On Wednesday, the Miss Universe organization announced that the Miss Teen USA competition changed the bathing suit portion for active/athletic wear.
To some, this means getting rid of a tradition and that swimsuits are athletic wear. First and foremost, there is nothing wrong with swimwear, as swimming is still a huge part of athletics. However, there are more sports compassing different lifestyles and body types.
The switch to the new portion of Miss Teen USA was made to “reflect an important cultural shift we're all celebrating that empowers women who lead active, purposeful lives and encourage those in their communities to do the same,” according to Miss Universe president, Paula Shugart, in a statement.
While I disagree with the part about “purposeful lives” portion, I think it is important to stress the importance of health and wellness, and that’s where the shift is going. Everyone has a purpose in life, but that’s beside the point.
Many teenagers, especially girls, are often bullied at school during their adolescent years. They might get bullied because they are “not thin” or that they “do not have nice clothes.” At some point, young girls and teens have had a negative experience with being bullied for either being too athletic or overweight. It took me years to love the way my body is, and it should not be that way. We should be encouraging each other to be healthy, regardless of how big or small our bodies may seem.
The point of the new change is to promote health and wellness. I see nothing wrong with that. Swimming does that and more, but I think that active wear represents more. Many teenagers are involved with working out, jogging, sports in high school, yoga or some other element of exercise. It includes women of all body types.
Yes, I said all body types. I’m not the smallest girl out there with my weight, and I acknowledge that. I do watch what I eat, and I keep moving with walking and some swimming when I can. I even signed up for a yoga class in the fall. You can be healthy and still be above your “recommended weight” that comes from the BMI calculator. That all points to your doctor.
Again, the decision was made to promote a healthy and active lifestyle. There is nothing wrong with swimsuits and spending the day poolside or being with friends at the beach. If you are bringing 51 women to a competition, activewear is more prominent in their lives than a swimsuit. You can wear a swimsuit during the summer and hot weather, but you can wear activewear all year, even if that means being comfortable on a lazy day where you are watching Netflix. We all do it.
Whether someone is overweight or not, most teenage girls and young adults – and definitely some parents, too – have a pair of sweatpants hidden away in their closet. I have plenty of activewear. You can always decide to go for a walk or go to the gym if you want. It allows for more flexibility. Plus, they can look good when paired with the right top and shoes. Activewear has more variety than it did five years ago.
Instead of putting each other down or scoffing off the Miss Teen USA change to athletic wear, let’s turn this change into a conversation.
Instead of fat-shaming or body-shaming, why can’t we support and lift each other? If someone wants to lose a dress size, let them do it. When someone feels comfortable in their own skin, that’s beautiful.
Now, I cannot tell what people should and should not do with their bodies. That is ridiculous to me. It is up to the person as to what they want to do with their body. We can encourage healthy living and being active, but we should emphasize that every body is different, and that is OK.
