Book Review The Pink Dress

Jane Little Botkin's newest book is a captivating memoir about a symbolic pink dress, a West Texas girl turned reluctant beauty queen, a dysfunctional family, and two flamboyant men who make history in the pageantry world. Their stories intertwine and are framed by national and international politics of the border towns of El Paso and Juarez during the turbulent times of 197o's with war, political scandals, and violent demonstrations. Botkin's straightforward narrative is told in a conversational tone with a sense of earnestness and wry humor. With deep insight, Botkin bares her soul in this memoir, struggling to stay true to herself and her values. Her resilient spirit helped her navigate a troubled relationship with her mother, accepting the fact that not all failed relationships can be fixed. 

Botkin takes the reader on a deep dive into the world of beauty pageantry. I was captivated by the author's descriptive writing, which gives readers a fascinating portrayal of beauty contestants' lives and what backstage life was all about. I found the book informative and an eye-opener into a world that I knew little about.

At age 19, Botkin, as Miss Runner-Up, was promoted to Miss El Paso when the elected queen withdrew for personal reasons. With the acceptance of the crown, in a surprise move, Botkins's mother, who had masterminded all of Botkin's life and activities up until then, relinquished her custodianship of Miss El Paso to the Miss America pageant franchise. Botkin became the first Guyrex protege. Richard Guy and Rex Holt were two men who understood success was all about showmanship. They created pageants like theatrical shows that were wild and imaginative. For the next year, all of Botkin's life was managed by Guyrex Associates. They were her “handlers," covering every aspect of her, from choosing her wardrobe, limiting food to maintain a certain body image, and keeping a constant rigid schedule. For a 19-year-old, it was a lot of pressure, but winning a title was not just about fame for any of these contestants. It was looking ahead at future endorsements, professional employment, and money.

Botkin's retellings of behind-the-scenes were hilarious. I particularly enjoyed the one about a middle-of-the-night snack episode gorging on a large Texas sheet cake they were denied having earlier in the day by their “handlers.”

The pink dress with embroidered roses was a Guyrex creation. It symbolized a fairy tale life young women in Botkin's time imagined beauty queens would wear. Botkin was fortunate to own this stunning gown. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the book cover. The simplicity of this exquisite gown featured makes for an eye-catching cover. Wearing this gown for her piano talent competition contest gave Botkin an aura of confidence. Later in the story, we learn the dress almost met its demise in the hands of Botkin's mother.

Actual photos from Botkin's album made her memoir come alive. I highly recommend the book, which takes the reader on a wild ride through the West and into the behind-the-scenes of beauty pageantry. It is definitely a 5-star book. I devoured it in a day. 

ALL ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

https://janelittlebotkin.com/

National award-winning author Jane Little Botkin melds personal narratives of American families, often with compelling stories of Western women. A Western Writers of America member since 2017, Jane judges entries for the WWA's prestigious Spur Award, reviews new releases and writes articles for various magazines. Her books have won numerous awards, including two Spur Awards, two Caroline Bancroft History Prizes, and the Barbara Sudler Award; she has also been a finalist for the Women Writing the West’s Willa Literary Award and Sarton Book Award. She is currently working on a biography of Mary Ann (Molly) Goodnight for the University of Oklahoma Press. Jane blissfully escapes into her literary world in the remote White Mountain Wilderness near Nogal, New Mexico.