Pageants have made women of the world more confident and has improved their lives in many ways. With all the pizazz and glamor that go into pageants, they transform young women into more confident, well rounded volunteers. The Miss Universe Pageant was televised live last week on January 29, 2017- Women from all across the world competed showcasing their beauty. Students from Hillgrove watched Miss France take her crown as Miss Universe, and some of the students hope to become Miss Universe someday.
Averie Ann Howell, a junior at Hillgrove says, “There are two types of pageant organizations- Miss America organization (which Averie Ann Howell is in,) and Miss USA.”
To prepare to become Miss America, the girls compete in the Miss America pageants. There are four parts of the pageants.
Averie Ann says, “You do talent, interview, fitness, and evening gown.” Also, “The night before [a pageant,] you have to go to a dress rehearsal then wake up the next morning to go to the interview, which gets cut off at the 8 minute mark.”
With all the hustle and bustle of getting everything together for the pageant, there is a decent amount of money spent to make it perfect.
Averie Ann says, “The pageants are about $120, a spray tan is $40, a hotel room is about $200, hair is $25 and makeup is $15.”
A lot goes into these pageants, but these girls get a lot out of them too.
She says, “My [cause I advocate for] is the Jackson Smith Peck Foundation, and I call it Hope For Healing.” She says she enjoys it the most because, “It helps people with grief and we do a lot of community service to help other families.”
She enjoys supporting such a good cause while doing something she loves, in her pageants. In her Miss American Organization pageants, each young lady has a “platform” that they stand for, so on her trek to become Miss America, she is supporting a great foundation.
There are many different aspects that play into a perfect pageant, and a lot of work is put in to achieve the main objective. The goal is to win as many titles as possible, and someday become Miss Universe.
Lexie Johnson, a Hillgrove graduate, got accepted into the Miss Teen USA pageant. She says, “I’ve competed in 35 different states since I’ve been doing pageants which has been 16 years. The main title I’m aiming to win is ultimate grand supreme.”
She says, “I compete in national beauty pageants… And I have to get my hair rolled with curlers, get fake nails on, hair and makeup done then compete in 3 different categories. The last pageant I won I was awarded with $5,000 in cash!”
As she does these pageants, and continues to earn titles, she is a step closer to one of her dreams. They have shaped her into the women she is today, and has improved many skills.
She says, “I used to be very shy but I’ve grown out of it. I’m able to publicly speak in front of large groups of people now.”
Pageants have given young ladies social skills and have continued to help them grow as people.
Pageants have formed many young women across the globe into the women they are today, and they have aided Hillgrove ladies as well. They continue to make the women better, and that’s part of the reason why they love them so much.
Lexie Johnson says, “[Pageants] have taught me so many lessons like it’s okay to lose and it feels great to win!”
Picture Credits: Orlando Sentinel