Beauty Pageant: Then and Now

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My dear 14yr-old-self,

How're you today? I can only imagine how you feel but, can't say exactly.

The main purpose of writing you this letter is simply to juxtapose the past with the present, take a look at them, and appreciate my current position. The old and new views are as they concern beauty pageant.

I recall you were always antagonistic to the idea of beauty pageant which you believed should not be encouraged.

"Why would anyone want to tell me that I'm ugly, and the other beautiful?" You asked a number of times.

Though Collins, your classmate is a lover of beauty pageant. He had said, "Beauty
pageant makes my day, any day. I won't miss any show because I love to see astonishing beautiful people."

"That's vanity!" You insisted, and continued, "The one that's beautiful didn't make herself, neither did the ugly choose to be."

"Don't be too rigid about life, my dear." Collins advised, and suggested, "Let's attend the next pageant that comes up next month. You'll be happy you did."

"Not me." You refused to bulge.

My dear 14yr-old-self, your view for opposing beauty pageant was that young people, especially ladies should not be valued based on their physical appearance. You argued that such a practice puts unnecessary pressure on ladies to soak their minds in what the world sees as acceptable beauty. This you believed will cause them to spend a hell of time and fortune on fashion, cosmetics and even cosmetic surgery.

"My friend", started Collins again, "beauty is good to behold. Have you not taken time to watch a contestant catwalk?"

"What about it?" You asked.

"Don't you see how the steps of the one doing a catwalk catapults your mind away from the present stress of the day into a free world where sorry is unknown?" Collins asked, casting his glance across the green field to the main road where several cars were moving in opposite directions.

"You don't mean it", you replied, and continued, "By the way, do you know that these contestants, in order to maintain their shapes and fitness, sometimes go on dieting to the point of jeopardizing their health?"

Well, my dear 14yr-old-self, in as much as there are some grains of truth in your view, I want you know that my present understanding of beauty pageant is now different from yours.

I'm presently the manager of an entertainment outfit that stages a biennial beauty pageant that discovers talented beautiful ladies that can hold their heads high in any forum.

My about turn from the past stems from my discovery that beauty pageant isn't all about physical beauty. The criteria for judging a winner include, intelligence, talent and good behaviour. Though being tall, slim and pretty are important factors, being photogenic and confident are crucial too.

Talking about slim disposition which could even be a sign of good dieting and exercise, those belonging in the "plus" class are there also, doing their thing. That's for those who naturally does not belong to the slim group.

I've come to the realization that beauty pageant instills into the contestants the attitude of planning, preparation, learning, positive thinking, and being conscious of their strengths and weaknesses.

Let me conclude this letter by letting you know that another crucial factor that influenced my change of heart was when I saw a little girl, from a poor family background who won Miss Primary School which earned her a scholarship up to the university. She went on to study medicine, and today, is a reputable doctor in the society.

Thanks for your patience in reading this letter as I believe you could have had a different view if you knew what I know now.

Yours sincerely,
Ubani.