2015 is a remarkable year for Filipino fans that are
consistently following national and international beauty contests when after the
long forty two years, the Philippines finally clinched the crown of the elusive
and most coveted Miss Universe title held in USA. After the recent several
consecutive attempts to win the title, the Philippines has been almost there
but always ended just so closed to the title. Until the 64th
edition of MU ended the long year of drought when a Pinay beauty transcended
and vested other 80 contestants around the world. It is an edition that
marred by controversy that will be recorded in the history of the pageant as an
epic fail when the host mistakenly announced the wrong name.
Nevertheless, the overjoyed Filipino fans that are in ecstasy have no reason
not to celebrate the triumph that waited for long since the crown was last won
on 1973.
Beauty
contest is a competition that has traditionally focused on judging
and ranking the physical attributes of the contestants, although some have evolved to incorporate personality, intelligence, talent, and answers to judges' questions as
judged criteria. There is a notion that talking
about pageant is a very gay and girl thing that every macho men are unconcerned
to care. Not surprisingly because those involved here from contestants to
behind the scene people are gay and girls. But in rare occasions when beauty
contest becomes a national interest like winning in international competitions,
the male sect are coming up too and sharing opinion. It could be due to
male being the natural stronger sex and polygamous that easily appreciates
beauty. That is why there is an argument
from the extreme feminist group arguing that pageants are merely an
exploitation of women. But according to the
advocates, it is not exploitation as long as the ladies are treated properly,
with respect, dignity, joined with their own free-will and not degraded. It is not sexism but a celebration of femininity
much like men who show off their pumping iron results in wrestling, boxing and
body-building. Beauty pageant can
actually considered like a sports that tons of preparation from physical to
mental to personality. It is not shallow
as others think it is. A competition in
year 2000, a girl was asked of her idea that Miss Universe is not disrespectful
of women. The contestant said that the
pageant gives the young women a platform to foray in the fields that they want
to and forge ahead, be it entrepreneurship, be it the armed force, be it
politics. It gives them a platform to
voice their choices and opinions and makes them strong independent that they
are now.
Beauty pageant becomes part of Philippine culture
where every mother (or every little girl, every auntie and relatives) is
dreaming their daughter (or themselves, their nieces and their female
relative) to win in a beauty contest.
Since in the early history of Philippines back in circa 18th
century, there were already names recorded as the most beautiful lady in their
town, barangay, school, organization, etcetera. By nature, mothers want their daughters to be
the prettiest and they will make way for it to happen just to join in a beauty
contest as the pride to recognize their daughters beautiful. But we should remember that it should not be
important to focus on the physical attributes.
While joining pageants is fun, gives confidence, promotes personal
development, fosters friendships, build self esteem, promotes community
services and encourages goal-setting, let our dreams to embellish
our daughters will not lead to a message that appearance is an important thing. Beauty is only in the eye of the beholder, it
varies from one’s point of view to another.
It is not only in the physical beauty but more importantly is the inner
beauty because what is essential is invisible to the naked eye. Always remember that character and
personality are far more important.
The winning of Philippines in 2015 Miss Universe is a
show of world-class talent, skill, and beauty of a Filipina. It is not just about beauty but a celebration
of women’s wit and God’s given gift. Joining
the bandwagon of celebrating the Philippines victory in beauty contest, I will
not let to miss this historic moment without taking part by writing in records
my thoughts and support to all Filipina representatives.
Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015, Miss Philippines 2015
By Alex V. Villamayor
December 26, 2015
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