed “an unaesthetic spectacle.”
Miss Elizabeth Simon of Budapest and Miss Goldarbeiter received letters similar in content from Bishop Christopher Edward Byrne of Galveston urging them to abstain from participation in the contest “for the sake of modesty and self-respect,” since they will have “to parade in bathing suits under the glares of a mixed public.” The letter describes the event as a “vulgar advertising stunt which has not the approval of Galveston ladies.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
