by Lauren MacFadden ‘17

The first beauty pageant was in 1888 in Belgium; it was a formal event in which those who attended had to dress in their nicest clothing. Since then, the ‘Toddlers & Tiaras’ phenomenon swept the nation in 2008, leading to a widely held belief that all beauty pageants are superficial and mean-spirited.

Inspired by her mom who participated in beauty pageants, junior Paris Holbrook has competed in Miss Maryland Teen USA. “Most people think that just because pageants are called ‘beauty’ pageants, means that it is all about how you look physically but that is not the case at all,” explained Holbrook.

Because of the various stereotypes, people fail to realize that beauty pageants have a completely different intent; they wish to uplift girls and help guide them to a successful future. In fact, most pageants have specific categories like talent and speaking. There is also the catwalk which involves walking a certain way. All of the categories are added together which determines a contestant’s ultimate score.

“The process is very rigorous and goes by fairly quickly. You have to stay focused at all times while managing to have fun with all the girls … You have to answer unexpected questions on the spot about any particular topic during the interview,” said Holbrook.

The process that goes into competing in a pageant is less about looks and more about preparedness and genuineness. Throughout the experience, girls learn how to treat other people by supporting their fellow contestants, which is a skill needed to be successful later in life. Holbrook explains that all the contestants begin to feel more like a family than competitors by helping each other with makeup, jewelry, and even lending dresses to one another if needed. Instead of acting malicious like the stereotypes portray, the girls all support one another so that they can all have fair opportunities in the pageant. The girls also learn that winning is not the most important thing in life, but to be proud of who they are.

“I have learned that to be something you’re not is not worth anything because at the end of the day we have to love ourselves and love who we are before anyone else can love us,” said Holbrook.

Despite the assumptions made by many that beauty pageants are shallow and unhealthy for the mindset of young adolescents, beauty pageants have prevailed to create positive experiences for millions of girls around the world. Those girls, including Holbrook, now better understand how to be a kind person as well as know who they are and empower themselves and others.

“The pageant helped me figure out that I wanted to do people’s hair and makeup for the rest of my life. I also learned how to love me because making people look beautiful makes me so passionate with what I do and it not only makes them love themselves but me love myself as well,” said Holbrook.