A room full of around 100 teenage girls, the air is thick with anticipation and spray tan. A mix of perfume and spray on body shimmer. There are rows of girls one after the other preening themselves in front of light bulb lit mirrors, house music playing from speakers brought along by a very prepared contestant, dance routine moves being rehearsed over and over, endless lines of glittery and sequined dresses lined up for the big moment.
Ok, so we've all seen something weather it be from films, reality tv shows or news reports about the infamous beauty pageant. Weather it be a clip of an seemingly ignorant young woman answering questions on politics to precocious children dolled up preforming eyebrow raising dance routines. So why all the controversy and how did I find it being a teenage beauty pageant contestant.
Pageantry can be traced back to the 1800's, having it's roots in European festivals, for example English May Day celebrations which crown a May Queen. Throughout the 1800's pageants took place however they were never deemed as respectable with entrepreneur Phineus Barnum, yes the same man who created the modern day circus, staging America's first modern pageant in 1854, however it was closed down due to protests.
It wasn't until 1921 when Miss America was created, a the first modern mainstream pageant. Since then right up until this day pageantry has caused controversy, but why?
I suppose the stereotype that the focus on physical appearance over any other quality is the main feature of the event and that this is a negative. With people who identify themselves as Feminists implying the event to be wholly negative as it is seen to push the notion that the value of a woman is based on her appearance.
I was 16 when I decided to take part in a group of UK pageants and all I can say of it was it was a wholly positive, fun and amazing experience.
I also identify as a Feminist and also loved my experience within pageantry. Most of the girls who took part where like myself, had watched endless Americana films of glittery pageants and prom queens. The world of pageants is kitsch, camp and tacky, and I use all those words as in the best possible way. Sure it may conform to a cisgender and heteronormative view of the world but when it came down to it, the underlying atmosphere within the pageant world is that of fun and glamour. Some may see it as an outdated ideal of beauty, however it was wonderful.
There are elements added to the pageants, that of interview and sometimes talent a portion of the contest where you are asked a series of questions to show you have a brain to go along with your appearance, because heavens forbid you be just a pretty face. I feel these sections are added to give the pageants a layer of respectability a way of the promoters to say 'see, we don't just care about what the girls look like, we really care if they know about world politics also'. To be honest I never watched or took part in pageants to demonstrate my encyclopaedic knowledge of the work of Chomsky or to discuss why a fifth of Americans cannot locate America on a world map. If I wanted watch a contest on the amount of trivia someone can regurgitate I would watch Mastermind and I strangely doubt that any answer that is given within the two minute interview section is really going to be that revolutionary or poignant. To believe that most of the girls who take part in these competitions are studying world history and politics everyday, I find not believable and if they are good for them, but as I stated earlier that really is not the reason anyone views or participates in these events. Is it so bad to dare to think that these young women, including myself, wanted to take part just for the fun and glamour. I mean, you walk down a catwalk, in a gorgeous gown, hair and make up fully done with a crowd full of people clapping and cheering you on, how many times in our lifetime is that type of thing going to happen?
When I took part every girl was excited and happy to be a part of the event, if you think that perhaps it was a case of pushy parents forcing their children in a drive to compete, it was quite the opposite. Most mothers being forced to drive their teenage children along to competitions around the UK after their children had also cleaned out their bank account purchasing outfits for the occasion.
All the girls I met during my time in pageants were lovely, perhaps some may believe that there would be catyness or backstabbing during the events however it was quite the opposite, as we all stood backstage ready to go on stage for the swimsuit portion of the competition there were endless compliments flying around, girls asking where one swimsuit was from or who their hairstylist was.
Ultimately is was an atmosphere of fun and glamour that may seem outdated to some who turn their noses up and act pseudo concerned about the damaging effects of pageants, perhaps also their is a hint of jealousy in their 'concerned' comments.
Everyone who is involved in the dazzling world of pageantry knows to take it with a pinch of salt and knows it to be a heady, glitzy experience.
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