“This is a scholarship program, not a beauty pageant,” said Kathy Morningside in the hit movie “Miss Congeniality.” The funny part about this quote is that it’s true.
Many people believe that Miss America is all about beauty and big hair. These do play a part, but only a very small fraction of the final score is actually based on contestants’ physical beauty.
A couple of weeks ago, when Miss America aired on television, millions of people tuned in to watch the girls strut in their bikinis or mess up their on-stage questions. But what many viewers didn’t realize is that these girls have been preparing for this live show for months.
Unlike other pageant organizations, the Miss America Organization is one of the world’s largest providers of scholarship assistance for young women. The organization has made available millions of dollars in cash and scholarship assistance to all contestants on local, state and national levels. They want women to be able to achieve their higher education goals while achieving their dreams.
Miss America also works hand-in-hand with the Children’s Miracle Network, raising thousands of dollars every year. That is their national platform. Each contestant also has a platform that they are passionate about and promote during their reign. Platforms can range from healthy body image to domestic violence to pediatric cancer. These women raise thousands of dollars for their selected platforms every year.
The Miss America Class of 2016 included 52 girls from across the country. They made various appearances, attended events, worked with charities and competed in the preliminary part of the competition. They each competed in a private interview with the preliminary judges, which included talent, swimsuit and fitness rounds and an on-stage question. The private interview is worth 25 percent of their preliminary score, while the swimsuit round is only worth 15 percent. In the interviews, judges ask them various questions about themselves, their platform and current events. All of the girls spend hours studying current events and going through mock-interviews to prepare for the judges questions. They need to know what is going on around the world and be able to represent the country with brains and integrity.
With all of this mind, I think it’s safe to say that these girls are smart. They have to be. All viewers see is two rushed hours of the girl’s competition on national television. I mean, I would be nervous being on stage in front of millions of people, too. Wouldn’t you? To stumble on a question or start off your song a little shaky is only normal.
Just because these girls wear a crown and a sash does not make them better than other people. They are still human, and they are not perfect. Television sometimes depicts these women as dumb or confused, but I believe it is the spotlight. All eyes on them and 20 seconds to answer, there are bound to be some unusual and seemingly thoughtless responses.
Just because of pageant stereotypes, we shouldn’t forget the other meanings behind winning “the crown.” Being Miss America is an all-around package of being fit and healthy, talented, intelligent, selfless and passionate. There is so much more behind each and every woman on that stage. Next year, when the Miss America pageant is on, we should try to put ourselves in their high-heels and realize it is not a reality television show but a real group of women trying to win a crown to help their country and promote their platform.
