I have never heard of this "Miss Universe" contest, but some thoughts from reading the article.
If beauty is supposed to be subjective, then I'm confused on how these contests work. I'm getting similar thoughts as to when I watched a culinary contest. Taste is subjective so I wonder how someones cooking can be judged. It isn't like a vocal contest where some are clearly better singers. Then again you did mention her voice so maybe this is more of a talent contest?
That said, I'm happy for her and that she won of course. Yet wouldn't the other people who competed and lost be equally hurt? There are others who may have faced equal hardships and have had a less happy outcome in the contest, which leaves me conflicted as I started thinking about them. As with any contest, there are always going to be those who don't win. But I'm quite confused on the purpose of this contest specifically. In a singing contest such as American Idol the winner will be set up with a chance at a musical career. So I'm wondering if it's a similar situation for this. (The winner gets a chance at a fashion career or something similar).
So I looked up the reward, and it's a huge cash prize. From what I'm reading they don't keep the crown either. It's strange but unrelated. And it makes me wonder if these contests would be worth the feelings inflicted. When you lose a singing contest, life would carry on. You could even get better at your singing ability. But when you lose a beauty contest, wouldn't it be hurtful to be told you just don't look as good as the others? Looks are apart of somebody, which I think splits a beauty contest from other talent contests. During a beauty contest, the person themselves would be judged, not the person's individual talent. Again, if I'm mislead and this is a talent contest, then these thoughts are nullified.
On a smaller thought, reading that someone who was my age has been killed hits me on a much more personal level for some reason. Almost like a punch to the gut. I wonder if this happens for others.
I do not mean to create conflict in a celebration topic, these are simply the thoughts that formed as I scrolled through the article. (The second link wouldn't load for me).
It's interesting to hear your thoughts. I'm glad you posted, it gave me something to think about. Yes, beauty is a very subjective quality. Oftentimes the women I thought were the most interesting looking may not make it beyond the first round, but I don't get too invested in it, I just think it's interesting to see how it plays out.
Everyone is beautiful. Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss America and other similar contests are more about presentation these days ultimately than who is the prettiest. The judges are accessing things like if you look confident when you walk out on the stage, did you come up with a creative costume? I think it's probably harder than it looks, like being the most convincing actress. And yes, indeed there are actually talent portions where you compete against each other by singing or playing an instrument, ice skating. The most important part is the question and answer segment. Audiences want to know what you have been doing with your life, what causes you will contribute to if you are chosen to be Miss Universe, what your values are, you'll be asked questions about your current world events like censorship or your thoughts on violent protest, what solutions you would offer etc, and may have to answer in the language that is not your first. If you do badly on the questions you are not going to win, even if you're beautiful.
The contest is maybe best described as a search for a combination of good qualities that will make you an ideal role model for people all over the world. They are looking for someone attractive but also someone who is intelligent and well-spoken, dedicated, giving and likeable to be their ambassador.If you are chosen to be Miss Universe you become a spokespeople for a charitable endeavor, whether it's raising money for cancer research, schools, animal welfare, ending hunger.
I am sure that it's disappointing when you're not the winner, but if you are a Miss Universe contestant then you have been competing in contests like this for a long time, so you are going to have experience and discipline, and should be able to take a win or loss with maturity. You also going to be the holder of other titles, as you would have won the pagents locally and nationally before you even get to compete on an international stage. So you would have still been lucky enough to have won Miss New York, then Miss America and onward before being on the Miss Universe stage. In the process you are winning scholarship money, going on tours, being featured in the news, receiving job offers. So I think it's still an experience to be proud of ultimately, and it's not uncommon to make friends along the way with the other contestants as you spend a lot of time together, and that is something that I think also can make for a a worthwhile experience even if you aren't the #1 this time :)
