PAGEANTRY

Is pageantry relevant in todays society

There are, however, several important aspects of pageantry that allow for the industry to still have a positive impact on women including the development of public speaking skills, providing a platform for philanthropy, and creating opportunities for women that go well past their days on the pageant stage.

• There are, however, several important aspects of pageantry that allow for the industry to still have a positive impact on women including the development of public speaking skills, providing a platform for philanthropy, and creating opportunities for women that go well past their days on the pageant stage.

“Participating in beauty pageants also gives women a chance to practice their public speaking skills, build their confidence to stand up in front of a large crowd and influence younger generations with the cause they want to promote”(Chen).

• “Participating in beauty pageants also gives women a chance to practice their public speaking skills, build their confidence to stand up in front of a large crowd and influence younger generations with the cause they want to promote”(Chen).

“My platform was St. Jude, and I also got to host the Miracle Mile 5k in Atoka at Gateway Baptist Church. We brought in over $5,000 for Lebonheur Children’s Hospital.” Butler continued, “A lot of ladies are discounted and discredited for the amount of work they do” (Mag).

“we’re trained for it. We spent all year getting ready to do this job (of Miss America), which has the same qualifications you need to run for public office.’ Bright identified those qualifications as intelligence, a commitment to public service, being media savvy, having the ability to handle a rigorous travel schedule and attend countless civic events, and the knack for listening and speaking to a group of people at a moments notice”.(Friedman 193)

• “we’re trained for it. We spent all year getting ready to do this job (of Miss America), which has the same qualifications you need to run for public office.’ Bright identified those qualifications as intelligence, a commitment to public service, being media savvy, having the ability to handle a rigorous travel schedule and attend countless civic events, and the knack for listening and speaking to a group of people at a moment's notice”

“With some girls this sexualization can also happen through their out-fits. This may be intentional, like one mom on Toddlers and Tiaras who dressed up her three-year-old as the prostitute version of Julia Roberts's character in Pretty Woman, or unintentional, like the cutouts in Asia's Western wear, from Painted Babies, that drew criticism from mother of rival Brooke” (Friedman 163)

SUMMARY

• Pageantry is much more than high heels and a pretty face, it is about learning how to speak in front of people, helping others, and meeting people that can help you achieve your future career goals. While there may be some negative aspects like overly competitive individuals, the good far out weighs the bad.

CITATIONS

• Chen, Chloe. “Beauty Pageants” The Aragon Outlook , 19 Apr. 2023, Beauty pageants aren’t outdated, they’re evolving Accessed 7 Mar 2025
• Friedman, Hilary Levey. Here She Is: The Complicated Reign of the Beauty Pageant in America.
• Mag, Cypress. “Pageant Girls: Beyond the Beauty” Cypress Magazine, Cypress Magazine , 31 Oct. 2019, https://www.cypressmag.com/blog/2017/9/1/pageant-girls-beneath-the-beauty Accessed 12 Feb 2024

Do pageants still hold a significance in today’s society

Between the large number of ‘pageant girls’ that go on to become journalists, politicians, doctors, and lawyers it is easy to see the importance that beauty pageants continue to have in the life of women today.