Because beauty pageants aren't being taken seriously anymore, Miss World chairwoman Julia Morley announced a big change within her organization: The swimsuit portion of the competition has been banned. Just about the only person upset about this is the supplier of those bikinis ... and the sickos who watch the show only to see women in perfect makeup and perfect hair attempt to walk perfect lines in stilettos.
I'll admit that I am one of those sickos. (Hey, I'm not saying you're all perverts for watching, but with all the channels we have, aren't there better things on TV? Sometimes, no. And this sure beats Honey Boo Boo.) I've watched the pageant shows for sport and when nothing else but the Kardashians are on. I've rooted for the woman I thought was the coolest, perhaps the most non-pageant-y one because the whole idea behind the competition is a bit strange. I really dislike when they look all fake, and I tend to love the underdog.
Morley's decision to nix the bikinis is facing cheers and jeers -- it's been a part of the whole spectacle since 1951. Chris Wilmer, the national director of Miss World, said:
The organization has decided to take itself out of the swimsuit world because it isn't the path they're trying to take. It's not just a beauty contest, it's 'beauty with a purpose.' There didn't seem to be a purpose to have the swimsuit.
Miss World should be a spokesperson who can help a community. She's more of an ambassador, not a beauty queen. It's more about the outreach and what a woman could do with a title like Miss World. Pageantry is an age old industry and I think Julia getting rid of swimsuit and making it more of a lifestyle competition sends a strong message and I applaud her for it.
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Some people aren't applauding. Maybe they like the ceremony of it? The whole tradition of a pageant like this is antiquated -- it's focused on beauty, which is arguably subjective, and women are given scores for how good they look. There is no Mister America or Mister World where men compete for scholarships or to be ambassadors and go to hospitals while wearing a crown and bringing smiles to sick children's faces. Will no swimsuits bring the ratings down?
We'll see about those ratings -- and I'm also waiting to see if Miss USA and Miss America end up removing the swimsuit portion from their program as well. Could this be the first bold move to make a major beauty pageant change across all competitions? Maybe they can replace it with asking each contestant a Common Core math question. Make them really earn that crown.
What do you think of the swimsuit portion being banned from Miss World?
Image via David J/Flickr