May 01, 2003 11:15 PM
7639 Views
(Updated May 01, 2003 11:17 PM)
I have been competing in pageants for eight years. I have heard all of the slants on beauty pageants and how they degrade women. One thing that I have noticed is that the people who have written these slants have never been in a pageant. In the eight years that I have been in competition, I have gained poise, self-confidence, public speaking skills, interviews skills, scholarships, and friends- all of these things are positive things that will last a lifetime.
I have come across girls who had eating disorders, girls who weren't nice, and girls' moms who were even worse. However, people like that are everywhere regardless of pageantry. For example, dancers... I haven't seen them attacked, yet they too have a large population of girls with eating disorders and not-so-nice people. I also have met some very nice people. I have met girls who don't have to starve themselves to feel good about their looks. I've met girls who are uplifted, as I am, by pageants. There are some pageants that are solely based on beauty, but there are also some pageants that are based on poise, personality, self-confidence, academics, community service, and public speaking.
These pageants are healthy for young women. They are uplifting and encouraging. It is not fair that even these pageants are slanted by people who have never been involved in the pageant world. It is not fair that young women who compete in pageants are stereo-typed and looked down upon. I do not believe that little girls under the age of seven should be put in pageants by their parents. However, if a girl seven or older wants to participate in a pageant, I think that her parents should do some research, ask some questions and choose a pageant that will be beneficial to her. If she competes and likes it, they should allow her to continue, if she doesn't like it, she can choose not to go back. I believe that certain pageants are encouraging and uplifting, that they do benefit the contestants, and that they can build confidence. At least, that has been my experience.
