Better late than never, right?
I’ve been meaning to post photos from my wonderful weekend in Seattle, Washington at the Global Beauty Awards in March, but because it happened right in the middle of a frenetic prom-shopping season, time just got away from me. It has given me time, however, to reflect on the event and the celebration of the fabulous people involved in pageants, but also on the deeper impact pageantry has on individuals and organizations both locally and around the world.
Often, in the United States where movie stars are idolized and social media masters are the new celebrities, pageant participants are treated as old-fashioned attention seekers or bimbos in bikinis. I can tell you, however, after working for the Miss Universe Organization for many years, that these antiquated stereotypes couldn’t be farther from the truth. What started as a marketing campaign in 1952 to promote Catalina Swimwear, pageants have found their place in the multi-billion dollar beauty industry by helping young women use their good looks for good works.
For some young women, pageants are a way to gain self-confidence through public speaking and social experiences, for others it’s simply the thrill of competition, but for most, participating in pageants is a way to further a career aspiration or to draw attention to a special cause or concern. One doesn’t have to win to reap the benefits of physical fitness and nutrition, goal-setting and networking in a public forum. Afterall, Halle Berry, Miss Ohio USA, was the first runner-up to Miss USA in 1986 and she’s done pretty well for herself! Jamie Kern Lima, who served on the Selection Committee for Monday night’s Miss USA Pageant, competed in the Miss Washington USA program before launching a cosmetics company from her apartment. IT Cosmetics (www.itcosmetics.com) recently became the largest acquisition in L’Oreal history with Kern Lima as the first female CEO in the company’s 100+ years. Well done, Jamie!
As for the Miss Universe Pageant, participation alone can bring positive recognition to a country, drawing attention to history, resources, landmarks, etc. which in turn can spark interest in trade and tourism. Case in point, who had ever heard of Namibia before Michelle McLean won the Miss Universe title in 1992? Namibia had only been a nation independent from South Africa for two years when Michelle’s win thrust it into the international spotlight. By hosting the following year, the world was introduced to the German-influenced capitol city of Windhoek, the amazing shipwrecks of the Skeleton Coast, the majestic Sossusvlei dunes, the nomadic, pastoral Himba tribe and incredible wildlife at the 8,600 square mile Etosha National Park that one can only imagine from books. Serving as a proud ambassador for her country for the year, Michelle returned to Namibia to use her new-found celebrity and prize money to start the Michelle McLean Children Trust (www.mmct.org.na ), which has grown to become a leader in microlending and education and has seen the building of a primary school and a hospital ward as well as the completion of multiple projects with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. It is no wonder Michelle was awarded the “Best Titleholder Award” at the Global Beauty Awards!
Here are a couple of photos from the festivities – including Michelle McLean-Bailey, Miss Universe 1992, Paula Shugart, current President of the Miss Universe Organization and winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award for guiding the pageant system into the 21st century with “Confidently Beautiful” and me.
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