On Bikini Babes, Belchers, and Bees
As if the harsh heat isn’t enough to get everyone thinking about global warming, we Filipinos have come up with a more attention-grabbing, nay, distracting way to get people interested. Enter the Miss Earth beauty pageant. Homegrown, along with the Ms. Philippines-Earth search for the Filipina representative, it is now considered to be among the top three most prestigious international pageants since its inception in 2001.
Call it superficial. Call it sexist. Call it a futile, short-sighted and pretentious exercise. But in this nation of seven thousand and one hundred seven islands (depending on whether it’s high tide, or low tide) where in the month of May the Santacruzan is done on any given day, where fiestas can never be complete without crowning a queen, and where macho men reportedly get stabbed from a drunken argument on which one is prettier: Ms. Belgium or Ms. Colombia?, pageants are a sure-fire way of getting one’s message noticed and start people talking. We love our beauty queens - the first Miss Universe and the first Miss International married Filipinos; countless Ms. Philippines have become long-standing celebrities; and where public voting through text or internet is the game, expect the Filipina to be up there. Pageants here take on a different culture from that found in the west, and are seen by most with a different perspective. They are hardly treated as vulgar shows for dimwits, but rather as showcase for the best, most eligible women. So yes, most would probably take notice of what they say (relax, for sure she aced her interviews and most certainly won’t embarrass when she opens her mouth). Including issues such as saving Mother Earth. In addition to world peace.
Pageants nowadays, and at least with the legit ones, are more than a bunch of girls whose main purpose in life is to make the rest of womanhood suffer from self pity and yo-yo dieting. Many of those who are into it have degrees, even scholastic honors. They become very productive and successful women, and some get into public service. And those who join don’t think of it as exploitation, otherwise they won’t. In this day and age, the swimsuit contest is as common as bikini girls on the beach - they’re there to be watched, as well as check out and compare with others, too.
As they say, any publicity - good or bad - is still publicity. In 2002, the Miss World pageant made headlines when it sparked violent protests in host country Nigeria. The Miss Earth pageant alone had it’s media mileage stretched when earliest editions made a faux pas by having the girls plant trees in bikinis! and had feminist tongues wagging, and then in 2003, when Ms. Afghanistan wore a red two-piece, much to her people’s consternation. And then there’s the Miss USA brouhaha last year involving alcoholism. In this country, pageants reach a wide mix of people, which is favorable for whatever causes they espouse. At the very least, it introduces people to these.
For now, our Miss Earth beauties don’t seem to be doing more than tote slogans reprimanding smoke belchers, and plant trees (besides having the time of their lives). But these women will have done more for their environmental advocacy with their thirty seconds or so, to fame than from, say, writing a blog entry on it.
Some things worth mentioning but are rather unrelated to this post: Cutting trees down, instead of planting them - selectively, that is - might help alleviate world temperatures? And mobile phones might lead to food shortages in the future?
>>these women will have done more for their environmental advocacy with their thirty seconds or so, to fame than from, say, writing a blog entry on it.
I’ll have to disagree with you on that one. I doubt any viewer will be persuaded to become environmentalists by watching a beauty pageant, whether it’s Miss Universe or Miss Earth. Let’s face it: these are just bikini contests — nothing more, nothing less. I think blogging about environmental issues will have more effect than any beauty pageant. Of course, that would depend on how persuasive the blogger is and how many readers he/she has.
Posted 1 year, 3 months agoYou are correct. But my point is, in this country, beauty pageants will have reached a more extensive audience who might get interested in environmental issues. Television, which is the main medium for these pageants, has a power over the masses which can never be underestimated and disregarded. At least it’s an introduction to many people who aren’t even aware of blogs.
Agreed too, that bottom line, they’re all bikini contests. The major pageants, however, are trying to “reinvent” themselves into a more positive image.
Posted 1 year, 3 months agoIs there a Mr. Earth (donning his swimsuit and… ehrr, Golden Globes)… or a Mr. Philippines-Earth? Huh? Huh?
Posted 1 year, 3 months agoThis whole “environmental” thing is just a marketing scheme.
Posted 1 year, 3 months agofruityoaty: there is a Mr. World, in fact.
Posted 1 year, 3 months agoand the conduct of the search is pretty much the same as the fairer counterpart, swimwear and all. i doubt though if it would really take off like the female pageants. care to seriously consider men who’d rather primp and be pretty, and ogle at their selves instead of you?
Ting: yes, pageants can be a marketing ploy, considering they already have an identifiable audience. and the environmental gimmick is an attempt at establishing a niche among the more popular, commercially viable pageants.
it’s all entertainment. but shallow it may be, it can be put to good use, too.
Posted 1 year, 3 months agoi agree, beauty pagents serve a purpose too. days are over when mostly half-witted girls made it to the prestigious pagents (highlight prestigious) just to be able to get to showbiz. today, contestants are smart women with advocacies. they need beauty pageants not only to validate their beauty further, but also the things they stand for.
Posted 1 year, 3 months agoyes, liz, pageants do seem to have evolved for the better. while most get into it because they want to launch modelling/showbiz careers, it’s a surprise that these women have real advocacies they want to share, too. the pageants merely serve as a platform for them to make a difference. perhaps hollywood’s influence, where stars are hipper if they are able to use their clout in furthering a cause.
Posted 1 year, 3 months ago