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Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009

Pageants about more than being pretty

Where I come from, you would be hard-pressed to find someone who cares about pageants. When I was in high school, a girl won a local teen pageant, and if it had not been a part of the morning announcements no one would have known. Most people did not even know we had pageants.

When I heard the word “pageant,” the first thing I thought of was toddler girls in tot-sized ball gowns. I pictured them wearing more make-up than would be acceptable on a teenager and getting their hair teased and doused in hair spray before being shoved on stage by their mothers.

My second thought was of the Miss America participants ostensibly being judged on their personality, ability to intelligently answer questions and perform a talent but really being judged on how good they look in a swimsuit.

Then I met Taylor Peterson. As some of you may know, Taylor is Miss Warner Robins Outstanding Teen 2010.

When I asked her why she decided to compete, I was expecting a superficial answer. Something that would sound good but that she didn’t really believe.

Instead, she said she thought it would be fun, and if she happened to win she could use her status to get other teens interested in volunteering. She sounded sincere.

This is Taylor’s first year competing in pageants. Prior to winning Outstanding Teen, she entered Warner Robins Sweetheart, Miss Dogwood and Miss Peach.

Through her, I learned what pageants associated with Miss America are really about.

Each participant must have a platform, which is an issue that she cares about and is of relevance to our country. She must then detail a marketing and media plan, which she is expected to fulfill.

One thing I especially was glad to learn was that teens do not compete in swimsuits but instead wear workout clothes to demonstrate that they are physically fit. Lifestyle and fitness account for 10 percent of the teens’ scores.

Taylor proved pageant contestants really can be normal teens and women. They really do care about the community and making it, our country and our world a better place.

Since Miss Warner Robins Outstanding Teen is an official Miss America preliminary, Taylor will compete in next year’s Miss Georgia Outstanding Teen. Miss Georgia Outstanding Teen 2010 will then compete in Miss America’s Outstanding Teen.

Stephanie Granados graduated from the University of Texas-San Antonio in December. Six months later she was on her way to Georgia to join her fiance who had taken a job with Frito-Lay. E-mail her at stephaniegranados@gmail.com.