The Pageant Industry And The Culture

The beauty pageant is a competition that attracts young women of a particular age group from all over the world every year.

What is the criteria for participation and what's behind all the craze?

Women not taller than 5'5 , not having the ideal body (36-24-26) or whatever, women who are married (although some countries have competitons for Mrs.) or atleast engaged , over a particular age, and lacking absolutely stunning facial features are a strict no-no here.

All you need are the ideal features that the world expects a woman to have. A perfect woman always qualifies herself as talented or atleast the world believes so.

Although times have changed and the pageant industry claims that they have changed the criteria based on which they judge the participants like personality traits, intelligence, talent and the answers given to judge's questions , phew!! who knows what's going on behind all the drama happening.

The woman winning the title is called a beauty queen . She sets goals for the other young girls to follow. Goals to what?? Goals to beauty.

This industry has a major influence in reducing the confidence of young girls who compare themselves to the so called beauty queen.

Plastic surgery, starving to death , applying fairness creams - running behind the costliest product in the market that claims to increase their complexion, applying all sorts of chemicals on face, trying to change their personality and what not??

Why do we need to select the most beautiful woman in a country or even the world. Why??

The business behind the pageant industry runs to over 5 billion dollars(3,54,22,50,00,000.00Indian Rupee) each year. The amount of people that are amassed to this show is humongous.

And the effort that goes into winning the crown and the expenses for preparation and travel is huge and mostly borne by the participant. The crown or a tiara is what you get (Scholastic bonds at times).

Beyond all these why do people participate?

The fame, the film-industry calling(especially in India), the want for entry into the modelling industry and to be showcased as brand-ambassadors ( to engross audience and money), some may even have it as their dream to win but what for??

Beyond all these I can definitely say that biased output is what always results in the end.

Something from my heart:

You are beautiful.

Everybody irrespective of the complexion, height, age, body type is beautiful- beautiful in their own way. Nobody has the right to judge you based on appearances. You always have the right to decide the way you want to look. No one can set standards for beauty. You are unique. Never compare yourself with the Miss.World or the Miss.Universe or whoever. You are you and you are the best. Believe in yourself. Love yourself.