Be Frank: Pageant perspective
Bethany Frank
Issue date: 2/11/09 Section: Opinions
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I am not the girl who looks in the mirror and says, "Damn, I should be in a beauty pageant," but I am the girl who looks in the mirror and secretly wishes she could be.
Beauty is not simply found in society's supermodel. Beauty is part of every aspect of a woman: her mind, her body and her heart.
Some claim Miss America is simply a scholarship program and fear that calling it what it is, a beauty pageant, somehow demeans its purpose and the women involved.
But it is.
The four aspects of the pageant - talent, interview, swimsuit and ball gown - all center on finding the beauty in the contestant. It is about finding the beauty in her mind, body and heart.
This weekend I received the opportunity to flaunt my beauty at the Lady of the Bracelet pageant. I saw firsthand the strain placed on each contestant to magnify her beauty. Some spent hours in the gym, others spent hundreds on their hair, and yet, I spent my time in the newsroom.
We spent more than 16 hours of the week of the pageant practicing how to walk, talk and essentially meet the typical beauty standards.
The pageant encouraged me to question whether I could be a beauty queen.
The scholarship program is supposed to be about finding a well-rounded woman, but so many women found themselves living off Slimfasts and other dietary substances or they spent additional hours at the gym. The women who I joined on stage are strong, gutsy and magnificent.
It takes more than brains and Slimfast to have the courage to stand in front of your peers under the spotlight in a swimsuit and heels.
Some students wake up in sweats from the "going to school naked" dream, but these women don't get the luxury of waking up. They stand up, with their asses to the jazz band, spotlights beaming, smiling at the crowd and living most students' worst nightmare while literally being judged.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 6
Mrs. G
posted 2/11/09 @ 5:45 PM CST
The reason I enjoy the article for this week is because it highlights the very nature of a pageant. The goal is not to have the highest GPA or to fight for worthy causes. (Continued…)
Sabrina
posted 2/12/09 @ 1:58 PM CST
I do think that sometimes its sad the way ladies are perceived going into pageants or whatever but I do think thats its common sense to know the outcome. (Continued…)
Leopold
posted 2/15/09 @ 2:43 PM CST
As a heterosexual male, a third-party viewer, and a future leader in society, I would like to throw in my two-cents, for whatever they may be worth.
Sabrina, first off, what right have you to say that being overweight is irresponsible? I am physically active, I like to workout, I like to be active, I eat pretty healthily, and I will always be an overweight male. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 2/18/09 @ 3:29 PM CST
A view from the inside--- There were girls who were given awards that are not stick thin. Neither the first runner up nor the fourth runner up were too skinny- Fourth runner up is a size 10. (Continued…)
Landon
Landon
posted 2/18/09 @ 5:16 PM CST
You go, Sabrina!!!
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