Beauty Pageants By Megan Graham
A beauty pageant was originally a competition that traditionally focused on a female’s physical attributes in order to select a winner. As one can discover by researching the history of Beauty Pageants, the oldest pageant still in operation today is the Miss America Pageant, which was organized in 1921 by a local businessman hoping to entice tourists to Atlantic City, New Jersey. By parading beautiful women on stage to compete over who the judges perceived to be the best looking, the businessman believed that the pageant would bring in more men to the area which would increase his business as a result. (Pageant Center, 1998). Many women are repulsed at the idea of a competition focused on what society or man deems as beautiful, or ideal. Woman simply want it to be known that there is more to a female than her outer appearance.
However, current day Beauty Pageants can do just that, highlight a woman's inner and outer beauty. Beauty competitions today, such as the Miss Clemson University Scholarship Pageant, as well as many others, focuses on a span of different qualities one must have in order to win the competition, not just beauty. These qualities usually include a talent, a personal interview, an on-stage question, an evening gown, and sometimes a swimsuit section. The winner of the Miss Clemson University Scholarship Pageant has to be a well-rounded individual that displays inner as well as outer confidence. The prize of the Miss Clemson University Scholarship Pageant is a $600 scholarship and the title itself, which looks impressive on a resume (Miss Clemson Pageant - Mortar Board at Clemson University, 2014). Most people assume that Beauty Pageants are vain and do more harm than good to a woman’s self-esteem. But, that is simply not the case, and is more of a stereotype than a fact. As a young woman whose older sister and mother competed in beauty pageants, I have grown up with an insider’s scoop of what pageants are truly like and how they can make women feel about themselves and about others. Through watching pageants and experiencing them with my mother, Judy, and my older sister, Rachel, I have concluded that pageants are much more difficult and detailed than they seem, and that to win them, one must be an outstanding individual that is more of a role-model than an insecure, self-obsessed female like some people might assume.
For instance, in order to compete in the Miss Clemson University Scholarship Pageant, as well as other pageants, one must have a B average or higher. Only responsible students are allowed to take part in the event, because they have to represent the college they are attending and they have to be a good example for other students. Not only that, but one must also have completed various hours of volunteer community service, charity work, or sell ads in order to be eligible to compete. All contenders are expected to pick a cause, like finding a cure for breast cancer patients, and try to raise awareness for the cause they selected (Occupy Theory, 2016). By doing this, young woman learn to speak out for things that are important to them and to always think of others in need. This process helps to teach young woman that they do indeed have a voice and that they can make a positive difference in the world.
Unfortunately, even if someone is selected and able to compete in a beauty pageant, they must be willing to deal with the expenses, and “beauty” is not cheap. The average cost of a beauty pageant is $800 to $5,000. The girls will often get spray tans, elaborate gowns, high heels, gem filled jewelry, acrylic nails, and pay to get their hair and makeup done for the event (International Business Times, 2014). All of these pieces to the “pretty puzzle” add up when it comes to money, and it can show negatively on-stage if one contestant does not spend as much as the others.
Despite the expense of competing in pageants, many girls, such as my mother and my sister, would say that participating in beauty pageants is worth the cost, if one is financially stable, and is a wonderful experience that encourages young women to come out of their shells and to be the best version of themselves. Pageants allow girls to develop better social skills by interacting with the judges in the personal interview, performing in front of an audience on stage, learning about current events for the on-stage question, and talking to the other contestants backstage. The other contestants are often studious, high achievers as well, and can make great connections for business as well as life-long friends. In addition, all of the pageant girls are very talented individuals, and they are judged more for their talent and their personality in the personal interview than their looks. The Miss Clemson University Scholarship Pageant judges 40% on talent, 30% on personal interview, and the last 30% on the evening gown and the onstage question (Miss Clemson Pageant - Mortar Board at Clemson University, 2014). This judging criteria shows that beauty pageants focus more on inner beauty rather than outer beauty.
Most people, when they think of pageants, might envision a bunch of insecure girls that are begging for attention. People also speculate that beauty contests can lead to eating disorders and body image issues. In an online article by Felicia Byrnes titled Eating Disorders and Beauty Pageants, she writes that “A beauty contest is a competition based on the physical attributes of the contestants though talent, personality and question responses are also judged. These contests are seeing a downslide in popularity in most countries for treating women as objects and encouraging girls to eat less and less. Women who aim to take part in beauty pageants or those who have already won continue to diet to the point of harming themselves. Most models and beauty queens suffer from some form of eating disorder. Anorexia (deliberate weight loss) and bulimia (binge eating) are the two main eating disorders prevalent among these women.” Nonetheless, in response to this article, I will point out that, as scientists would say, correlation does not always equal causation. Just because some females that have competed in beauty pageants have later developed body image issues or eating disorders does not automatically mean that pageants are to blame. Girls that have never competed in pageants develop eating disorders. In fact, John Negroni, in his article, Social Media Is Making Us More Insecure, states just that, social media is adding extra pressure on females to always look good in every situation, not just pageants. Beauty pageants are not the only possible cause of insecurities and eating disorders. In fact, Beauty Pageants, such as the Miss Clemson University Scholarship Pageant, do not request a specific weight, height, or body type. The 2016 Clemson Pageant, that i had the pleasure of attending, included a girl with a disability and females of all different heights, weights, and races. There was no body shaming to be seen on stage. That being said, I do not think there is anything wrong with encouraging girls to be physically fit and to be in the best shape of their lives. To be fit and healthy takes discipline and hard work, impressive qualities that one must possess in order to feel good inside and out. However, a diet-mentality is never a good mindset to have and woman should focus more on their health and strength than a number on the scale. Unhealthy habits are never praised or encouraged by judges of pageants, and contestants of all shapes, colors, and sizes are welcomed.
People might argue that judging young woman based on their looks is unfair because not everyone was born with a perfectly chiseled jawline, pouty lips, or button nose. But, if one is to examine all of the different competitions equally, this argument will seem contradictory to itself. Sports are judged based on one’s natural-born ability and talent, and not all people are blessed with athletic abilities, just like not all people are born with attractive facial features. Therefore, all competitions could be labeled as “unfair,” because obviously not everyone will win or have the same success. It should not always be about the victory, it should be about improving oneself, learning to share in others' successes, and striving to grow as an individual. We all have unique talents and quirks that make us special, we just have to accept that we might not be the best at everything.
Overall, Beauty Pageants teach young women to strive for excellence and to make the best of what they have. By competing or participating in pageants, like the Miss Clemson University Scholarship Pageant, one learns to work hard, speak well in front of other people, perform on stage, encourage one another, and to always be grateful, win or lose. Beauty Pageants can be an exciting hobby for many girls and their families, and should not be looked down upon or judged just because it is a different type of competition in comparison to physical sports. However, it is crucial for all women to know that society’s view of beauty is not always achievable, and that beauty is often subjective. That is why many modern day beauty pageants, like the Miss Clemson University Scholarship Pageant, focus more on one’s talent and social skills than one’s physical appearance. Regardless if one wants to partake in Beauty Pageants or not, it is important for females to empower each other and bring out the positives instead of the negatives. As Steve Maraboli once said, “...there is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection.”
Works Cited
“A Quote from Unapologetically You.” Goodreads. Goodreads Inc. n.d.Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
“Article Doctor – Health and Fitness Articles.” Eating Disorders and Beauty Pageants. N.d. Web. 20 March. 2016.<http://www.articledoctor.com/eating-disorders/eating-disorders-and-beauty-pageants---short-stories-on-eating-disorders-and-beauty-pageants-2150>
“Beauty Pageant.” – Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauty_pageant>
“Beauty Pageants Pros and Cons List.” Occupy Theory. N.p., 05 Jan. 2015. Web. 12 Mar. 2016. <http://occupytheory.org/beauty-pageants-pros-and-cons-list/>
“Miss Clemson Pageant – Mortar Board at Clemson University.” Miss Clemson Pageant –Mortar Board at Clemson University. Mortar Board Honor Society, 2014. Web. 28 Mar. 2016.<https://sites.google.com/site/mortarboardclemson/miss-clemson-university-pageant>
“Social Media is Making Us More Insecure.” John Negroni. N.p., 24 May 2013. Web. 8 Mar.2016. http://jonnegroni.com/2013/05/24/social-media-is-making-us-more-insecure/
“The High Cost of Beauty Pageants.” International Business Times. N.p., 08 June 2014, Web. 9 Mar. 2016. <http://www.ibtimes.com/high-cost-beauty-pageants-1595724>