Evening star., 1963-05-10
CottonMuid
Busy Gal
BY ELEM
Star staft Writer

OIlc CLlhIlkCS OIcSScS ~
least seven times q day.
She travels with at least
IS suitcaSes. She comes COM
plete with q wardrobe Of cot
ton fashions designed for her
by some 81 designers in
America.
Who is she?
The 25th Maid Of Cotton,
Miss Shelby Smith, Of Albu-
ouerque. New Mexico. Of
course.
She loves her job Of being
the fashion and good will
ambassador for the American
cotton industry.
The 23-year-old graduate
student and biology lab as
sistant at the University Of
New Mexico. is a lively dark
haired beauty who was select
ed by judges at the annual
selection in Memphis. Tenn.
from q group Of 20 finalists
representing cotton-growing
States.
New Years Day was the
kickoff for her to assume
her duties as the 1868 Maid
Of Cotton. Fittingly. it was at
an appearance at the Cotton
Bowl.
Then Is was on to New
York for a month Of fittings
for the wardrobe which Is
seeing her through her 80
city tour.
On June the Maid takes
off for Europe where she will
visit France, Spain. Italy and
West Germany.
Shelby says she was cued
to cotton long before she was
selected as The Maid.
"It's warm and dry in
New Mexico, and I wear cot
ton winter and summer"
In her travels, Shelby's
discovered she's a walking
encyclopedia Of fashion facts
about cotton.
In minus II degree wealth.
er in Canada she wore q
cotton coat. "a lot Of people
wear cotton and don't know
1t. For example, some don't
know that corduroy is cot
ton," she noted.
Yesterday was q normally
busy day for the Maid. as
are nearly all Of her days
since she took over her
duties.
Following her press confer
ence yesterday at the May
flower Hotel. she was off to
luncheon with the Speaker
Of the House at q luncheon
in the Capitol given In her
honor by the Congressmen
from New Mexico.
Last night she was the
belle Of the Congressional
Reception, where still other
Cotton Belt representatives
diplomats and washington
officials met her.
Today she stars In the
Frank r. Jelleff fashion
show benefit luncheon being
held in the Mayflower Hotel
for the benefit Of the Florence
Crittenton Home.
She enjoys modelling her
wardrobe and hopes to later
on combine her laboratory
work as a physiologist with
modelling.
She projects her vivaciouS
personality on the runway
and smiles. smiles. smiles
said one of her two travelling
companions. Betty Tucker.
The other young lady who
lives, breathes. and probably
eats cotton candy. too. Il
Craig Barton who. like Betty
Tucker. Is home based In
Memphis. Tenn. with the
National Cotton Council.
Shelby Is the daughter OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Howard w
Smith. Her father Is in the
moving and storage business
That1l take care Of the q
pieces OF luggage. For hel
huge wardrobe Of all cottor
fashions he has told hei
wen have TO add a new WING
on the house 10 hold IT,"
What pleases Shelby most
as she travels through the
United States appearing In
fashion shows Is ITO see peo-
pie enjoying the new fash
ions" It's very gratifying 70
her. much more than Just
showing off her clothes.
When she arrives In Spain
she'll be starring in q cotton
promotional film being made
on the Costa Brava. They
won't have 10 use sub-titles
where's she concerned since
she speaks Spanish.
Has all this exposure TO
cotton left her with q desire
10 wear satins and laces7
Nope. It's just whetted my
appetite for more cotton
fashions" says she like a good