Fake eyelashes, fake breasts, fake blondes, fake tan. What may appear to be the description of a drag queen competition is actually the cut-throat world of pageantry. To the average civilian a pageant is seen simply as a beauty contest in which girls fix their hair up and put on sparkly dresses. However, a seasoned pageant girl will tell you it is much much more than merely dressing up; for if one looks closely, a pageant can be utilized as the eyes into American culture.
Humble Beginnings.
What first began as a curiosity soon turned into an interest. What appeared to be an interest morphed into a hobby. What disguised itself as a hobby was in fact an obsession. Being a thin, blonde, twelve year old, when a family friend suggested a pageant, I wasn't too aghast. "They"re gonna give me money to walk around and smile?" I questioned. With some persuasion (and a lofty bribe from my mother) I entered my first pageant, Junior Miss Manatee County. The money drew me in, while the fierce competition and thrill of winning kept me there. Along with my age grew prize money, higher expectations, and most importantly, more challenging contestants. After my fifth win at regional levels I decided to raise the bar. At 14 years old my whole existence was devoted to the Miss Teen Florida pageant. Corporate sponsors, a former Miss America and Miss Indiana coach, and custom-tailored evening gowns ensued. I knew there was no turning back.
The Seasoned Veteran.
A typical regional or state scholarship pageant requires a minimum of two months preparation. Rarely does a "pageant virgin" walk away with the title. Although a high score in all three categories - interview, swimsuit, and evening gown - is crucial, the interview undoubtedly makes the more powerful impression to the judge. The interview is where all the elements of the pageant converge. Poise, spontaneity, beauty, intelligence, physique, charisma, presentation, and voice are all under strict scrutiny during these 5-10 minutes.
Charles Dunn, publisher of Pageantry Magazine decreed, "Every year beauty pageants show off 100,000 girls and boys under the age of twelve" (Nussbaum). ... Marcia Summers, editor of Pageantry Magazine states, "Parents need to look at why they want their children to be in a contest. ...
Due to the increase of interest surrounding pageantry, concerns regarding adolescent pageants have peaked. ... The biggest issue regarding modern day pageantry is how these competitions are affecting the health and safety of young children. ... We must educate parents and entrants alike on the rules and regulations of pageantry. ... If the young pageantry world does not change soon, the controversy regarding them will fail to cease. ... The pageantry world is in need of drastic change....
., but unlike the pageants in the 60's the new style of pageantry was full of "glitz" characterized by false eyelashes, spray tans, false teeth, and inappropriate clothing. Although child pageantry has been around for decades, it was not in the main stream of public interest until the horrific date of December 26, 1996 when six year old Jon Benet Ramsey was found mutilated, sexually abused and murdered in her parents home. As the investigation grew, the curiosity of the public grew as people sat in front of their TV's watching clips of Jon Benet's pageantry days. ... A...
We see in it, accurately depicted according to the Ptolemaic system that placed the earth at the center of the universe, a small terrestrial globe surrounded by its celestial coordinates: the meridians, the equator, and arctic and antarctic rings, as well as the wider, oblique band of the ecliptic, which sometimes carried the signs of the zodiac There are five pieces of armor in the left cabinet on the window side of the studiolo evoke the pageantry of courtly tournaments a pair of greaves, a pair of rowelled spurs, a mace, a pair of gauntlets, and a helmet with the eagle holding ...
Show Me the Money Purpose Statement: To convince an audience that college athletes deserve to be paid. Thesis Statement: College athletes should be paid for many reasons that I hope to point out as we go along in the world of college sports. Introduction Should college athletes get ...
Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603) One of the most loved and admired rulers of all time was born on September 7, 1533 at Greenwich Palace. Although in the years to come Queen Elizabeth I would be famed for her extraordinary abilities and achievements, her birth was a huge disappointment on her fath...
The house was well endowned with all the trimmings one might expect of such a bejewelled inheritance. The acherage was respectable yet delicate, producing plants of previously unseen characters. From the corners of the brittanic gardens grew nettles, foxtrot and matterhorns, wreathing in the torrent...
Should College Athletes Get Paid To Play "Should College Athletes Get Paid To Play" Forget about the game-winning touchdown, forget about the cheerleader girlfriend, and forget the pageantry. What about the hard earned money college athletes will never see and earned? In the world of college spor...
