Every Tarleton Texan knows the many traditions that are celebrated during homecoming week, from Silver Bugle Hunt, to Midnight Breakfast, to Yell Contest, to Snake Dance, to the Beating of the Drum, to the L.V. Risinger Bonfire, to the Homecoming Parade, all the way to the Homecoming Football Game. 

However, when you look in Tarleton’s book of traditions, called the Purple Book, a tradition is listed underneath the Homecoming Traditions section called “Beauty and the Beast.”

Back when the residence halls at Tarleton were distinguished as male and female only dorms, one guy from each floor of each male dorm would undergo a makeover from the girls of the female dorms and turn them into contestants for a beauty pageant. 

They referred to the male contestants as “beauties,” and the girls would dress up and be their escorts for the pageant.

The beauties would compete in the contest and fight for the title of “Queen.” 

Not much more information is available regarding the origin of the Beauty and the Beast tradition, or why we no longer practice it. For now, the tradition remains a mystery.