Beauty
Pageants: Degrading or Rewarding?
Pageants can be
extremely rewarding. I have participated in a beauty pageant and although it wasn’t
for me I found that coming out of it I gained skills that will benefit me in
the future. Pageants teach you commitment, responsibility, friendship,
interviewing skills and public speaking skills. Meghan McAlpine, a former NHS
student and 2010 Teen Miss Massachusetts, says “People tend to stereotype
pageantry as being only about “a pretty face” but there’s so much more behind
it.” She agrees that after five years of pageants she makes connections with
someone new every year across the country. People in pageants often do
volunteer work for non-profit groups and help many people. Meghan also states
that “as much as people stereotype and disregard pageantry I wouldn’t take back
a single second I have learned so much.” Brittany Lefavbre says, “Pageants
could be taken either way. If you win its rewarding but if you lose it could be
degrading and you could feel bad about yourself.” Which is true but if the
people who lose cannot take losing they shouldn’t be doing pageants anyways. There
is a slim chance a person will win. If there are 50 girls in a pageant there is
a 2% chance of winning. If you have participated in a pageant it will become
clear the skills and friendships you get out if it is way more rewarding than
winning. Of course winning makes you feel good but it’s what you get out of it
that is the best part.
