Beauty Pageant Definition

A beauty contest is a secular ritual that displays and judges young women in competition with one another, evoking images of the ideal female. The winners of a pageant are crowned queens and are treated as models and spokespersons for the cause of their choice, granting them power, recognition, and rewards.

A staple of popular culture, beauty pageants are often portrayed as stereotypical, but a closer look reveals that even fictional depictions are quite diverse. Beyond the sweet, complected All-American Girl Next Door and her mean Alpha Bitch rival, you can usually expect to see a sassy black girl, a fiery Hispanic girl, a ditzy Asian girl, and a clever Jewish girl competing in a beauty pageant. In addition to their modeling of evening gowns and swimsuits, they are likely to display a talent or perform an interview question—although it’s not the content of the answer that’s judged, but rather the ability to diplomatically express oneself.

While the practice of displaying and judging women for their physical appearance dates back to the ancient Greeks, the modern pageant was invented in America by Phineas T. Barnum—of circus fame—in the 1850s, who charged entrance fees for his ‘better baby contests’. Today, the beauty pageant industry is worth about $20 million annually in the United States, and is rife with controversy. Critics cite a range of issues, including the sexualization of young girls, excessive stage-mothering, and the promotion of eating disorders. In addition, the high costs of participating in a beauty pageant can be a barrier to participation for many low-income women.