Evening star., 1953-08-18
Helen Fiske Smith Wins Title
Of Miss Washington of 1853
Blond Model, 19,
Who Plays Cello,
Triumphs Over 68

deIen tlSKe SLnlCn, a WlllOWy,
blue-eyed blond, today reigns
as Miss Washington of 1883"
Miss Smith is 19 and lives at
965 Randolph street NV. She
also has a yen for slide-rules.
She worked her way through
college as a craftsman and
computer.
Her rendition of Evening
Star" from "Tannhauser," on
the cello raised her above the
other nine contestants in the
finals of the annual contest.
She will represent Washington
in the Miss America contest in
Atlantic City next month.
Just before she was crowned
with a garland of flowers by
Commissioner Renah F. CANA
lier, Miss Smith said:
II just can't believe it. I'm
so happy"
Free-Lance MODEL.
The new queen of the areas
beauties was born in Providence,
r. I. She is the daughter of Ed
Sinclair Smith, a designer of
guided missiles at Aberdeen
Proving Ground, Md, and Mrs.
Smith. BY occupation she is a
free-lance model.
She went to school in Balti-
more, Md: Wilson College in
Chambersburg, Md. and the
University of Maryland. Her
sorority is Gamma Sigma Rho.
She has had special training in
twirling the baton, in ballet.
playing the cello, modern dance
and drafting.
Miss Smith measures S feet,
63 inches tall. She weighs 1913
pounds, has bust of 3512 inches.
a waist of 2312 inches and her
hips measure 35k2. Miss Smith
wears No. 7 shoe size, a 10 dress
and her gloves measure Z. Her
favorite hobby is dancing and
her favorite sport, swimming.
She was co-director of the
water ballet held recently at Boil
ling Air Force Base and was
choreographer and underStudy
to Jerri Dunshaw, who played
the leading part.
Likes Show Business.
Her favorite ambition at the
I'm just so very much
interested in show business"
The natural blond said she had
several boy friends.
For last nights winning per-
formance she. wore a gunpowder
blue twill bathing suit and blue
shoes.
She succeeded Iris Ann Fitch
as Miss Washington, who has
just been married to Air Force
1t. John Gurski.
Miss Smith won over SO girls
who originally entered the con-
test.
Master Of ceremonies at the
finals of the contest, sponsored
by Radio Station WWDC, were
Milton @. Ford and Art Brown.
The talent portion of the finals
was broadcast by the station
with Willis Conover handling
the microphone. The contest
was held in the Capitol The
ater.
Jackpot of Prizes.
The new Miss Washington
won a jackpot of prizes, in addi-
ton to being the District area
representative at the Miss
America contest.
Her prizes included a weeks
vacation with all expenses paid
in Miami Beach, Fla; a one
week professional engagement on
the stage of Loew's Capitol; an
extensive wardrobe, luggage, furs,
swim suits, shoes, a years sup
ply of hosiery and other items.
The judges last night were Mrs.
Ivy Baker Priest, treasurer of
the United States; Constance
Bennett. the screen actress and
president of the Washington
Music Festival; William E. Coyle,
president of the Advertising Club
of Washington; Bernie Harrison,
radio-television editor of the
Washington Times-Herald, and
Harry Merrick, president of the
Washington Board of Trade.
Also Victor j. Orsinger, chief
barker of the Variety Club of
Washington; John Rous, treas
urer of the White House News