Malik 1

Huda Malik

Mr.Thornhill

English 12 DE

4 December 2022

Should beauty pageants be banned?

The first actual Beauty Pageant was held in the roaring twenties in Atlantic City, NJ to

convince tourists to stay past labor day. From there on out the primary agenda of a beauty

pageant was woven into society- appearance, interviews, and presentation. These middle-class

pageants have been subject to criticism from the very start, regardless of whether you take a

conservative stand or a liberal view they irk either end of the spectrum. These contests have been

banned, protested, and reviewed multiple times around the globe. Some believe they promote the

idea that women are objects to be judged by society and that “beauty pageants are degrading and

demeaning”(Arbor, A). Others believe they are empowering and offer women a platform to

express their concerns on important issues whilst using society's weaponized view on looks to

create a way in. As the women's movement brings forward the need for equilibrium in society,

the cultural conversation of whether or not beauty pageants are to tarnish under the spotlight or

reside is being raised.

Beauty pageants promote amorality and corruption

Miss America has always been controversial to people, regardless of what political views

they hold. Conservatives in the 20s would argue it encouraged “loose morals and corrupted

women”(Barra, G). This view arose due to the gender roles and norms in the 20s, so as they say

‘loose morals’, we can deduce that this would be from the morals that were collectively held by
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the majority of men and women in the 20s. Later on, during the second wave of feminism in the

60s and 70s it was shamed by protesting feminists for being an “outdated festival of women

parading themselves around for the male gaze”(Barra, G). The selection process and rules for

pageantry have been part of the slow-to-change members of America.

The idea of being viewed as a beautiful possession

Just as its original purpose was set out to attract and maintain tourism, Uganda has been

at a crossroads with its tourism minister after it wanted to promote “ curvy pageants” in tourism

leaflets for the country (Okiror, S). The proposal to add 'curvy women' to official literature

listing Uganda's attractions, devised by the country's tourism minister, has drawn an angry

rebuke from the minister of ethics and integrity and condemnation from women's rights activists.

This action of adding a group of people as a tourist attraction is very weighted, does this mean

they are showcasing a special talent of the women we have never seen before or are they

sexualising the women of Uganda and profiting from it (Okiror, S)? In a city where women's

safety is already at risk, this pageantry just “ legalizes the objectification of these women that

partake or remotely look like those in contests.” (Okiror, S)

Self-esteem dropping drastically

Beauty pageants are often entered by younger adults to develop extracurricular activities

and earn scholarship money; however, dieticians and psychiatrists suggest that these contests

result in the belief that “the natural beauty they hold is not enough and requires enhancements”

(Regitz, E). Even though they are said to develop self-confidence, beauty pageants have been

shown to consistently hurt their contestants' self-esteem and mental health, which sometimes
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results in their physical health and eating habits also being harmed. Beauty pageants focus on

outward appearance rather than inner beauty which can lead to “children hating their own

appearance and becoming obsessed with perfecting it”(Regitz, E). As beauty pageants are

usually known for having certain sections that consist entirely of showing excess skin and

cramming makeup on before hitting the stage, it is clear that there is no way around moulding the

type of woman they want and winning any of the divisions while trying to make a difference.

Attention received can go to a better place

For some contestants, pageants provide an opportunity to make a positive impact on

causes they hold dear. "It gives these girls the opportunity to have stage presence, to get out there

and have public speaking," (Farrar, M). In this way, the contestants are using their looks that

society seems to capitalize on and create a positive spin. By entering as regular contestants and

earning prizes and scholarship money which will better their careers and futures, they create the

most positive outcome possible of pageantry. Stechmesser says the difference between local

county fairs and large-scale preliminary pageants is “the personal connection between the

contestants and the emphasis on the agricultural community”(Farrar, M) these wholesome fairs

are used as more of a pass-time and fun activity where not much thought is given to the concepts

or roots of beauty pageants.

They will always be of relevance

The bright glory days of beauty pageants are quite evidently no longer, there is still a

light that shines on them due to the many contestants that find them genuinely fulfilling and

empowering though. Viewership for Miss Universe and Miss America has been falling steadily
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since the early 2000s and it seems that ” we, as a society, have decided that the concept of

parading women on stage and judging them mostly based on physical attractiveness is an

outdated and objectifying notion”(Lu, L). However, many of the women in these contests have

spoken to say that their personal moral beliefs for entering the contests were reason enough to

continue pageantry. They find confidence in public speaking and a platform to earn money and

work charitably. They have expressed that the gruelling hours spent in preparation has given

them an extremely efficient “work ethic” that they couldn't achieve anywhere else and pushed

them to reach their highest potential both physically and mentally (Lu, L)

Brilliant young women brought forward

The Miss America Pageant has recently made the competition into something that

“celebrates young women as whole human beings”(Wilkinsons, B). As part of the overall

competition, the contestant's talent is put to use to serve the community in some way. This

viewpoint holds the belief that “beauty pageants and competitions aren't the main problems to be

dealt with here”(Wilkinsons, B) instead it’s the unhealthy stereotypes about women that our

society still hasn't managed to move past. It doesn't aim to degrade and objectify women, instead,

it showcases an empowering amount of skills that young women ascertain. The women are well-

vetted on current events and political affairs so they are ready for the interview portion. If they

were to continue in this direction, the next generation of women would see that those competing

in Miss America pageants are strong-willed, talented women.

Conclusion
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In conclusion, the issue of whether or not beauty pageants should be banned is complex

and multifaceted. While beauty pageants can provide women with opportunities and a sense of

accomplishment and charitable work, they also have the potential to objectify and degrade

women to their bodies, promoting harmful and unrealistic beauty standards for every woman out

there. Ultimately, the decision to participate in a beauty pageant should be left up to the

individual woman, with the understanding of both views on pageantry work before entering.

Works Cited Page

Barra, Grant. "Can Miss America Be Saved ?" SIRS Issues Researcher, edited by

New York Times, ProQuest, 23 Dec. 2019, explore.proquest.com/

sirsissuesresearcher/document/2339350818?accountid=41259.

Accessed 8 Nov 2022.

Farrar, Molly. "Despite Critics, Pageants Thrive During Fair Season." SIRS

Issues Researcher, edited by St.Louis Post Dispatch, ProQuest, 18 July

2021, explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2581920408?

accountid=41259. Accessed 9 Nov 2022.

Lu, Lucy. "Why and How Have Beauty Pageants Endured?" SIRS Issues Researcher,

edited by Globe and Mail, ProQuest, 17 Aug. 2019, explore.proquest.com/

sirsissuesresearcher/document/2306647664?accountid=41259.

Accessed 8 Nov 2022.

Okiror, Samuel. "Outrage over Use of 'Miss Curvy' Beauty Pageant to Promote

Ugandan Tourism." SIRS Issues Researcher, edited by The Guardian, ProQuest,

7 Feb. 2019, explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/ 2265392588?

accountid=41259.

Accessed 8 Nov. 2022.

Regitz, Emily. "Beauty Pageants Can Lower Girls' Self-Esteem." SIRS Issues

Researchers, ProQuest, explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/

document/2365741376?accountid=41259. Accessed 8 Nov. 2022.

Wilkinsons, Branwyn. "Miss America: A Reminder That Women Are More Than Just

Our Looks." SIRS Issues Researcher, edited by University Wire, ProQuest, 22

Jan. 2020, explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/

2454229237?accountid=41259. Accessed 8 Nov. 2022.