I don't know about you, but when I was a little girl, I used to love to watch beauty competitions, like Miss America and Miss Universe. I guess it was the closest thing to princess envy I ever had. One year, Miss Wisconsin was someone I knew. She graduated from my high school and she rode my same school bus. I was always in awe in her presence. And the fact that she was an "other" like me in our very White world (she was Korean), gave me hope that the world might consider non-blondes to be beautiful.
So, these days I don't really follow the world of beauty pageants unless some scandal hits the news and I just have to tune in to see what's happened. Well, it wasn't a scandal, but the results of this year's Miss Universe competition made world headlines yesterday because it was Miss Angola, Leila Lopes, that took the title. And yes, people, she's Black. I make that distinction because even though there have been three other Miss Universe's from Africa, only one of those three were Black. Miss Angola is actually only the second Black African Miss Universe in the competition's 60-year history.
So, for all of the little girls like me who watch these shows hoping to see someone who looks like them be declared the most beautiful woman in the world, I'm so happy for you. Congratulations to us all. And I'm wondering, do any of you watch these shows? Did you used to as a child? Do you let your kids watch them today? Why or why not? You know I'm listening.
For more information about Lopes' win, check out the article and slide show on the Huffington Post.
Peace!
4 comments:
I don't know if this is good or not...i mean there is just so much wrong with beauty pageants in general. Having a black winner just encourages more black girls to partake in something that honestly...should just be done away with.
I mean, I am not one of those feminists and think that people's hatred over Barbie is uncalled for...but when it comes to beauty pageants, there is just some very wrong with it. Maybe its because of the exclusiveness of it and how it dictates things to girls who could never partake let alone even win in them.
LED,
I hear you. And a lot of people feel the way you do. It's complicated.
meanwhile, white girls see less and less girls who look like them...
Come on mis angola isn't that beautiful at all, sad but true!
Post a Comment