Are Pageants Relevant in 2016?

 So Miss America and the Miss Universe Organization seem to fit in that definition, especially definition #2…organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests. Now how you define women’s rights and interests is a personal matter. First, no woman is forced into the bathing suit competition. You choose to do it. Why? Well, if you want the chance to become Miss America or Miss Universe you compete in all phases of the pageant which include the bathing suit portion. Is it such a bad thing that women get together to compete for a life changing job? Isn’t that what we do every single day when we apply for job? We showcase our best assets in hopes of securing a job that will benefit us. The allure of becoming a celebrity overnight who becomes a spokesperson for various non-profits, travels the country and world inspiring and touching peoples lives and gets to participate in once in a lifetime events like presenting at the American Music Awards, meeting a President, performing for USO certainly had me vying for the job over a decade ago. Yes, there is a lot of travel. Yes, it will always seem more glamourous on television and social media than in real life, but honestly I could deal.

Lets talk about what makes pageants amazing? Because of pageants I have become more confident in who I am inside and out. On the outside, I can do picture perfect makeup and hair in 15 minutes flat, I know how to dress myself and walk in heels like a champ. On the inside, I have learned how to connect with people of all ages, speak articulately, grown an interest in non-profits, become an activist in causes I feel strongly about and stay up to date on current events because I want to. I have also become much more empathetic as an adult from meeting so many children and adults that come from so many different walks of life during my year as Miss California and beyond. I learned the true definition of volunteerism from the dedication of people that do not get paid to run the Miss California Organization but truly love to be a part of a young woman’s life changing journey. So I wore a very itty bitty, teeny tiny bikini by Speedo, four inch heels and chicken cutlets on national television? Does it make my degree from UCLA any less? My non-profit work any less meaningful? Does it make me worse of a mother or wife? The answer is NO and will always be NO. In fact, I am proud of the body that I worked so hard for way back when. After a kid and some serious stretch marks, if I could have that body again under the premise I wore it with 4 inch heels…heck yeah I would take it in an instant. Don’t mistake that for me not loving my stripes of passage into motherhood, I have come to embrace them but sometimes it would be nice to spend a day in my 22 year old Miss America body every now and again. Ok, back to the topic at hand.

 So when people ask or more frequently vehemently state that pageants are irrelevant or sexist, I am finding it less and less easy to bite my tongue. I want to ask them if they have competed in Miss America or Miss Universe? How many people do you know personally that have competed in these pageants? Do you think they are inferior women? Have you looked at a short list of pageant alumni? I mean to be in the same former pageant sisterhood as Nancy O’Dell of Entertainment Tonight, Kathi Lee Gifford, Carrie Underwood, Halle Berry, Oprah, Diane Sawyer, Vanna White, Michelle Pfeiffer, Paige Adams of Paige Jeans doesn’t seem to shabby, does it?

Would you want to be associated with these smart, beautiful, inspirational women?

My answer is YES!