List of Veiled Prophet Belles and Queens
The custom of singling out a young woman for special attention began with the first Veiled Prophet Ball in 1878, when Suzanne (Susie) Slayback was chosen by the first Veiled Prophet, John G. Priest, to be the "belle" of the ball at the age of 16. According to a 1958 article in the "St. Louis Globe-Democrat," in those earlier times it was "the custom of the Prophet to select a girl for his partner in the first dance at the ball. "
The first crowned "queen" was Hester Bates Laughlin in 1894, whose coiffure was topped with a headpiece supposedly a replica of that worn by Queen Victoria. The Veiled Prophet honorees have been:
Origin
This is a list of women who have been particularly honored at the Veiled Prophet Ball in St. Louis, Missouri, as either "belle" or "queen".