Pageantry: so much more than a pretty face

By Kenadie Mlujeak Delta College Student Submission

I remember the first time I received backlash from others because of the fact that I competed in pageants. They said that it was impossible for me to have the public speaking skills and confidence that I had because to them, pageants were all about walking onstage in a gown, waving to the crowd with a crown on my head.

These comments made me realize that there are far too many people who do not understand what pageantry is all about. I think that pageant organizations are relevant for many reasons today, and they will continue to be relevant for as long as women want their voices to be heard.

Despite the common stereotype that pageantry is for ditzy women, one of the biggest draws that keeps the pageant industry thriving today is scholarship opportunities. At the most recent Miss America and Miss America’s Teen competition, over $300,000 in tuition scholarships were awarded, with the new Miss America receiving $50,000 to further her education.

Additionally, all 52 Miss America’s Teen contestants received full-tuition scholarships to the University of Alabama and Mississippi State University. These opportunities are what empower women to earn college degrees and build successful careers beyond their time in pageantry.

Competing in pageants also builds interview skills that are crucial for future job opportunities. Many pageant systems such as Miss America, Miss USA, Miss Collegiate America, and Miss Volunteer America require contestants to compete in a private interview phase where a panel of judges asks the contestant a variety of questions.

The most interesting part of the interview process, and the one that I feel makes it most valuable, is that the contestants are not given any of the questions that will be asked before the interview begins. It teaches each young woman how to think on her feet, defend her opinions, and have a conversation about any topic with someone they have never met.

Too often, teenagers looking to enter the workplace have no experience in a job interview setting and are unsure of how to conduct themselves. By participating in a pageant system like the ones mentioned above, interview skills can begin to be developed as early as age four.

My favorite part of the pageantry experience is something that never goes out of style: connecting with new people and developing friendships that last decades.

One of the five pillars that the Miss America program is built on is sisterhood, and that is a value that I have seen encouraged at every pageant that I have participated in. The relationships that I have made throughout my time in pageantry are some of the most precious relationships I have ever had.

A uniquely special part of the sisterhood journey, specifically in the Miss America program, is the mentoring component between Miss contestants (ages 18-28) and Teen contestants (ages 14-18). Miss Saginaw County’s Teen 2026, Maggie-Mae Nixon, said that the bond she has had between her Miss companions is very meaningful to her.

“The fact that you always have a sidekick, someone that is rooting for you, is why I really just love the Miss America Opportunity,” she said.

Although there are many people who uphold harmful stereotypes about pageantry, I hope that more resources about what pageants are at their core can be distributed so that the pageant industry can be recognized as more than just a corporation that awards a pretty face.