It’s your big moment on stage in front of literally millions of people. You stand poised and ready to take on the world with a level of confidence not present in most young women today. There are some nerves present of course. It is always a little daunting to be on national TV, however, the level of your nerves is much less than it would be without your experience in the Miss America Organization.
Yes, that was all about a pageant.
Yes, I support the pageant
and the Miss American Organization
wholeheartedly.
I received some flack for that support tonight. During the pageant I, along with several friends, were posting our own commentary regarding the pageant, it’s format, and the girls – ahem … young women – competing, to Facebook. Somewhere in the middle several other people commented that the MAO is sexist or that choosing a pageant over football was choosing vanity.
I wish people would educate themselves before they commented on such things.
The Miss America Organization is a scholarship program. It EMPOWERS young women beginning at very early ages. I have been a pageant contestant on the local level. I know girls who’ve gone on to be strong, confident young women partially due to their experiences with MAO. I also know several girls who’ve gone on to stand and perform on the Miss America stage. I even know a couple of Miss America title holders.
Congratulations to Miss Wisconsin
on her new role as Miss America 2012!!
Miss America 2012 – Laura Kaeppeler
The Miss America Organization is one that focuses on service, competency, and how well-rounded each contestant is. The girls are required to have certain levels of community participation and well as incredible time-management. skills.
Most of the nay-sayers have stated something along the lines of “if it’s not a beauty contest then why do they parade around in bikinis and evening gowns?” To this I point you to society. Society is the reason everything has become so sexed-up. Think about it. We live in a society where parents dress their 9 year old daughters in “Juicy” yoga pants with mid-riff baring shirts. I mean really.
Do you know what the four points on the Miss America crown stand for?
Service.
Style.
Scholarship.
Success.
The Miss America Organization is one that points women towards their goals and not only encourages them to follow their dreams but gives them the life-skills necessary to do so; skills such as confidence when speaking in public and being able to “think on her feet” among others.
This is also an incredible opportunity shared by only 91 women in America. A rare opportunity that brings other amazing opportunities with it. Travelling across America, over 150,000 miles usually, working with the Children’s Miracle Network, being a role model for girls and women across America, representing the American people, and many others.
The women are encouraged to choose a platform, much like a politician but without the politics, and spend their year of service bringing their platform to the public, raising awareness and support.
Heather French (Henry), Miss America 2000, used the Miss America pageant to bring awareness to the plight of our homeless veterans and had (still has) overwhelming success and continues to have regular speaking engagements. Like most of the contestants her passion for this platform began at home.
Teresa Scanlan, Miss America 2011, just crowned Miss America 2012, effectively finishing her official duties as Miss America. She is a 17 year old, high school graduate, with the poise of a 30 year old professional business woman. Her plans include attending Patrick Henry College, where she has received a full-ride, and moving on to Harvard Law which will be completely paid for with her scholarship earnings from the Miss America Organization.
These are only a few examples. There are so many other women, more than I can list here, who have used the Miss America competitions as a stepping stone along their journey of fulfilling their dreams. So before you lash out about how vain it is, or how the girls are just pretty faces, consider your own dreams. If given the opportunity to do go after your dreams, no holds bar, wouldn’t you do it?
That’s what these girls have done.
