Society Regresses, Evidenced by Pageant Trends

The pageant world is having a real moment right now — and an unhappy one at that. What is the uproar all about? Basically, pageants have turned to glorifying being obese and being a man. And the American people aren’t happy about any of it.

The first uproar comes from Alabama, where the tide has turned, so to speak.

The girl in the middle just won Miss Alabama.

Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/EVmNxHZSUl

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 6, 2024

Suffice it to say, pageants aren’t what they used to be. This year’s winner, 23-year-old Sara Milliken, says she believes all body types should be represented.

The winner of Miss Alabama. She promotes inclusivity and representation of all bodies. We need to stop glorifying obesity. Obesity isn’t healthy. pic.twitter.com/kQfkudqOyR

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 7, 2024

The comments are exactly what you would anticipate them to be. One noted that we have gone so far as to promote mental and physical illness, which is true. Victims receive attention and social clout, so why not play the victim role? This has been going on for quite some time, and now, it’s made its way to the pageant world.

Some of the other commenters really did not hold back:

Now, I will not criticize someone for their weight; however, I will address the most irritating part of this entire situation: This girl did not win because she was the most beautiful or most exceptional; she won because that looks good for the organization.

By having her win, they get to pat themselves on the back and say, “Look how progressive we are!” One tweet’s commentary explained this particularly well:

My friend Link Lauren (@itslinklauren) broke down the problem on TikTok clearly and concisely, outlining the real issues. Per usual, Link is fully balanced in his TikTok breakdown. (And don’t worry. The news Link reveals about Maryland is coming up.)

He acknowledges he loves a good joke, but he also says he doesn’t think the newly crowned National American Miss, Miss Alabama deserves to be shamed endlessly. His main point is two-fold. First, until just a few years ago, the mainstream media revered thin body types, but just the right amount of thin. If you were too thin, you were shamed for that. But now, the pendulum has swung too far to the other side. You can’t criticize someone like Lizzo because she’s a “body positivity icon.” Second, Link brings up the fact that it’s much easier, cheaper, and accessible to order a Big Mac than to find organic food. Furthermore, physical fitness in schools has gone by the wayside.

WATCH: The Comments Section with Brett Cooper

So, according to Link, there are two conversations to be had — and he is spot on. The comments were supportive and issued some common sense of their own. One responded that she doesn’t see Sara’s crown “as a win” because they “are supposed to be role models.” One other comment gets to another serious issue: While Alabama put the crown on a woman, Maryland put the crown on a man.

Screenshot: TikTok [sic: also should not be]

Bailey Anne, a person with XY chromosomes, is the new Miss Maryland.

Bailey Anne is a male who just won miss Maryland while pretending to be a woman. It’s hard to feel bad for the women when they just watch and clap…

Women, stand up and speak out!! Do not let your spaces and titles be taken over by men! pic.twitter.com/BIcbJLBcpK

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 7, 2024

After being crowned, Bailey Anne declared, “Not everyone has to agree with the spaces that you occupy, and it doesn’t mean that you aren’t worthy of these opportunities.” This narcissistic declaration is wrong in a couple ways. It is not that someone is not worthy; every human being is. It is that you do not qualify for this particular opportunity.

A man just won Miss Maryland 2024.

Are you paying attention?pic.twitter.com/7hHHCw7FKx

— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) June 6, 2024

Incredibly, Bailey was proud to address America for having “celebrated women universally, no matter their gender.” Celebrate women, no matter their gender. That doesn’t even make any sense. It is utterly absurd, illogical, and wrong. One commenter said “he had no right” being there, and the actual women contestants shouldn’t have even gotten on stage with him. Thankfully, that is slowly starting to happen more as we are seeing in sports.

Another commenter brought up a valuable point that beauty contests are not just for show or for the title; they come with financial benefits and career opportunities. To be sure, I find the lengths some people go to in pageant culture quite funny, but in truth, many of these pageants (especially Miss America) are an esteemed launchpad for women.

Isn’t this what we fought for? Didn’t we, as women, fight to have equal opportunities and spaces of our own? Wasn’t one of the founding reasons to have pageants in the first place so that women could have a chance to get ahead in a man’s world? Now, a biological man won. Unbelievable.

This is yet another example of how society is going backwards. Even though I disagree with why Miss Alabama won the National American Miss title, at least the crown went to a woman.

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