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| The Miss America Organization: Is it really a reality check? by: Clover Lee On January 26, 2008 TLC broadcast the new, modernized Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas. All 52 contestants from the 50 states and 2 districts came on stage for one similar goal, the crown. This year was quite different from the past years performances. The Miss America Organization finally acknowledged the disconnect between Miss America contestants and the attitude society has had towards the girls.. They remade the show to make the girls more relatable to the public, they offered these girls doughnuts on stage, they wore jeans in the opening number, and were asked questions about issues affecting society today, such as HIV/AIDS and gay marriage. |
| Us every day girls, see the platinum blonde hair and unobtainable skinny bodies on stage ask, “Are they real people or Barbie dolls?” The Miss America girls in the past have been idolized and young girls wanted to be them. They were supposed to be the girls next door who just happen to embody the perfect American teen. These girls were |
| not any more relatable to the public than the superstars of today, but they were talked about. Today, negative stereotypes and put downs of these girls are the more frequent occurrence. Not to be confused with the Miss USA organization, the Miss America Organization is a scholarship pageant. The Miss America girls are all college educated and have platform issues they will advocate on behalf of once they win the title. In addition, there is a talent portion of the pageant. But the question remains, why don’t we look up to the Miss America girls today as role models? Why are they no longer America’s “It” girl? Miss America was the superstar sensation for teenaged girls all over America before the Hollywood scene became so blindingly glamorous. The money that stars like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan have along with the lifestyle that they lead fascinates us. The limelight has been transitioned abruptly from Miss America, who supposedly is the essence of the wholesome American girl, to stars that make bad mistakes and have too much money and freedom at a young age. This year, in order to get some of the limelight back, Miss America has updated its look, the tacky dresses, the big hair; it has all been given a makeover, making these “every day Joe” girls closer to the red carpet Hollywood ideal. The organization allowed TLC to host a reality show and had the hosts from TLC’s What Not to Wear come in and critique the girls on their clothing. In some measures, the Miss America organization has been successful in attaining more publicity for the 2008 pageant; however, the question remains if the new remade show makes the girls more relatable to the public. “I watched the Miss America pageant last year, and I see differences in the pageant performance this year, but I still can’t relate to these girls,” said Abby Avoyie, 21. This seems to be the general attitude that the public has on the attempts the organization has made this year. However, the organization deserves some credit in that they have actively responded to the harsh critique. Change is hard, to swallow pride and change is even harder.' |
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