Banking on Beauty
TPB | Monday, July 27, 2009 at 4:54PM 
Craig Pearson, Jr. Nationals, NC Beauty Pageants! Everybody knows these are contests where women (and men albeit not as popular) compete primarily based on their physical beauty. Pageants began as early as 1854 but more formally in 1921. By the 1960’s they were a booming platform for young women to get attention (arguably negative and positive).
One of my favorite web sites to peruse for news and informational tidbits is Today’s Drum. They report GOOD NEWS! Despite all of the horribly distressing news we hear on a daily basis, there’s actually good things happening on our earth. Anyway, I digress.
I was surfing Today’s Drum and happened upon the story about the first black Miss England. Which of course led me to think about the long-lasting debate about the relevance and appropriateness of beauty pageants. They have been protested since their inception yet continue to exist. The feminist movement really demonized pageantry in the 60’s by crowning them sexist and misogynistic. At the same time, you have pageant defenders who feel they serve a purpose for catapulting careers, supporting education (through scholarships), building self-esteem and are no more objectifying than men’s pageantry (aka body-building) such as Mr. Universe and Manhunt International.
Not because I am an “eternal” crown holder, do I believe pageants serve a purpose :). Nowadays, the "pros" are that they prominently display talent, intelligence, activism and ambitions of young women. This 20 year old English woman, Rachel Christie, is clearly using it as a platform for her athletic career—she’s a heptathlete. Hept wha? yep, had to look this one up.
So, I just need to sort out how these pageants are different from other forms of entertainment that women choose to participate in such as talent contests, fashion shows, music videos, concerts, award shows, dance troupes for sports teams, etc. where they ALSO choose, to dress scantily clad and go the distance with hair, make-up, accessories and the like, to show off their “natural” assets and to look “beautiful.” Are they not objectified in this context?
Not all pageants include the swimsuit component these days and they tend to focus more on personality, poise, intellect and ability to communicate. Not to mention, the winners and runners up win loads of money! A talented musician, a naturally smart person, those with natural athletic ability can exploit their “gift” so why shouldn't a natural beauty (and not without hard work, I might add. Walking in 3-inch heels ain’t no joke)? What say you-- withdraw pageantry or bank on beauties?
Reader Comments (2)
Hey Tuesday, great blog! With the idea of having something for women that can display their education, ideology on whatever and their physical beauty. To Hooters,wet t-shirt, figure and now bikini pageants, which has no dialogue just young ladies in glass high heels.
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