I honestly don't like the competition because it's another way to tell young girls they have to look a certain way to look beautiful. All the women are thin and tall and their faces are caked on with makeup (of course they are on TV and on stage so some is necessary but still). I will admit they look beautiful, but I'd still rather see a plan-faced, average sized Miss. Whatever who isn't flawless compete; it's more realistic and more body-positive. I suppose the one good thing is that they aren't all white and blonde; a little diversity is always good, unless you're "not racist."
On the other hand, "The Miss America Organization is one of the nation's leading achievement programs and the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women." This is fantastic. On that sight it also says that they have given out $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance. This helps out young women who still might feel as if they aren't able to move ahead the same way as young men.We need more of that.
Ive never watched any of the Miss America pageants and did not know this was an issue being discussed recently. Personally, I think these beauty contests teach young girls what the stereotypical view of beauty is. Which is why this article is receiving so much attention. Since this woman is not the typical blonde hair, blue eyed American woman, can she not be eligible to win Miss America pageants? Above you said, a radio talk show host tweeted blaming the liberal judges on not voting for Miss Kansas because she "actually represented American values." However, I believe Miss America, Nina Davuluri, actually represents American values. America was supposed to be a melting pot of culture and diversity and founded under the principles of freedom for those chasing the American Dream. Therefore,I think Nina Davuluri is a perfect example of the principles America was founded under and the criticism of all the "not racist" American people needs to stop.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad someone blogged about this! Okay, so I watch the Miss America and Miss Universe pageants. I love them. I personally think they get a bad reputation because of all the rumors that go around saying they are superficial and stereotype the shit out of what beauty means. All of that is bullshit and totally not true. These pageants are more culturally and physically diverse than they ever have been. You have strong, independent women from all ethnic and cultural backgrounds trying to make a difference in the world. Yes, there are absolutely some women who are the typical tall, thin, blonde types. However, most of the women WANT to stop those rumors and change the stereotype the pageant world has. Nina Davuluri is a wonderful example. She is Indian, she is not unrealistically tall and thin, she is Hindu. All of the racist and derogatory comments from ignorant people is so unfair. She was born in America, which definitely proves the point that the U.S. is a melting pot. So all of the awful things people are saying to prove THEIR point of why she shouldn't be Miss America are actually contradictions...using the same logic, white people are from European descent, so the only women who can win this title are Native Americans - which is pictured perfectly in your post.
ReplyDeleteOne of the main reasons these women compete in these pageants is to be able to change the way the world views beauty, they do it to raise awareness for charities and scholarship, to educate people on serious political and world wide issues. Strong is the new skinny and imperfection is the new beauty. Miss Kansas was in controversy as well because she was the very first contestant to have a tattoo visibly shown. There are just so many positive things that are emulated from these pageants. Toddlers and Tiaras is the total opposite and a huge issue that the "professional" pageants are fighting with today. This show is NOT OKAY! Phew! Sorry for ranting!
I have always meant to watch this show at least once but haven't gotten down to it. Like Ashley said, I never knew this was an issue but now that you have brought my attention to it I'm interested! Personally, I'm not a huge fan of these kind of shows with pageants and having people win for more or less based on how they look. I realize that there is other stuff that they include within the show like their own talents, how they help with charities. But do they do all of that because they want to or just to look good? It agrees with the stereotype that women are just sometimes used as an accessory or to be there to look pretty. I've seen so many things on the media about how girls are always used just to make someone else look good. This show is a type of show that provokes all of that. Just like the show for the paegants for young girls. I know Toddlers and Tiaras is pretty different from the regular pageants that have been going on for years, but of course this semi recent show is making them look terrible. Young girls are shown that looking like a barbie doll will get you far in life. You need a lot more than your looks in this society if you want to become something big. I don't mean to offend anyone I just do not believe in pageants because of how they seem to be. Now I may be misjudging since I have not watched the show. I agree with what you said about the more natural look. If they had a pageant that showed women with their natural look that would be a much better outlook and example for young women.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to America: where the political parties blame each other for everything and racism is still a completely real thing.
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw these twitter comments, I got extremely sick to my stomach. The fact that everyone was blasting this poor girl because her heritage is absolutely ridiculous.
Technically, there is no real American standard because we are such a melting pot of races and backgrounds. I'm sure Miss Kansas had some kind of European, Asian, or Middle Eastern in her. So, technically, unless you're 100 percent Native American, you can't be seen as a "real American" under the terms of these racist people.
Saying that Miss Kansas should have won because she looks and has the "morals" of a real American completely homogenizes a margin of women. These beauty pageants are bullshit anyways because I don't know anyone who looks like that.