Is Miss Teen USA perpetuating outdated beauty standards?

[Evo]

The beauty pageant is on tv tonight. I can't believe that in this day and age we still have beauty pageants for women.

"If I win, I want to bring peace to the world through my baton twirling skills".

 

[chroot]

The beauty pageant is on tv tonight. I can't believe that in this day and age we still have beauty pageants for women.

"If I win, I want to bring peace to the world through my baton twirling skills".

As long as men have money in their pockets, they'll be lured to spend it by scantily-clad women. It's just a fact of human life. Now that women have much more equals rights and almost equal pay, you all might to decide to put on Mr. Teen USA pageants, too. You have to admit there are more shirtless boys with six-pack abs on TV now than there used to be.

- Warren

 

[zoobyshoe]

The beauty pageant is on tv tonight. I can't believe that in this day and age we still have beauty pageants for women.

I'm not surprised. It's slowly dawning on me that the main focus and activity of young girls is to master the art of being attractive. With the breakdown of family values and traditional religion it's all most of them do any more.

 

[durt]

The Hooter's pageant thing was on last night. The winner was hot.

 

[Math Is Hard]

I heard the next Miss America pageant will also be a reality show.

The Hooter's pageant thing was on last night. The winner was hot.

Thanks a lot. Now I'm craving buffalo wings.

 

[Loren Booda]

Miss Teen USA promotes socially acceptable lust toward minors. Is it better to have millions of men (and boys) fantasizing about a teen's body, or to condone child brides who are beholden only to one? Hey, I think they are good-looking.

 

[Gokul43201]

The Hooter's pageant thing was on last night. The winner was hot.

I bet all the losers were too!

 

[Galileo]

The beauty pageant is on tv tonight. I can't believe that in this day and age we still have beauty pageants for women.

Meh, so what? The women love the attention and feel beautiful (don't they all?) and the men watch it cause they're horny.
All natural desires. You can't and perhaps shouldn't stop it. If not beauty pageants, it'll be something else.

Miss Teen USA promotes socially acceptable lust toward minors.

Here I admit my ignorance. I never watch these things.
How old are the girls. Are they really minor? (Does that mean <18?)

 

[Loren Booda]

I assumed, since they are "Teen," that some would be "under age." Not like the porn spam "teens," however (who "must" be 18 or 19).

 

[Math Is Hard]

I always thought that beauty pageants were watched by a predominantly female audience. The sponsors seem to target young women - lots of make-up and hair products.

 

[turbo]

I always thought that beauty pageants were watched by a predominantly female audience. The sponsors seem to target young women - lots of make-up and hair products.

It is a primarily female endeavor. The only reason for the swimsuit competitions in these pageants is to get some male viewership. I had a steady girlfriend in HS that drove me off with her incessant "planning" of our "future", and she capped it off with her participation in our state's version of that pageant. Why should a physically attractive young woman feel compelled to bank on her looks (and her burning desire for world peace) to compete against other physically attractive women in a "dog show"? The people running these pageants, their "consultants" and others are making big money off the insecurities and ambitions of pretty females who want to cash in on their physical beauty - a transient quality that in no way guarantees that the packaging accurately describes the contents.

 

[Moonbear]

There are other ways of looking at this in terms of women's equality. The way I see it, women have a world of choices open to them now...this does not mean they can't choose to earn scholarships based on appearances rather than brains if that is their choice and someone is still willing to offer it. As long as they are making the choice to do this, and aren't forced into it because of a lack of other options, then that is their prerogative. I'm not sure it's really any different than earning a scholarship based on your talent in football or soccer or fencing either.

I'm not surprised it's still popular. The rise in reality TV shows featuring teens of both sexes trying to get recognition for their looks and vocal skills suggests there is still a large viewing population interested in watching those shows. I'm sure much of the viewing demographic is under 25.

I realized there was some pageant type show on when I flipped channels and saw people parading around in sashes, but didn't pause long enough to find out which pageant it was. I opted to read a book for a while, then watched Grease (I'd rather watch a young John Travolta rather than young girls).

 

[edward]

Donald Trump owns Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss teen USA. He just bought the Miss America pageant. He doesn't own Hooters because he doesn't like chicked wings.

 

[En_lizard]

i want to see her! any pictures?

 

[Hurkyl]

Nope. They banned all sorts of photographic or video recording equipment during the pageant. The only possible source for images are from the skilled painters and drawers that attended the event.

 

[edward]

Nope. They banned all sorts of photographic or video recording equipment during the pageant. The only possible source for images are from the skilled painters and drawers that attended the event.

Fox news had a photographer sneak in and use a cell phone camera. Sorry but I cannot disclose that the winner was Miss Colorado

http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,4644,2252,00.html

 

[En_lizard]

Nope. They banned all sorts of photographic or video recording equipment during the pageant. The only possible source for images are from the skilled painters and drawers that attended the event.

what the heck?

 

[turbo]

There are other ways of looking at this in terms of women's equality. The way I see it, women have a world of choices open to them now...this does not mean they can't choose to earn scholarships based on appearances rather than brains if that is their choice and someone is still willing to offer it. As long as they are making the choice to do this, and aren't forced into it because of a lack of other options, then that is their prerogative. I'm not sure it's really any different than earning a scholarship based on your talent in football or soccer or fencing either.

Some of these girls have been conditioned to "choose" this by their families, too, so there's a lot of gray in this area. I've traveled extensively in my work (for a decade or so) and I can tell you that amongst the professionals I've worked with, a high percentage of them with attractive wives were pressing their cute little girls into pageants from a very early age, with lots of money being spent on voice training, diction, dance lessons, costumes, makeup, etc. By the time their daughters were 8-10 years old, they were old hands at putting on a front for visitors with beaming smiles and too-mature poses. It is far more prevalent in the south than in the northern states, but I remember my immediate boss (project superintendent) on a large apartment project in the 70's being inordinately proud that his little girl had taken the Little Miss Attleboro (Mass) title.

I agree that if a young woman chooses to leverage her assets in a beauty pageant, she is free to do so, just as a star football player is free to leverage his talent to wrangle a scholarship with with a top college. The people who win out in these enterprises are the broadcaster, promoters, agents, and the people in control of the broadcast rights.

I would love to see a pageant of teen humanitarians (male and female) chosen state-by-state for their dedication to doing good things for others. Oprah could pull off something like this, and with her ratings clout, she could make it a popular event. Bill and Melinda Gates could step up on this one, too. I'd love to see a humanitarian teen (regardless of their looks or athletic abilities) be rewarded with a full scholarship to Harvard, MIT, etc, with living expenses paid, and earn the thanks of our nation for working to improve the well-being of others.

 

[En_lizard]

Fox news had a photographer sneak in and use a cell phone camera. Sorry but I cannot disclose that the winner was Miss Colorado

http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,4644,2252,00.html

sorry to disappoint but my girlfriend looks a lot better than her. this girl has taken her place

 

[zoobyshoe]

I'd love to see a humanitarian teen (regardless of their looks or athletic abilities) be rewarded with a full scholarship to Harvard, MIT, etc, with living expenses paid, and earn the thanks of our nation for working to improve the well-being of others.

That seems like a good idea at first. but whenever you turn something into a competition you have people faking up the quality in question simply to win the competition.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

This is beyond outrageous, no words to explain how troubling this is.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww&mode=related&search=

 

[d_leet]

This is beyond outrageous, no words to explain how troubling this is.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww&mode=related&search=

I could barely even understand what she was saying after the claim that most americans don't have maps... What was the connection with South Africa and Iraq?

 

[Math Is Hard]

It would have rocked if she had said, "I don't know. I guess they are just idiots."
But I think they boo you off the stage for things like that.

Stage fright is no fun. I've had a few brain-fart moments when answering questions in front of a big group of people. Maybe not quite as bad as that -- well, I hope, anyway!

 

[Loren Booda]

She's in the running for President.

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

http://archive.salon.com/tech/log/2000/03/07/sexiest_geek/index.html

I don't think it caught on. There is, by the way, a porno site out there called Nekkid Nerds. Dont ask how I know that.

 

[Evo]

This is beyond outrageous, no words to explain how troubling this is.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww&mode=related&search=

Here's the transcript.

Judge: Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can't locate the U.S. on a world map. Why do you think this is?

Miss South Carolina: I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so... because uhh some... people out there in our nation don't have maps and uh I believe that our education like such as in South Africa and the Iraq everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should uh our education over here, in the U.S. should help the U.S. err should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future for our children.

 

[Gokul43201]

Deep!

 

[zoobyshoe]

Here's the transcript.

Quote:
Judge: Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can't locate the U.S. on a world map. Why do you think this is?

Miss South Carolina: I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so... because uhh some... people out there in our nation don't have maps and uh I believe that our education like such as in South Africa and the Iraq everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should uh our education over here, in the U.S. should help the U.S. err should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future for our children.

So, George Bush is this years Miss South Carolina?

 

[Moonbear]

Some of these girls have been conditioned to "choose" this by their families, too, so there's a lot of gray in this area. I've traveled extensively in my work (for a decade or so) and I can tell you that amongst the professionals I've worked with, a high percentage of them with attractive wives were pressing their cute little girls into pageants from a very early age, with lots of money being spent on voice training, diction, dance lessons, costumes, makeup, etc. By the time their daughters were 8-10 years old, they were old hands at putting on a front for visitors with beaming smiles and too-mature poses. It is far more prevalent in the south than in the northern states, but I remember my immediate boss (project superintendent) on a large apartment project in the 70's being inordinately proud that his little girl had taken the Little Miss Attleboro (Mass) title.

Again, I don't really see this as any different than the little boys signed up for Little League, or another kids' sports team, as soon as they're big enough to hold a ball. I know people who have 3- and 4-year-olds signed up for soccer teams already. But when it's men/boys participating in sports and getting scholarships for athletic ability rather than academic talent, while some complain about the lack of academic talent, nobody is saying, "I can't believe in this day and age, they still allow boys to be paraded around for their physical attributes/abilities rather than their intelligence." Nobody questions if they are making a choice, or suggests they can't make that choice themselves. They are no less "conditioned" from an early age to prefer sports over some other activity.

By the time someone is into their teens, I think they're fully capable of saying, "Yeah, it was fun playing dress-up as a kid, but I really don't want to do this anymore." If they're not enjoying it, when they hit the rebellious teenage years, they're going to refuse to keep doing what their parents are telling them to do.

 

[Moonbear]

It would have rocked if she had said, "I don't know. I guess they are just idiots."
But I think they boo you off the stage for things like that.

I would have preferred that answer too. I don't really think there is any other better answer, but she probably knew she had to stretch it to a certain length all the while thinking, "WTF?! How am I supposed to know why they're such idiots?!" I'd have probably stumbled over my words too trying to figure out some way to respond to such a lame question.

Though, if you can get past the stumbling, it's a pretty hilarious answer...they can't find the US on a map because they don't have maps. Yep, there is that...much harder to find it on a map without the map. She just forgot to fill out that response with, "And if I'm chosen as Miss Teen USA, I will visit schools around the country and start a campaign to ensure all Americans have access to world maps."

 

[zoobyshoe]

Again, I don't really see this as any different than the little boys signed up for Little League, or another kids' sports team, as soon as they're big enough to hold a ball. I know people who have 3- and 4-year-olds signed up for soccer teams already. But when it's men/boys participating in sports and getting scholarships for athletic ability rather than academic talent, while some complain about the lack of academic talent, nobody is saying, "I can't believe in this day and age, they still allow boys to be paraded around for their physical attributes/abilities rather than their intelligence." Nobody questions if they are making a choice, or suggests they can't make that choice themselves. They are no less "conditioned" from an early age to prefer sports over some other activity.

By the time someone is into their teens, I think they're fully capable of saying, "Yeah, it was fun playing dress-up as a kid, but I really don't want to do this anymore." If they're not enjoying it, when they hit the rebellious teenage years, they're going to refuse to keep doing what their parents are telling them to do.

I think the kinds of things girls are drilled in doing for these pageants become more intrisic because they are about their very presence, rather than an activity like baseball. I saw an interview with a woman, about 35, who grew up as Turbo described, and she said she can now not smile: that is, she is incapable of simply relaxing her face and letting her expression become neutral. Angry, depressed, or in pain, she smiles. I see the same thing on a lot of the older Chinese people here where I live.

 

[zoobyshoe]

I hated his evening gown.

He doesn't have the figure to pull that off.

 

[Math Is Hard]

Though, if you can get past the stumbling, it's a pretty hilarious answer...they can't find the US on a map because they don't have maps. Yep, there is that...much harder to find it on a map without the map. She just forgot to fill out that response with, "And if I'm chosen as Miss Teen USA, I will visit schools around the country and start a campaign to ensure all Americans have access to world maps."

To make things worse, in spite of the horrendous map shortage in the U.S., she wants to give out maps to children in other countries!

Hey, Miss S. Carolina! We can't afford to go handing out maps willy-nilly to foreigners! There are U.S. Americans who need them! Charity begins at home, honey.

 

[zoobyshoe]

I have a big World Atlas somewhere, but with all the packed bookshelves and stacks of books I'd need a map to find it.

 

[Evo]

I stole this from someone's blog on another site. I think he's hit the nail on the head.

I'd like to believe she was just suffering from stage fright and maybe was expecting something along the lines of "Terrorists want to kill cute bunnies, are they bad men yes or no?" but she is eighteen years old and not five-teen years old as I might have otherwise suspected. It's likely she's been heavily coached for how to deal with a question like this. Start with "I personally believe..." (It shows conviction dear! You speak from the heart!) then move onto mentioning something about South Africa and Iraq because everybody loves these locations and wants to hear about them constantly. Somehow link helping South Africa and Iraq to the question (Because nice people want to help dear! You want the judges to think you're nice don't you ) and fit in the Asian countries too if time allows. Then round it all off with making the future better...for the children. (Because dear your ideas about forced sterilisation and working childen in the mines will never win a beauty contest) According to an interview on the Miss Teen USA website her dream job would be "Design:TV/Movie special effects/International model". I can't help but feel she hasn't thought this out too well.

 

[turbo]

To make things worse, in spite of the horrendous map shortage in the U.S., she wants to give out maps to children in other countries!

Hey, Miss S. Carolina! We can afford to go handing out maps willy-nilly to foreigners! There are U.S. Americans who need them! Charity begins at home, honey.

We should never hand out maps to foreigners. If we do, the terrorists will know where to find us and "follow us home" after we "cut and run".

 

[Monique]

that girl has lost her way

 

[Ivan Seeking]

that girl has lost her way

What was the question again?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I'd have probably stumbled over my words too trying to figure out some way to respond to such a lame question.

Yes, assuming that she's not a complete idiot, she probably just went into brain lock. The real question in my mind is whether or not she could identify the US on a world map... if she had a map.

 

[edward]

that girl has lost her way

Is she related to Bush? That sounds like the way he rambles off topic when he answers a question.

 

[qspeechc]

<enter witty comment here>. Geography, Bush-bashing and free choice, roly poly hodge podge of Americans looking over their shoulders. I say give the primped up girls a chance to strut it. It only exists because there is a market. And people may do as they please, that's democracy, which is what Bush supposedly tramped into his way into the Middle East for, mapping his plan of attack, which all is blatantly off topic and makes this post quaintly inconsequential. Q.E.D.

 

[mgb_phys]

So the war in Iraq was to bring teen pagents in the middle east while at the same time increasing the proportion of the globe that is America and so making it easier for a pagent contestant to find America on the map by pointing at random.
That is at last a better explanation than weapons of mass destruction!

 

[qspeechc]

In fact, it's pure evil genius! mwahahahaha!

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

I think she just zoned out. It happens to professionals, why not her.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20473692/
I never used to watch the pageants until that year when they said the girls wouldn't wear bathing suits. I watched, but it turns out I misinterpretted what they meant.

 

[dontdisturbmycircles]

It is so much worse when you try to read it.

(I removed the quote since it has already been posted on page 2 of the thread, woops)

 

[chroot]

I particularly enjoyed the repetition of "the Iraq."

- Warren

 

[BobG]

Judge: Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can't locate the U.S. on a world map. Why do you think this is?

Miss South Carolina: I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so... because uhh some... people out there in our nation don't have maps and uh I believe that our education like such as in South Africa and the Iraq everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should uh our education over here, in the U.S. should help the U.S. err should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future for our children.

What's the problem. She answered the question correctly. At least until she started to ramble, but at least she brought it home with a closing sure to work in any situation - "so we will be able to build up our future for our children."

In the geographic survey taken by National Geographic in May 2006, 94% of Americans could locate the US on a map if one was supplied to them. However, only 19% of Americans have a world map and only 15% have a globe. 22% own no other maps besides a city street map.

Clearly, the knowledge is there. If U.S. Americans are unable to locate the U.S. on a map, it's because they don't own a map. (What's worrisome is the large number of Americans that have to steal someone else's map to locate the U.S.)
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/roper2006/pdf/FINALReport2006GeogLitsurvey.pdf

 

[En_lizard]

do they write these stuff for her and ask her to memorize them and say?

 

[BobG]

do they write these stuff for her and ask her to memorize them and say?

Just watch the movie "Little Miss Sunshine" and you'll understand all. What a classic!

 

[moe darklight]

I'm with bob and jimmy. I still think the video is hilarious, but more as an example of someone who certainly should not take on public speaking than an example of stupidity. some people just can't speak in public, I know a few incredibly bright people who turn into mumbling morons in front of an audience.
I can't stop watching this video though, as in, it's too, such as, funny.