08/04/2026
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See some of the faces behind the headlines today as we continue our highlight of the 1922 Arkansas State Fair Queen series.
On August 20, 1922, the Arkansas Democrat published one of its first collections of contestants competing.
The newspaper described these young women as representing the "average Arkansas girl," noting that contestants were coming from both large cities and small communities across the state. In fact, the editors believed the growing number of rural entries proved that beauty, grace, and character could be found in every corner of Arkansas.
Unlike today's pageant, contestants didn't travel to compete on stage. Instead, judges evaluated 8×10 photographs submitted from across the state, with new portraits appearing in the newspaper throughout the contest.
These six young women were just a few of the many hopefuls whose photos were shared with readers as excitement continued to build toward the opening of the 1922 Arkansas State Fair. Aren't they beautiful?!?
Looking at these portraits over 100 years later is like opening a window into Arkansas history.
Does anyone recognize any of these names or family connections? We'd love to know!❤️
