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MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT 1: New Pageant System Focuses on Natural Beauty

For many years it was believed that pageants were degrading to women, from the parading around in swimwear, to choosing a winner based on outward appearance. Times are changing and so is the face of pageantry.

“Natural” pageants present a new wave of pageants that allow girls to be girls and promote inner beauty through scholastic achievement and service to the community. The “National American Miss” pageant does just that. The new system based out of Texas is “dedicated to celebrating America’s greatness and encouraging its future leaders.”

The pageant was co-founded by Steve and Kathleen Mayes and Kenn and Lani Maples. The Mayes and Maples are former directors for the American Coed pageant system and left following last year's state pageants to form their own unique system.

National American Miss is open to girls ages 4 to 18. Contestants are judged in four areas of competition, formal wear, personal introduction and interview, all worth 30 percent of the total score. The fourth area of competition that is unique to the National American Miss system is community involvement. Each girl is asked to bring a children’s book, or stuffed animal to the pageant to receive the full 10 percent, which will be added to the total score. The collected items will then be presented to area libraries, policemen and firefighters and policemen, to be donated to children.

Thousands of girls enter pageants each year with visions of glitz, glamour and with the hope that they will be the one to walk away with crown. Miss America and Miss USA serve as inspiration for many young girls to compete each year, but for some girls competing in such pageants in the future is not a possibility, so their reasons for competing are deeply rooted in their personal objectives.

“I compete in pageants because as the second child of four girls, I feel it's a way fro me to get a little attention and to make my family and myself proud,” says 13-year-old Morgan Rainey of Louisiana. “Pageants have also kept me busy because all year long I’m practicing, which keeps me out of trouble.”

Along with the possibilities of receiving cash awards, trips and other prizes, contestants have the opportunity to obtain personal gratification. The National American Miss system prides itself on not being a traditional beauty pageant, but rather an opportunity to create life long memories and “build valuable life skills.”

“I learned many life-long skills such as public speaking and self-confidence,” says Morgan.

When all is said and done, only one girl can be named queen, so National American Miss offers optional contests to allow contests more opportunities to showcase individual talents and skills. Spokesmodel, Cover Girl, Talent, Academic Achievement and Volunteer Service are a few of the extra opportunities girls have to win prizes and awards.

Each contestant will be presented with a trophy on stage the final night of the pageant and the winner of each age division will receive a cash award, modeling scholarship and a trip to the national pageant to compete for the national title.

Written by Tristan Topps
Scripps Howard Foundation Wire


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