The popular, crowned winner of 'Miss Point Isabel'
Bess Ennis of Weslaco was placed on a pedestal of the Rio Grande Valley beauties when she was crowned “Miss Point Isabel” in 1927.
After electrifying the crowds in the Valley, her majesty than went on to compete in one of the most prestigious beauty pageants in the country, the Galveston International Beauty Pageant.
Miss Ennis displayed elegance on stage and was greeted with overwhelming applause. The crowd loved her, and she won an everlasting place in the hearts of the thousands in attendance.
The three-day event concluded with the selection of “Miss United States and the “Beauty Queen of the Universe.” Although “Miss Point Isabel” did not win any of these titles, she was in the running until the final elimination and was the popular favorite of the crowd.
She stood out from the rest, from her first appearance until the final curtain call. With her coal black hair, beautiful figure, charming manner and the reaction of the crowd, she was conceded a sure winner.
A newspaper report from that time period wrote the following:
“Miss Point Isabel burst forth on the audience in the city auditorium last night, clad first in a gown of white satin with tulle embroidery, with marquisette work, a red rose with long stem and leaves adding the final touch, she was cheered the entire time she was in sight.”
The murmurs and cheers of delight continued during her bathing suit appearance. Her physical beauty was amplified when she wore a onepiece wool suit with a pink sash and tassel, with satin slippers with rhinestone heels and a red rose in her hair.
After many in the audience had given their approval, the word among a great number of them were saying, “That it would be impossible to defeat her.”
But unlike the audience, the judges preferred blondes. The popular saying that “Gentlemen prefer blondes,” held true as far as the judges were concerned. Miss Ennis lost the title and how she did so was a mystery.
The winner of both beauty titles was Miss Dorothy Britton, a “Miss New York,” she was a blonde, with light eyes and fair skin. Taking second prize was Ada Williams, “Miss Florida,” who was the perfect blonde beauty with blue eyes, dimpled, with golden curls. Like “Miss Point Isabel,” she was very popular with the public throughout the pageant. The only thing that can be said about the outcome is that according to Michel de Montaigne, “There are some defeats more triumphant than victories.”
Miss Point Isabel did not leave the stage wearing a crown but vividly displayed something more meaningful — a luminous beauty, with the people’s approval.