Of Beauty Queens

Another 'Miss Universe' has been crowned! Predictably its 'Miss Venezuela', she comes from a country obsessed with 'physical' beauty, a country geared towards this contest like no other.
I am reminded of my teens, when I would employ every trick in the trade to be allowed to watch the 'Miss India' and the 'Miss Universe' contest. I would cajole, fight, cry, beg, manipulate - hell I remember promising my mother an entire week in the kitchen making 'chappaties' in return for that 1 hour of pure escapism. I have even lamented the fact that I was all of 5 feet 3 inches tall, standing 2 inches short of the dream!

Fast forward to now, well out of my teens, F'd by life, Loved by life, tossed and thrown around by life, I choked on my mid morning coffee at work, at the following excerpt from the Miss Universe Official site (http://www.missuniverse.com/info/history)

"These women are savvy, goal-oriented and aware. The delegates who become part of the Miss Universe Organization display those characteristics in their everyday lives, both as individuals, who compete with hope of advancing their careers, personal and humanitarian goals, and as women who see to improve the lives of others."

This is the point at which the flashback to my teens occurred.

I have no problem with lauding and applauding physical 'beauty', grading contestants on the basis of their perfect 32 - 24 - 36 figures ( I am in eternal pursuit of acquiring one myself), just don't insult my intelligence by alluding to the Beauty Queens' 'Humanitarian Goals', and their noble intentions towards improving the lives of others.

Here is my take, for the website, duly emailed to Mr Trump who by the way should also introduce his staff to the benefits of a spell check.

"These women are tall, thin and very good looking. The delegates who become part of the Miss Universe Organization display those characteristics in their everyday lives, both as individuals, who compete with hope of advancing their film and modelling careers, and as women who see this pageant as the quickest and surest way to making their first million dollars."