Many people think that “Queens of Beauty” are brainless girls with pretty faces who look good in bathing suits. I want to tell you that this rumor is not true. It is true that there are some contests in which the only thing that counts is your appearance. But it takes a lot more than good looks and a good body to take home the crowns at the most reputable pageants. I competed in the Miss America set of pageants, and I’ll tell you it was tough. First, the Miss America organization awards more than a million dollars annually in SCHOLARSHIPS. This means that they give money to deserving women for their pursuit of a higher education. They don’t just write checks to pretty girls and tell them they can go shopping for clothes, shoes, makeup, or other fleeting frivolity. Second, there are several areas of competition in which contestants are scored.
One of these categories is the interview that, in the Miss America pageant, included 40% of her total score. In my experience, these are difficult interviews during which you are questioned on various topics ranging from current affairs and political issues, to personal history and opinion. You have to be able to think quickly, be very aware of the world around you, and present your opinions in a balanced and charming way. Another highly weighted part of the competition is the talent category. Successful Miss America contestants have typically spent countless hours training in their particular area of ​​performance. You can’t just decide one day “Hey, I’m pretty, I think I’ll try to be Miss America.” If you haven’t yet rehearsed a skill well that you could use to compete for talent, you may have missed the boat. Now, let’s not forget about the swimwear competition.
Although opinions on this topic vary, the fact remains that contest contestants must wear a bathing suit on stage. You may think of it as demeaning and degrading, but you still have to admit that this shows your superior physical fitness. Such fitness is a feat that is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve in a country where obesity is at epidemic proportions. Finally, one of the most prevalent fears among Americans is that of public speaking. It’s hard to get on that stage, present yourself as a bundle to a set of judges, and hope they’ll like you, not to mention the hundreds of viewers. Many people in this world could not do that. I think it’s time we stopped demeaning these women and labeling them “brainless beauty queens” and starting to recognize them for the talented and accomplished people that they are.
