Some of you can answer this because you actually watched. I know you did! Admit it! Actually, even I watched bits of it as I knew I wanted to do a post on why I consider Miss America (and pageants in general) an archaic way to determine scholarship worthiness.
If you are old like me, you might remember the days when Miss America was a prime-time TV event. In fact, in the peak viewing days of the pageant (1960's), three out of every four households watched in riveting anticipation. These were the days when Bert Parks was a household name and an entertainment icon.
But now, the idea of watching 52 young women (No, we didn't add two more states to the country - the extra two are for Miss District of Columbia and Miss U.S. Virgin Islands) between the ages of 17 and 24, prance around in bikinis and high heels (That's good scholarship criteria, don't you think?) and showing off their made-up "talents", isn't just bad television, but embarrassingly antiquated in today's "liberated" society.
Mario Lopez is the most recent replacement for Bert Parks. Yes, Mario Lopez who played A.C. Slater on
Saved By The Bell. Of course, that was before he really redeemed himself - and his credibility - by finishing in second place on
Dancing With The Stars (losing to Emmett Smith).
TLC began broadcasting Miss America last year, and although they attempted to modernize the pageant, they really did nothing more than produce yet another bad reality TV preview, with a lead-up series that had the gals fighting for wild card spots in the big event.
There was even an opportunity to score the swimsuit competition on the TLC web site (
swimsuit photo poll) prior to the pageant. Of course, the scoring had no bearing on the results of the pageant, but instead was an opportunity for people to anonymously condemn people they don't know - yeah - we need more of that. The highest score? On a scale of 1-10, 6.4.
Amongst the big hair and troweled on make-up, there was one honest moment in the show. Miss District of Columbia admitted - on camera - that she was only in it for the scholarship money and to get out of debt. If honesty was one of the judging criteria, she'd have taken the crown.
So, who was the lucky recipient of an armful of long-stem roses, the rhinestone crown - oh - and the $50,000 scholarship? Miss Indiana! Go Hoosiers!
Now, I know some of you will tout the virtues of Miss America - it's promotion of community service, the attention it brings to a "platform" that may not be well known, and, of course, the scholarship opportunities. Some of you might even claim that Miss America promotes brains, and I guess if you feel more of the brain can be seen in a bikini, you'd have a point.
Personally, I think any competition that rewards swimsuit appearance, evening wear and "talent" as 70% of the criteria for winning is anything but a focus on brains.
Am I just pissy and jealous of beauty? Well, YES! I've always had to work a little harder, be a little better, know a little more than the pretty girls. Sure, it's made me a better person, but the fact that in 2009, we are still promoting beauty (defined by some obscure media/societal norm) as the thing that can, and does, get women ahead? It should concern us all!
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Mondays are great days to sit with Vinny on the Big Leather Couch! If you snuggle up real close and whisper obscenities sweet nothings in his ear - or just leave him a comment - you can win free music! Go! Now! Tell him I sent you!~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
