 Though Smallwood had originally planned to return to Oklahoma College for Women after her year as Miss America, she instead accepted an offer to tour the United States on the Orpheum Circuit for $1,500 a week.Smallwood married oilman, Thomas Gilcrease, on September 3, 1928.They had a daughter, Des Cygne L'Amour Gilcrease, who was born on June 12, 1929, in Tulsa.