Miss USA Pageant?

[Fleur De Guerre]

Furthermore, having not seen any Miss USA pageants, I would nevertheless hazard a guess that the pageant has not in fact 'gone porno', and the swimsuits of the original entrants were probably as 'scandalously skimpy' to people back then as the current ones are to modern sensibilities.

If, in fact, the entrants are required to pose naked and suggestively showing all their bits to all and sundry, then consider me proved wrong.

 

[LizzieMaine]

The Baroness K. says:

Is it the contention of the O.P. that beauty pageants were ever anything other than sexualised events, especially at the national level?

bk

The twenties were a golden age for cheesecake, and the organizers realized that young women in bathing suits would sell whatever product they were trying to move -- in the case of Miss America, the only purpose of the event was to sell Atlantic City tourism. The idea of providing scholarships for the contestants and promoting the event as a means of elevating young American womanhood didn't come along until enough people had complained that teenage girls were being exploited by slick Chamber-of-Commerce operators.

It's not at all different from Ziegfeld claiming his parades of half-naked chorines were all about "Glorifying The American Girl," when in reality they were more about gratifying the baldheads in the front rows.

 

[Foofoogal]

in the case of Miss America, the only purpose of the event was to sell Atlantic City tourism. Interesting Lizzie.
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I would nevertheless hazard a guess that the pageant has not in fact 'gone porno', and the swimsuits of the original entrants were probably as 'scandalously skimpy' to people back then as the current ones are to modern sensibilities.
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I will not back down from my observation as it is a widespread one across the net on this topic. Ok, soft porn..
Fleur
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The Baroness K. says:

Is it the contention of the O.P. that beauty pageants were ever anything other than sexualised events, especially at the national level?
------Depend if you think full bathing suits would be considered this. I see them as moral boosters as in Grable.
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As a childless woman I feel that I could have made the same point..!
Kate, I do apologize somewhat. I have never considered that. I am coming from my perspective as a mother.
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It is a bit odd. I think it is more of time and place for me personally and possibly for many having a problem with this whole issue.
You could like LD stated I think spend hours on this topic.

ex..Employers or future employers do not want to hire all out wild on boards like FB or MS but even in their own time may be wild.
ex. You don't want to see your childs teacher, or your preacher etc.. in compromising ways.
If we did it would not be a free for all when a political figure one is discovered doing something we don't approve of from 1-10 on our own personal scale.
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I think especially in this time of stress the USA is under.
As things seemingly are ripped out of our hands we still want our Apple Pie, Baseball, and by golly our Miss USA to be our Miss USA.
We also want to hold on to our notions about what that means in terms of our female offspring. Slippery slope IMHO.
Where do we go from here?
Like Fleur suggested. It is the only next obvious choice.
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Just saying. Donald Trump is a master marketer. I promise you shall never see his daughter in lingerie.
Some of the ladies did balk I read. They are grown ups. They do have choices but it is a bit like the Janet thing really.

 

[Foofoogal]

http://www.missamerica.org/competit...testants.aspx?state=Arkansas&year=2010&GO=GO!
vs
http://www.missuniverse.com/missusa/members/profile/445077

hmm...I am sure both ladies are very nice but which would you want to see your daughter in?

I just think it is ridiculous. Call me very old fashioned.
If this photo was in a ladies fashion magazine it would be very pretty but not as representing USA or even state. IMHO only.

 

[Fleur De Guerre]

Given that the lingerie picture is really not a million miles away from what I do as a vintage pinup, then of course I think it's fine. She's wearing a full coverage bra without a ridiculous cleavage, and fuller cut briefs. Fishnets were of course worn back in the day too. [huh]

 

[Kate O Potato]

I see your point Fleur, but would you enter a competition against other pin-ups so a bunch of spectators could decide which one of you ticked all their boxes? Competitions like this get on my wick because they don't accept that there is more than one type of beauty, and give out the message that whatever the winner has is something to aspire to. Of course, anyone with their head screwed on will see through it, but I do worry about some of my students idolising girls who show off their bodies and become 'successful' purely for that reason. At least you have worked hard and have your blog and journalism to show for it. In fact, I have been sharing my copy of The Chap with my year 8s this week, and they love it (and you!)

 

[Miss Crisplock]

OK, this is fun.

Miss America started on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, and a great number of the entrants were preformers of one stripe or the other including burlesque dancers and if the history is to be believed, prostitutes.

The pagent got cleaned up, regulated to one-girl-per-state, (no cities, etc) and was attractive enough to get sponsors( Bathing Suit mfgs, anyone?), while being wholesome enough to stay in business.

For info on the pagent, I recomend the book by Bess Meyerson, the first Jewish Miss America (1945, and what an adventure THAT was).

So, it seems we are looking at a bit of the history is circular type of thing. There was never a time that pagents were not trading looks for lucre. Nature of the beast. Point is it is these young ladies are the owners of their visage and can "sell" them how and where they choose. Modeling, Pagents, the workforce, marriage.

 

[Paisley]

hmm...I am sure both ladies are very nice but which [Miss Universe or Miss America] would you want to see your daughter in?

I'd hope that a daughter of mine would spend more of her time developing qualities that don't depreciate as rapidly as youthful good looks.

 

[Fleur De Guerre]

I see your point Fleur, but would you enter a competition against other pin-ups so a bunch of spectators could decide which one of you ticked all their boxes?

Er..... I would and I have done, so yes. Online spectators aren't much different to physical ones. But pin-up comps are kind of ten a penny these days. In fact I am even supposed to be helping to judge one at War and Peace this year! Sorry to disappoint.

At least you have worked hard and have your blog and journalism to show for it. In fact, I have been sharing my copy of The Chap with my year 8s this week, and they love it (and you!)

Ah bless you! My teacher friend has also done the same to her year 10s! But yeah, I've always been a model last of all after all my other skills/jobs/etc. But isn't that something that is often the case in pageants too? 'Oh Miss So and So is at medical school as well' etc?

 

[Foofoogal]

Point is it is these young ladies are the owners of their visage and can "sell" them how and where they choose. Modeling, Pagents, the workforce, marriage.

lol lol lol :eusa_clap :eusa_clap That is true and I basically stated that but...

Fleur, I do think it is a million miles from what you do. I love seeing your photos and part of the reason is because of the tastefulness.

I am not saying the pageant photos are exactly distasteful. They are very nicely done. Like I stated. Wrong photos, wrong time.

Paisley. I concur..

I also see not much wrong with burlesque and adore Lolitahaze (who happens to be a great photographer BTW) for instance. Considering I sell vintage clothing and many, many people from that field are into vintage I would be pretty stupid to state the opposite. Getting a bit off topic but even burlesque can be done tastefully or horribly.
A place and time for everything. You don't wear a bathing suit to a funeral. You shouldn't wear lingerie for a Miss USA pageant.

 

[Miss Crisplock]

"In the better homes and gardens, one may show one's horses, and one may show one's dog; one does NOT show one's daughter" -

Except, of course in the case of being presented at court and debutants.

I'd hope that a daughter of mine would spend more of her time developing qualities that don't depreciate as rapidly as youthful good looks.

 

[Lady Day]

Point is these young ladies are the owners of their visage and can "sell" them how and where they choose. Modeling, Pagents, the workforce, marriage.

That is true and I basically stated that but...

That is *so* not what you stated, what are you talking about!? All the content you posted was about the pageant being a model institution, wholesome and the like. And now its been reduced to a 'porn show' as you said.

How in the *world* does that even being to exercise agreement with the statement you quoted about choice? lol

LD

 

[Paisley]

"In the better homes and gardens, one may show one's horses, and one may show one's dog; one does NOT show one's daughter" -

Except, of course in the case of being presented at court and debutants.

Ha! A daughter of mine would have grown up too close to the train tracks for all of that. Even the horses my family once owned didn't get by on their good looks.

 

[Foofoogal]

I think you have lost me LD.

I did state the people knew what they were doing but some of them even stated they were not happy with it.
Ok. I have the great chance to be in the Miss USA but have to strip down to uncomfortableness.
Choice yet but not exactly their choice.
A little sugar with that medicine. We have come a long way baby...:eusa_doh:

 

[Lady Day]

I think you have lost me

Oh, the feeling is beyond mutual.

LD

 

[Miss Crisplock]

Ha! A daughter of mine would have grown up too close to the train tracks for all of that. Even the horses my family once owned didn't get by on their good looks.

Ha! In cheek original comment! Court, Debs, pagents and horseshows are soooo closely related. Court and debs just have a narrower audiance and dress it up a bit more.

BTW I did have a horse that got by a bit on his looks...mostly performance, but some halter. HOWEVER there is little point in showing a gelding.I mean it's fun but it rather misses the point.[huh]

That said, I like pagents, and watch the pagent kids shows on TV. Favorite was a little girl who won enough money to buy a cow. She was sooo happy!:eusa_clap I want a cow!

 

[miss_elise]

whereas one of my favourite bloggers just crowned herself "Miss Grand Central" - no need for judges or swimsuit contests... just a tiara, a sash and a pretty girl...

http://bitchcakescommutes.blogspot.com/2010/05/dream-come-true-my-day-as-miss-grand.html

 

[Lady Day]

whereas one of my favourite bloggers just crowned herself "Miss Grand Central" - no need for judges or swimsuit contests... just a tiara, a sash and a pretty girl...

http://bitchcakescommutes.blogspot.com/2010/05/dream-come-true-my-day-as-miss-grand.html

That made my day! :eusa_clap

LD

 

[lolly_loisides]

Yes Bitchcakes is brilliant. I love that *she* decided she was Miss Grand Central.

Makes me want to make up & wear a Miss Fedora Lounge sash! Who needs a competition?

 

[Miss Crisplock]

Weeell, anybody that wants cash or prizes. Otherwise it's like showing geldings; good for the ego, but a bit off point.:eusa_doh:

Not that I have anything against sitting in a bus station screaming "I'm the Queen of the World!"