Sunday night, yet another Miss America was crowned in the pageant that annually holds the entire country's attention for a mere two hours. Everyone and their mother crowds around the television to watch beautiful young women walk half-naked down a runway in a bikini competition. Apparently that is what helps determine whether they are properly qualified to do whatever Miss America even does. But that's not the point.
From watching the event, it is clear that these women have worked very long and very hard to reach this famous stage, and that is respectable. Dedication and passion are admirable qualities for one to have when representing an entire country, all while donning a diamond crown. Yet, what is most important, in my opinion, is the role model figure that this position serves to little girls and children across the United States. A sparkly gown and a beautifully white smile are equivalent to a princess in a little girl's eyes, so shouldn't this person, whom our youth idolizes, be intelligent and worthy of such praise? One would think so. However, I'm not so sure the right woman was chosen for the crown this time around.
Betty Cantrell, Miss Georgia, was awarded the prestigious title of Miss America and ugly-cried her way through her victory lap, as any deserving woman would. Yet, the process leading up to this victory is what has left me the most confused and, frankly, a little angry. As superficial as this may sound, this pageant is a beauty contest. It is partially based on how you look, how you carry yourself, and largely, how you walk. Our girl Betty here tripped not once, but twice, in her ball gown. I give the other contestants credit for not having two left feet, but this was just the beginning of Betty's nightmare of a night.
Continuing into the Question and Answer round, which gives each woman a puzzling and thought-provoking question concerned with a major topic in today's realm of current events, Betty was given a question concerning Tom Brady and his recent "Deflategate" scandal. Guess who Betty didn't even know existed? Tom Brady. Coincidentally, she was the only contestant out of them all who was given nearly 20 extra seconds because she claimed she couldn't hear the question. What happened even after all of this extra time? Betty responded that she would have to be there to "see the balls" to know if Brady was really a cheater. So not only is Betty a genius, but she has super-sonic eyes that can gauge air pressure. We really got ourselves a keeper here, America.
I am not aiming to be nasty with this, I am simply being critical of the choices that are made for those who literally represent our country. Shouldn't someone like Kelley Johnson, the gracious Miss Colorado, have been more deserving of the crown? The woman who stood on stage in nurse's scrubs and sneakers, and recited a heart-breaking story of an elderly man whose struggle with Alzheimers has turned her into a better person? She answered her on-stage question preaching about the greatness of Ellen Degeneres, who stands on a platform for tolerance, equality, and justice for all people.
For me, the wrong choice was made, and I believe that America may agree with me on this one. Kelley Johnson was deserving, and I know that if she had won, she would never advertise on her own Twitter profile that she had no idea what she was even talking about. (Looking at you, Betty.)
Watch this video for yourself here: https://twitter.com/MissAmerica/status/643261858732834816.
