The Pink Dress: A Memoir of a Reluctant Beauty Queen by Jane Little Botkin is not what you might expect from just glancing at the title. Yes, it does take the reader inside the unique world of beauty pageants in the 60s and 70s but it’s neither a glamorous nor frivolous stroll down memory lane. You get the “down and dirty” about what went on behind the scenes- The extremely unhealthy focus on weight and diet that contributed to the completely unrealistic expectations young women developed about their bodies; the pressure for the contestants to be perfect; the behind the scenes manipulation of the selection process that resulted in a major scandal and a shakeup of the management of several major pageants. You’ll certainly gain an appreciation for why Jane Little Botkin was a “reluctant” beauty queen. She takes you inside the beauty pageant world that existed within the complicated social/cultural context of the times, including the rise of feminism as well as the widespread social unrest related to the Viet Nam war. Beyond that, she takes you inside her family, warts and all. She tells this story with honesty, compassion and empathy. There are numerous flawed people in her life but there are no villains. This is a memoir but thanks to Jane’s superior story-telling skills, at times, it reads like a historical fiction novel. The tension and conflict that existed in her world make this coming of age tale a compelling story. Readers will be impressed with the courage, grace and determination with which she embraces the challenges she faces.
Kindle: $12.99 Paperback: $15.77
