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!

POLL: The Best Of The 5 Queens

If you look further to your right on this blog, you would have noticed that I have added a poll for all of you to vote. Well, to begin, the first poll is for you to decide who among the five beauty queens crowned this year are the best.

Why five beauty queens you may ask, perhaps, I should explain. In the world of pageantry, each year, there are many pageants being held but there are only five that are recognised to be the most watched and best of all. These five pageants, in the order of the best according to my humble opinion, are Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss Earth, Miss International and Miss Tourism Queen International. I will be placing photos of each of the winners this year, so you'd know who to vote.

MISS UNIVERSE 2007

RIYO MORI - JAPAN
For more information on Riyo, click here.

MISS WORLD 2007

ZHANG ZILIN - CHINA
For more information on Zilin, click here.

MISS EARTH 2007

JESSICA TRISKO - CANADA
For more information on Jessica, click here.

MISS INTERNATIONAL 2007

PRISCILA PERALES - MEXICO
For more information on Priscila, click here.

MISS TOURISM QUEEN INTERNATIONAL 2007

OLGA ZARUBINA - RUSSIA
For more information on Olga, click here.