On Sunday September 13, Miss Georgia Betty Cantrell was crowned Miss America 2016. In addition to winning the title, she also won a $50,000 scholarship provided by the Miss America Organization. Wait....a $50,000 scholarship just by being considered the "female figure" of America? No essays. No letters of recommendation by professors, teachers, or community members. Just look pretty, be talented, and answer a few questions about current issues affecting American society in a matter of twenty seconds. That seems easy enough for $50,000, right. Well, that's what every other girl in America thinks.
Beauty pageants, in general, are extremely competitive. We're supposed to let a bunch of judges choose who the most wholesome and physically attractive female is in the United States, another country, and, even, the entire universe? I know that you're going to say that "Well, that's the point of the beauty pageant. To let others judge you." But what do you get out of this if you win?
Okay, a $50,000 scholarship sounds nice, but what else do you get out of winning? Having the ability to travel all over the United States and having people look up to you and say "Look! It's Miss America!" while you sit on a float at a parade waving to the crowd?
Also, some of these Miss Americas rely only on being "Miss America." Once Betty Cantrell's reign is over, on to Miss America 2017. No one will care about Cantrell anymore. That’s the problem. Most people who become “Miss America” only rely on being “Miss America” and have nothing else to back themselves up once their name is out of the spotlight. Unless the “Miss America” does something during or after her reign that is truly amazing and groundbreaking (like former Miss America Vanessa Williams), then she will only be just another name.
One positive thing I will say about the Miss America pageant, though, is that they're accepting more and more women of different descents and many have become Miss America. Take Nina Davuluri, Miss America 2014, for example. She was of Indian descent and people made a big deal over her because she wasn’t up to the “typical Miss American Norms." Then there's Vanessa Williams, Miss America 1984 (until a nude photo scandal made her relinquish the title). She was the first African-American to become Miss America and she was subject to death threats and racist comments. Just remember: America is a melting pot full of different descents and races. However, there will still be plenty of people who will disagree with the choice of who becomes Miss America, regardless of if race and descent become an issue or not.
I will say, though, that I do agree with Miss Alabama Meg McGuffin and her response about Donald Trump leading in the polls. McGuffin stated that Trump is an "entertainer" and that the Republican party "should be absolutely terrified of all the attention that he is taking from incredible candidates like Jeb Bush and Chris Christie, who could absolutely do the job of President of the United States." Honestly, after that comment, I think McGuffin should of won instead of Cantrell. Cantrell actually stirred a lot of uproar in the Internet world after her response to her question about Tom Brady and the Deflate-Gate scandal.
To conclude, think about this. Why is there only ONE Miss America? In fact, why is there only ONE Miss Anything? Miss New York, Miss Italy, Miss Oswego, whatever. Why ONE, though? Because one really just stands out from the rest? Because one really sets the example of what something should be? Why even make it a competition? Why not be proud of all of the women who have taken the opportunity to become happy with themselves, who they are, and what they can do?
Why, Miss America ... there can be more than one.
