Since the creation of Miss America in 1921, pageantry has evolved from a “bathing beauty” contest into hundreds of local and state pageants that award young women scholarships for higher education. The winners are expected to be positive role models and sign contracts that bind them to certain duties and community service requirements during their year as queen. Miss USA is one of these pageants.
The Miss USA branch of the Miss Universe organization—owned in part by Donald Trump—has had a rough time during the past few years. Miss California USA 2009 and Miss Nevada USA 2007 were both caught posing in scandalous pictures. Miss USA 2006, Tara Conner, was sent to rehab after testing positive for cocaine and underage drinking.
Now, the controversy is fresh and fitting of the organization’s past tabloid reputation. For their official Miss USA Pageant 2010 pictures, all 51 contestants were required to pose in lingerie or bedroom attire that represents the production theme of “Waking up in Vegas.”
Camilla Larsen, a local Miss America pageant director said of Miss Utah USA 2009, Laura Chukanov:
“(She) was glad she didn’t have to compete this year, because when you Google any of those contestant’s names the first things that will come up are the scandalous pictures.”
To put into words what many mothers of hopeful future contestants must be thinking, this cannot be a respectable way to win a college scholarship. On the organization’s website, the pageant is described as a program that promotes women who “seek to improve the lives of others.”
However, a statement from the pageant president, Paula Shugart, suggests otherwise.
According to the Huffington Post, Shugart said, “The women in the pageant are not looking to bring peace to the world; they are all aspiring actresses and models. Their dream is to be in the Victoria’s Secret fashion show.”
Imagine telling that to the hardworking employees and volunteers for the several charities that partner with the Miss USA Pageant, such as Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Gilda’s Club and the United Service Organizations.
As if the recent scandals aren’t enough to lower the reputation of the program, this statement is downright embarrassing. Forcing young women to undress for their scholarship money is solid exploitation. To affiliate this with a façade of charity is unforgivable. It is also unfair to the contestants who are there to better their communities and earn money for college to be forced to take part in male chauvinism.
Despite the possibility of full scholarships, tuition waivers and cash awards, I have a serious issue with young women being asked to objectify themselves as part of a scholarship title. Women should be confident about their sexuality; it is liberating and healthy to take pride in one’s body.
This socially constructed package of what a woman should be is a blatant disregard for the advancements made thus far in feminism. Donald Trump admitted to caring about ratings more than the integrity of his organization to the Huffington Post.
“They are a little bit sexy but I’ll tell you what—everybody’s watching so I have no problems with it,” Trump said. “If you look at Miss America, it’s off network television and we’re doing better than ever so I really have no problem with it.”
With Miss Utah USA 2011 coming up this fall, scholarship hopefuls should
be wary of the diminishing respect for the organization as a whole. Although the full-ride scholarships and cash awards are appealing, they don’t take precedence over the ratings or the dream of modeling for Victoria’s Secret.