To start with, beauty contests have never been part of our country’s culture - not even our race’s culture. The first modern beauty pageant was held in 1854 by P.T. Barnum, but was closed down by public demand. I guess they had more sense than we do now. And then when Miss America was held in 1921, we also decided to copy and paste it in Africa. 

Beauty contests are bound to make some people feel unattractive and less superior in public because they aren’t beautiful. How is that a good thing? What is the point in holding a contest based on beauty?  Even though they add the knowledge bit to, it doesn’t really count. People cannot help the way they look. There shouldn’t be so much focus on people who are more attractive. Isn’t it just being rude to people who feel less attractive? 

Beauty contests are only designed for people who are skinny and pretty. There is nothing natural about them seeing as some of them resort to unhealthy methods to stay skinny – and pretty! The winner is going be that one lady that looked stunning and ‘strutted’ the best. If they used the money injected in these pageants to promote women based on other merits like discipline and knowledge, and social causes, now that would be something worth watching and participating in.  Women are trying to bridge the gender imbalance gap but before they get there, they are creating a bridge between them based on beauty. How is that going to help? We need a competition that builds one’s mind and sets goals for other people – something we can all be a part of.

Beauty pageants are intriguing to many young ladies all over the world. The crown isn’t usually given to someone who is necessarily the most inspiring, but rather the best looking. Are we teaching the youth to be good looking or to work on building the future? 

Also, most of these beauty queens go wild because of the fame that comes with the crown. Some have even had to be relieved of their duties because of their misdemeanors. What sort of an example is this now? Women should NOT be paraded before a panel of judges and people to be graded on their appearance, their walk, or their make-up and hair. And what about the poor girls who do not win? Are pageants saying they are not good enough? Who are we to judge who is more beautiful anyway? Women have worked incredibly hard for equality, but they need to find that same balance amongst themselves.

We need to remember that looks and fame are superficial. There are far more important things in life than being skinny and pretty!