THERE is no correct or incorrect answer to that question—only an honest or dishonest one.
Because you can’t deny its reality: it is about values, beliefs, love, money, integrity, generosity and pride.
They are all there. It could be an enjoyable way to find out more about everybody’s participation in the beauty contest and confront ethical dilemmas in a concrete, rather than abstract form.
This question exposes issues that warrant deep, solitary reflections, but is particularly stimulating when explained among those involved who will need to examine and interpret past beauty pageants, project themselves into hypothetical situation, even face difficult moral situations and make painful choices.
It can be an avenue for individual growth and to deepen relationships among other aspirants. It is also a quick way to know strangers, if not find pleasant amusement amongst themselves.
It will be surprising how effective the question catalyzes unusual and rewarding discussion.
Last Sunday, a passing interaction with colleagues led to an intoxicating tete-a-tete. A dull evening with reporters and photographers was transformed into an exciting encounter, where there was a discussion of the relevance of beauty contests. Newshen Lydia V. Solis posed the question: “why not give ourselves permission to voice dangerous questions [during the [press cons] that we’ve never been quite willing to ask? Provocative thoughts by an inner voice, are soon forgotten, because we pull back from bringing up questions that seem awkward or intrusive, yet these are the very ones that will open paths to understanding and intimacy with media people who genuinely want to hear what the candidates have to say…interviewees are usually far from being offended and are eager to talk about the important things in their minds.”
The suggestion gave way to even more interesting topics among us.
From one’s own experience, I’ve discovered that with the emotional tone and color of a person’s reply in a beauty contest, the candidate may communicate even more than the works themselves, and only by probing and listening to explained responses can we pursue interesting thoughts.
We have crowned, judged beauty pageants more than a couple of times. Some of the contestants are articulate and answering questions was actually a test of grace under pressure. What the judges were really asking was if the candidates were keeping their cool in a time of tension.
The judges have nothing to do with them as individuals. They’re always regarded as candidates for the contest and nothing more.
Sid T. Guerrero—three-time president for the Philippines Press Photographers (PPP-USA)—shared his own news on beauty pageants.
“Even with beautiful people, you’re always on look out for unique fresh angles, which are sometimes hard to find. You can’t photograph adjectives; you give a candidate personality by making them vibrant. Make them tease, please, provoke and delight. Play with their moods the way colors play on their faces. They are not just vying for a crown and sash. It is not just a cultural endeavor where goals and intentions doesn’t center on aesthetics alone…they are also supposed to be smart, intelligent and determined with their goals, with heads in the air.
Every candidate are stunners of her own, heirs of every proud heritage “The best among the best” will be safely pursued not only as a paragon of beauty, diligence, strength, courage and compassion—The very criteria of the whole pageantry”
Through years of covering beauty pageants, one gets used to the producers’ unified mission statements: to celebrate Filipino success and beauty, to inspire pride in our country, the poignant longing to give back, to create an accessible link for mutual empowerment, inspiration and entrepreneurship between US-based Filipino and identity through our rich culture, beautiful people, music, art and tradition.
The pageants show the world at large all the reasons why the Philippines should be seen as a treasure place of destination, if not lure investors to flourishing business possibilities in a timely manner.
For total effect, added, they remind Filipinos all over the world why the Philippines is the place to cultivate and manifest cherished dreams. On that note, we ponder. Are we enriched or influenced? How do you make beauty pageants understandable and meaningful? Have these unified mission statements milked their limits?
And why are the men silent?
