"Just A Beauty Queen?"

Angela Witte had never thought of herself as a “pageant girl,” until one day she saw a flyer with a picture of a beautiful girl wearing a crown. She stopped to look at it and read, “Miss IPFW Scholarship Pageant.” Witte figured that she could stand and wave on stage in her old prom dress and earn some scholarship money for college. However, “I found myself competing with girls who were funny, smart, talented, and motivated. They really wanted to make a difference in the world, not just wear a crown,” says Witte. Witte continued to compete in pageants and won the title of Miss Mideast (Indiana) in 2007, and eventually captured the title of Mrs. Indiana 2011 in the Mrs. America program (Witte). The Miss America Program is a fantastic opportunity for young women like Witte. The contestants can earn scholarships, learn more about themselves, and serve as role models for other young women. The public cannot truly appreciate the program without understanding what happens during the competition, what a winner does during her reign, and how winners’ lives are affected after their reigns are over.

The day of a pageant, before the winners appear onstage, they have a private interview with the judges. “The contestants are grilled by the judges,” says Abby Ryan, Miss Mississippi Valley (Wisconsin) 2007 and an elementary teacher in La Crossse, WI. She has answered questions about everything from No Child Left Behind to immigration law. “You have to have solid opinions on this stuff,” she said (Dolan). “My favorite part of the competition is the interview,” adds Witte. “I can talk to them about my life, my goals, and my dreams. It is the best part of the pageant to me because it allows the judges to see that I am more than just a pretty face, but a woman with goals and dreams for her country. (Witte.)” During the onstage portion, contestants compete in swimwear. “People judge the swimwear portion unfairly,” says Kristina Smaby, Miss Wisconsin 2009. The competition reveals whether contestants are healthy and confident, both Ryan and Smaby said. If the Miss America program cut the swimsuit portion, people might take these beautiful young women more seriously (Dolan). Other parts of the competition include talent, evening wear, and onstage question. When the judges choose a winner, she receives the crown and the contestants all have the opportunities to win scholarships. The Miss America program gives more than $45 million in scholarships every year (Bruzek).

But the end of the pageant isn’t the end of the winner’s reign. “I’ve traveled schools in many different cities to speak about my platform, literacy, and also organized a fundraising event which collected more than $1,400 for the Children’s Miracle Network,” says Jennifer Dombrowski, Miss Wisconsin’s Outstanding Teen 2008 (Dombrowski). Every contestant must choose a platform. Abby Ryan chose a platform that many people don’t want to talk about- inflammatory bowel disease. “It’s my life story,” says Ryan. “The disease is not a death sentence. It’s a completely manageable disease, and the more people know, the better equipped they will be to handle it.” Smaby’s platform is “Connecting Generations.” One day, she hopes to open a day care for both children and the elderly. “A platform is important because it’s about service. It’s not about the crown.” says Smaby (Dolan).

Although their reigns are complete after one year, the contestants say that their lives are affected after they pass on their crowns. “Words can never express what pageants have done for my self-image,” says Dombrowski. “Pageants, without a doubt, groom a woman to become more poised and confident. With this confidence, you learn to respect yourself how you are. Something I’ve noticed is how classic icons, like Vera Allen and Rosemary Clooney, have healthy bodies and radiant beauty. Comparing this with your typical Kate Moss, anyone can see how being healthy is different from being skinny. Pageants have helped me realize this (Dombrowski).” Witte, who married in February of 2008 and ended her Miss America career, adds, “I have taken away an awesome sense of community. I love providing community service of all types to our communities. I love and enjoy volunteering for the Miss America program because it is a way to inspire and encourage our young women to be themselves, and be the best they can be (Witte.)”

The Miss America program is about more than physical beauty. The winners are beautiful, intelligent, and hardworking. Up to today, the program and it’s titleholders have contributed so much to our society. Who knows what they will achieve in the future?

Works Cited

Bruzek, Beth. “Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest.” Oktoberfest USA. 2005. La Crosse, WI. 6 April, 2009. http://www.oktoberfestusa.com/misslacrosse.htm

Dolan, Jenny. “There’s more to pageant winners than meets the eye.” The La Crosse Tribune 15 July, 2007.

Dombrowski, Jennifer. Personal Interview (email). 9 April, 2009.

Rindfleisch, Terry. “Abby Ryan may be known for winning pageants, but her platform is what sets her apart.” The La Crosse Tribune 17 April, 2007.

Witte, Angela. Personal Interview (email) 10 April, 2007