Are Beauty Pageants Discriminatory?

Aishwarya Rai - Miss World 1994

I'm writing this from a fan's point of view and I don't mean to offend anyone. But seriously, I view beauty pageants as, in the words of Lara Dutta - Miss Universe 2000, "a platform for women to foray into the fields that they want, be it entrepreneurship, the armed forces or politics". There's nothing wrong with women competing in beauty pageants and, in the words of Mpule Kwelagobe - Miss Universe 1999, "celebrating their feminity". Why must people view it as a way for women to sell themselves as sex objects or looking at pageants as discriminatory or an affront towards women? What different is there between a beauty pageant and a boxing fight/athletic meet/weightlifting competition? Aren't they all competitions? And what is wrong with competitions? Do we have to reduce ourselves to being chauvinistic midgets and go around being a hypocrite and criticising/demeaning/discriminating women? Anyway, many women succeed in their career paths, some more than others. Nevertheless, without a doubt, most women achieve their success through sheer determination and hard work, through years of education and experiences. Sometimes, being in a beauty pageant actually helps these women to realise their dreams and giving them enough exposure to be noticed. Some of the world's most famous women are past beauty queens themselves. Look at Aishwarya Rai, our own Datuk Michelle Yeoh, Oprah Winfrey, Halle Berry, Laura Elena Harring and many more! They have also worked hard for their success and are we going to reduce them to minuscule creatures just because they joined a beauty pageant? I seriously don't think so.

Riyo Mori - Miss Universe 2007

The main reason I'm writing this entry is because I find it quite amusing that Malaysian women are so "scared" to join pageants and representing their country in the international arena. Isn't it a great opportunity? How else can you get a chance to wear your country's name alongside other people and feel proud about it? Case in point - say if you're a singer/actress in Malaysia, how often will you get the opportunity to be like Datuk Michelle Yeoh? Quite frankly, not a very bright prospect, right? What I'm trying to say is that being a beauty queen actually enables you to be proud of who you are, represent your country and stand tall among other women from all over the world! Even if you don't make it, at least you tried. Peoples, always aim for the moon because even if you fail, you will still land among the stars!

Andrea Fonseka - Miss Malaysia Universe 2004

Sometimes, I'm kinda disappointed with the kind of reception beauty pageants get here in Malaysia. Basically, it's like no exposure at all aside from Arianna Teoh, Lina Teoh and Deborah Priya Henry. OK, if you don't believe me, ask yourself - who is Miss Malaysia Universe 2004? Don't know? Not surprising because not much press actually cover our pageants every year except for the fact when the girl is someone famous or someone they believe "will make an impact at the international pageant" just like Deborah last year. But really, I can't blame them because if Malaysians are not even interested, why should they even bother, right?

Kurara Chibana - 1st Runner-up Miss Universe 2006

Anyway, enough of my rantings, I just hope my entry will spark some interest in young Malaysian women out there in joining our local pageants. Miss Malaysia Universe just crowned its winner yesterday and Miss Malaysia World is looking for contestants now. Click here to join the pageant and be in the footsteps of Deborah Priya Henry, Miss Malaysia World 2007 and Miss World 2007 semifinalist. One last thing, even the ultramodern Japan is finally taking beauty pageants seriously and guess what they get in return for their renewed interest in what some people labelled as a cattle market - one Miss Universe, one Miss Universe 1st runner-up and one Miss Universe 4th runner-up in a span of just five years. Five years, peoples! Malaysia has not had a Miss Universe semifinalist since 1970! And she was our only semifinalist!

Congrats Levy!

From my previous post, I guessed all of you would have known that the pageant was held last night and without a doubt, it was never televised and I bet only some old rich farts attended the pageant. Typical!

Anyway, the new Miss Malaysia Universe 2008 has been chosen and she's 20-year-old university student/model from Terengganu, Levy Li Su Lin. On her left is the 1st runner-up, 23-year-old Jean Thor Jean Nee from Kuala Lumpur. And guess what, I'm so proud of this - the 2nd runner-up is Sarawakian! She's 23-year-old Valerie Chan Hsueh Yi.

I never saw the pageant/contestants so I couldn't really comment on how deserving these girls are or how Levy will fare in the international pageant to be held in Vietnam this coming July. All I know is that if Levy wants to a mark in Miss Universe, she has a lot to do before the pageant. With so many power contestants this year, it looks set to be a tough fight. I'm really hoping that Levy stands at least 5'7" because all the Asian contestants this year are all over 5'8". I thought (was hoping) one of the taller contestants in the Malaysian pageant would win but anyway, perhaps, Levy did a better job than them. Congrats! And please make Malaysia proud! We haven't had a semifinalist in Miss Universe since 1970. It's quite pathetic if you think about it!

Miss Malaysia Universe 2008

Adelaine Chin - Miss Malaysia Universe 2007

Guess what! Everything in Malaysia seems a little out of touch sometimes. Even beauty pageants! The Miss Malaysia Universe 2008 pageant is going on right now as I'm typing this entry but there's not even any coverage at all, besides some articles/videos on The Star. It's a disgrace actually considering the fact that the Miss Universe pageant is the #1 pageant in the world. I wonder what Donald Trump would say to the local production/selection. Quite embarrassing! Anyway, the official website of the local pageant is never updated and no one ever knows who the contestants are!

Goh Nai Hsing - 1st Runner-up

But thankfully, last year's first runner-up, Goh Nai Hsing, actually took the time to highlight the contestants in her blog and even add her own commentary on these girls. I just thought it was very gracious of her, considering the fact that she didn't even have to! Good on you, girl! Anyway, last year's winner, Adelaine Chin, has her own blog too and she did mention about highlighting this year's pageant but I haven't seen any updates yet. So, hopefully, I'll get to see some updates after the pageant tonight. As for Adelaine, you've done Malaysia proud and you really deserve a standing ovation for your tremendous effort. All the best in you future undertakings! To Nai Hsing, don't forget to keep updating your blog and entertain us with all your stories. Great read by the way!