When I was a kid, I remember watching Miss Universe and Miss World beauty pageants. I couple of years down the line, I was introduced to Mister World contest. Till a couple of years back, I used to make it a point to at least know the names of the people who had won these contests. These days, there are so many of them that most of us don’t even care.
Just yesterday, I came across two new ones- Miss Earth and Miss Transvestite. (P.S- While writing this post, I realized that the second runner up in the Miss India contest is sent to compete for the title of Miss Earth). The former caught my attention because an Indian won the title of Miss Earth-Air and the latter caught my attention because it “offers great opportunities for transvestites/transgender from all over the world to present their individual beauty and intelligence in a friendly atmosphere.”
Pooja Chitgopekar (third from the left) won the title of Miss Earth Air and it’s all over the media. The article in the Times of India quotes her as saying:
“I am pursuing medicine and I believe medicine, health and the environment are inter-related,” she says. “So I could relate to the intellectual side of the pageant very well,” she adds.
Makes me want to cough. What intellectual side is she exactly talking about? How to apply make-up in three easy steps? How to cat walk and how to keep your tummy tucked? Also, how to act really surprised/shocked when your name is announced and you get to do the balancing act with the tiara placed firmly on your head. Even though this is an extreme example, you can watch a video on Miss Teen USA that I had posted some time back. Maybe I’m being too cynical here, but do we really need pageants like these?
Does anyone take the winners seriously? Most of them are reduced to eye candy. All of them talk about their love for the poor and how they will go about changing the world etc., yet, none of these “social acts” done by these beauty queens get any media time.
I would think that Pooja Chitgopekar would’ve spoken about the social causes that she supports in this interview, but she dutifully goes on to talk about Bollywood and her interest in pursuing a career in films.
Have these beauty pageants become a tool in the hands of women who aspire to get a break in films? I think that’s the situation at least in India, if not the rest of the world. The names that come to my mind are Sushmita Sen, Aiswarya Rai, Lara Dutta, Priyanka Chopra, Juhi Chawla, Tanushree Dutta, Dia Mirza…I can go on and on. You get the picture.
Some of the comments in the Rediff article make me want to cringe in embarrassment because they are really cheap. Doesn’t Rediff moderate its comments section? I would expect such a popular website to moderate its comments for sure. This way, we bloggers are better! At least, most of us are averse to profanity and cheap talks.
Someone commented:
“Jai Hind Jai Maharashtra. Nice to see a marathi girl”
The retort to this comment was ludicrous and it’s best if I don’t publish it here.
Someone else started talking about how “fair” Miss Spain is and how Miss Earth Air looks like a “maid servant” because she’s dark. This shows the racism that breeds in our country, which is really sick considering the fact that most of the Indians are dark skinned; yet, they make fun of the color of their own skin.
Another guy left his phone number in the comments section. Umm..you never know…Miss Earth Air might read his comment and decide to give him a call? 
Hey, rediff site is infamous for inviting unsolicited comments and there is no moderation. For a article discussing movies, anyone can there go and abuse Narendra Modi. I do not see any connection between article and comments. Not only that, they hurl abuses on previous commenters. You can easily read someone saying this to a previous commenter called Mrs Chadhdha, “chaddha go home and wear nice chaddi” It is a real comment there.
As for all beauty pageant winners crooning about social work and then ending up as high-profile actresses. It is now a pattern. But I would hate to see Sushmita counted in the list. I am not her fan and neither is she a big philanthropist. But yet she did something that absolves her of this accusation. I always believe that if I can change the life of even one person for better, I have paid my debt to life That is why I want to adopt a baby. Sushmita did that for Reene, even if for her happiness. She kinda paid a debt to society. I have no such sympathy for likes of Aishwarya Rai, who are mere gold-diggers backed with well-oiled PR machinery.
ROFLMAO! I remember people leaving out their e-mail addresses on a Youtube video because they thought Kate Moss was really desperate to be their friend. It was hilarious lol. It went like “Hey Kate..you’re really hot. Here’s my e-mail ID..send me a mail so we can talk” Yea right
And I’m not being racist here but that Miss Earth Air is rather scary looking. No seriously, she doesn’t look like Miss India material unless she’s really intelligent. It’s not because she’s not fair..but she’s just scary.
I do watch these sometimes cause they’re fun. I love listening/seeing Miss America cause they always end up doing something that really makes up for the rest of the boring show. And I’ve always wondered how Lara Dutta became Miss Universe. I don’t think she’s beautiful either.
Okay, now you can criticize my sense of beauty. I’ve said enough.
@Poonam:
Totally agree! I have seen ads for all kinds of stupid websites on articles that discuss politics and business. The readers have made it a business to abuse other commenters, actually. This is plain sad
But I do need to confess that I enjoy reading these comments 
They provide good entertainment sometimes.
Actually, I met Sushmita Sen when she was the reigning Miss Universe
She was staying in an apartment opp. to my aunt’s. She was really sweet and agreed for pictures with me. She also gave me an autograph and her Phone Number!!! I agree that she did a great thing by adopting a child. However, the attention that she got for this was quite over-the-top! I know of many other people who have adopted kids too- but they don’t get any such coverage.
The reason why I took her name was because she was one of the first beauty contest winners after a loooong time to make an entry into Bollywood. Oh, and I can’t even stand Ash!
[I always believe that if I can change the life of even one person for better, I have paid my debt to life ]
That’s some noble thought Poonam
I feel the same way too. There are so many needy people out there…and it just pains my heart when I think about their living conditions.
@ish, Hahaha…that Kate Moss example is quite funny. In this article, some Indian American was abusing the desis and was saying that these desis should be deported from the port of entry because they go to discs and act funny in front of whites when the girls are clearly not interested in them. Then he got involved in a big fight with some other desis. This comment was totally irrelevant to the main article.
I agree, Miss Earth Air doesn’t look great in this pic. Frankly speaking, most of them would look like you and me without all that make up. All that you need is a good height. Everything else can be changed. You can lose weight, become fair, get plastic surgery etc. etc.
I used to watch them too for fun. In fact, I used to look forward to these beauty pageants when I was a kid. Not anymore though.
well written ,its really annoying when i find people in beauty contests talking about social welfare and all…its more annoying when judges fall from them..
i guess priyanka chopra had said very nice lines about mother teresa and which made her win the crown..
and now i hardly see her in any social work..
Its all about money and fame and they are least bothered about whats going around them once they are crowned..
@Ruhi: Blah, I don’t even have a good height. I’m never gonna be Mr. World and that means I’ll never have girls posting their e-mail ID’s so that I can e-mail them. Boohoo
Ruhi, all of these people are not dumb. Some of them are extremely intelligent women but they do this for fame and name. For example Aishwarya Rai always stood first in school and she was in one of the best schools in Mumbai, one of those academically oriented schools that too! She became the Head girl. Many of these girls are well qualified and intelligent but what they do on the ramp certainly does not bring out their IQ But honestly I feel each to his/her own. Guys are doing it too these days…and well it’s a break in films that some are looking for.
@arvind:
I don’t know why everyone has to talk about social welfare just to win the crown. Aren’t we supposed to be beautiful from within? Does this mean that if a girl is pretty enough to take part in a pageant, then she’ll even have a heart that bleeds for the poor and the needy? Is that necessary? No! So, why do we favor such formats that bring out the hypocrisy in us?
I would prefer if this pageants would just stick to analyzing the exterior beauty and not try to ‘bring’ out the social welfare side of these people. Even if they do take part in a social cause, it’s generally done during that 1 year. After that, it’s all about Bollywood.
@ish, You do have the email ids of everyone who leaves a comment on your blog
Isn’t that enough?
@Nita:
Yes, I’m sure they are intelligent…Aishwarya being one of them. Nita, I have a problem with these pageants who only focus on the exterior beauty and ‘the social causes’ that these women fight for. It’s not necessary that all of them feel strongly for social causes, but the format of the competition is such that they need to act their parts. What these pageants project is that these women are pretty from both outside and inside. Is it necessary that it should be this way? Like you mentioned, these pageants definitely don’t do a good job of testing their IQ. They promote hypocrisy and the multi billion $ cosmetic and plastic surgery industry.
@Ruhi: When it comes to e-mail Id’s no number can ever be enough.
hmm well writtten…
Well even i think why beauty peagants are important.But sometimes think that they are a good 2 hrs show for someone getting bored at home can watch beautiful ladies out there…all in one flock..with plastic smile and noble thoughts to improve the world.
Also…those models who dont mind wearing bikini in such a contest shows their morality by rejecting to shed clothes in movies..this is totally double standard and can’t be taken as their personal choice..
And about rediff.. It shows how ordinary public are..you go to You Tube..you will find similar comments…so in general..People generally like to abuse , show hatred in web , to be heard..and not only Indians even ppl from other nationality are very well in the same race..
I donno why they restrain from posting such comments on Blogs..maybe blogs are privately owned and rediff is like a government company..anyone can say anything…
exactly my point ….
there’s is no need to test the inteligence of a girl in a beauty peagent..
anybody can lie there all u need is a fluency in speaking it…
and why are they called miss india and..what do they have in them to represent india ..
its just absurd and i see no point in sending these ladies to represt a country of 100 crore
@ish:
sure; only if you were granted “The Chosen Number”!
You-know-who…LOL.
@nitin, The bikini part is what really boggles me too. They had no qualms strutting around in a two piece during the contest; but they throw such tantrums when they enter Bollywood. Why’s that? Is it because of the spot boys and all the extras present during the shooting? That might be a reason.
The way people treat each other online is just sad. I’m sure we wouldn’t abuse like this in real life.
I have hardly had anyone abusing me on my blog.
[maybe blogs are privately owned and rediff is like a government company..anyone can say anything…]
Haha….This is SO funny!!!
@arvind, I don’t know what they’ve done to represent India. Maybe I sound too harsh, but I have seen prettier women in real life. But yes, someone needs to enter these contests and “represent” India and herein lies the opportunity for these girls.
“Nita, I have a problem with these pageants who only focus on the exterior beauty..”
I totally agree…, I say strip them all…and let us enjoy the “interior beauty”!!
ok..7th grader joke…!! but i just could not help it
I learned something new today from your article. I had no idea they have Miss Transvestite pageants.
All in all, I think these types of beauty pageants just lend themselves to putting pressure on girls to look a certain way. I think we already feel that pressure enough from the media. The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty did an interesting video on this called “Onslaught” showing how we are bombarded by the media and the feelings that we need to look a certain way. You can see the video on their homepage right now: http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/home.asp
@Shelley, I think most of your conceptions are shaped thanks to media. It’s for us to decide if it’s the done thing. Thank you for the link. I’ll check it out for sure.
hello i love hassan ! (K)
[edited]
Edited out this comment a little too late. No abusing for the sake of it, please- Ruhi
LMFAOOOOOO wow guys
alrite so as funny as this article is, its sad that YOU guys are talking about it
if you really have a problem with the world GO FIX IT
stop complaining about people who get there to be famous..even if they are ugly like this year
but besides that, blaming aishwarya rai or priyanka chopra or juhi..or anyone for that matter isnt exactly helping ur point.
so stop wasting your time with this stupid stuff and find something productive to do with your lives
the only reason i came to this site is cuz i needed the picture for a project
and reading to all of your stupid complains..it makes me wanna laugh and cry
laugh cuz its funny how pathetic u r complaining about this shit
and cry because youre all stupid wannabes who dont have anything better to do with your lives..nd again if u have a problem with what they do, then y dont u go up there and change it..and if u cant do that, then stop whining nd get a life
Ruhi: Thanks for your amazing insight. And I thought that you would have better stuff to do than to waste 5 mins writing a comment on my blog.
ROFLMAO!
on a glance i thought the first pic was of miss tv
on rediff ,
u of all people promotes censorship?
i think their censor policy is the best , they have mods and a commentator should alert the mod for vulgar or spam - this way there is true democracy , maybe some comments are below the belt but hey their system beats most others as things and opinions are not glossed over
most other sites like cnn ibn etc just censor stuff they are uncomfortable with or stuff that goes against their policy or opinion
@ Prax:
I don’t promote censorship, which is different from moderation. The latter involves, according to me, editing/deleting parts of comments that are offensive/vulgar/spam like etc. I think Rediff doesn’t mind all the lewd comments that it gets because it increases the readership. People like cheap entertainment.
I don’t comment on CNN/IBN etc. So I really don’t know. But because of the political nature of these websites, I won’t be surprised if they do delete comments entirely. Better not to waste time commenting there.
sorry if i mistook u
my point is simple if u feel the comment is inappropriate login and send ur take on the comment to the moderator, you can always report abuse…
Please select the reason that best describes your complaint.
Post is…
Irrelevant
Pornographic
Spam
Using abusive language
Using copyrighted material
Libelous
this is a better way of moderation cause i don’t think rediff has the mods to do all the moderation , it expects users to help , plus the comments are free of mod bias - even though there are the spammers and flamers it is more open and free.
[edited out]
Ruhi: What kind of comment is this? Please refrain from writing such ludicrous comments on my blog and if you have any doubts, then take a look at my comment policy page.
please dont misunderstand me.
that was for the first time i was posting my comments. i was nervous.
earlier i never used to post my comments. but after i read all this, i just felt like admiring u.
according to me, u infact have the kind of heart which miss universes should actually have.
our views match so much. like u i also dont like hypocrites and people who hurt others feelings.
but do tell me r u also piscean like me.
It’s all right! Your comment came off as very sarcastic to me. If you go to anyone’s blog and call her Miss Universe for no reason at all….obviously the blog author will get pissed off. Please stop the flattery. Thanks.- Ruhi
I just wonder whats the condition of their facial muscles at the end of the day when they finally turn away from the spotlight.
Hey,
Not all of them are as dumb. I think its just pressure on most of them. As in, since you are pretty you are expected to have brains too….
I found Priyanka Chopra’s answer in the Miss World contest really bad though.
Q: Which living woman do you admire the most?
A: Mother Teresa (!!!!!!!)
Cant believe she won it…..
Anyhow, I am Suvidha. Just started blgging. Really liked the stuff you’ve written. Check out my site too and let me know what you think of it.
http://mistywoods.wordpress.com/
Take care and keep blogging,
Suvi