Beauty Pageants and the Chronicle of Ridiculous Answers

Thursday, 13 July 2006
3.38PM
Prins Hendrikkade, Amsterdam

This whole Miss Indonesia shenanigan made me think. Is it sad? Is it acceptable? Is it the way it is?

I started browsing the damn website and began studying other candidates' answers. Some of them stood out. They not only seemed intelligent, they seemed genuine. Well, it's either at least genuinity or they are very good at lying. But for goodness' sake, I'll go with the former.

Still. If it were true, that these pretty ladies wanted to become humanitarian workers, goodwill ambassadors, increase economic development - is pageantry the way to go? If you really want to better the livelihood of discriminated women, must you strip down to a two-pieced swimsuit and pose?

It's not that I'm against pageants, I just want to call it as it is: A Beauty Contest. I like seeing beautiful people, I like beautiful dresses and paintings and sculptures - nothing against beauty as to some extent it is a reflection of life. But calling a beauty contest as a measurement of intelligence is a mockery to the means of developing your mind.

At the end, you find yourself judging these women's answers and calling them stupid instead of appreciating their beauty.

One of the interview questions is: "Where do you see yourself in 10 years?" Some answer with very far-fetched answers that is obviously formulated to create an impression. But the honest answers are: to become an actress, to pursue a career in modelling, to be part of the fashion industry - these are more believable. And perhaps, these answers, who usually end up being the losers, are the ones telling the truth.

But it's really difficult to analyse the phenomenon without being judgemental. Or self-rigtheous. So what if these women choose to become beauty pageant winners if they feel that it is good for their self-development? Why do we have to be 'sewot' of their decisions? I wouldn't want people to judge my decisions so why should I? Perhaps giving the benefit of the doubt is the way to go.

Someone has to do something about the first B in Brain, Beauty and Behaviour, though. Call it a beauty contest and let's watch the pretty ladies and churn the wheel of the beauty industry. Membuka lapangan pekerjaan lho...