Norma Smallwood

Norma Des Cygne Smallwood (May 12, 1909 – May 8, 1966) was the winner of the Miss America 1926 pageant.

Early life Smallwood's hometown was Bristow, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Edward Smallwood and Mahalia Angela (Robinette) Smallwood. She also had a paternal half sister and half brother. She earned the Miss Tulsa title and graduated from high school at age 16.

Miss America 1926 At the time she competed for Miss America, Smallwood was a student at the Oklahoma College for Women.

Smallwood captured first place in both the bather's review and the evening gown contest. For the latter, she wore a pale blue velvet gown designed by Paul Nemzershe. The following evening, she was crowned Miss America 1926. Smallwood is noted as being the first self-identified Native American (Cherokee) to win the crown. Despite claiming Cherokee heritage, Smallwood and her family are not listed on the Dawes Rolls and were not Cherokee Nation tribal citizens.

Smallwood wore her long chestnut hair in two braided buns, unlike the bobbed flapper style that was popular at the time. The Tulsa World considered Smallwood's win a victory against the nontraditional flappers.

In 1936, Smallwood married George H. Bruce, president of Aladdin Petroleum Corporation.

She died on May 8, 1966, in Wichita, Kansas, aged 56.