Tuck
Media’s Portrayal of the Critics and the Queens of Pageantry
By Chanelle Tuck
Think of the word “pageant”. What comes to mind? “Toddlers in Tiaras Links to an external site.,” vanity, spray tans, perfect
smiles, elaborate dresses, superficial women, swimsuits, beauty, high heels, big hair, airheads, or models? Perhaps discipline, dedication, talent, charity, self-control, competition, confidence, and or sisterhood? Whatever thoughts may have formed around this word, odds are that those opinions were shaped by the media to either criticize or support pageants and individuals involved. As technology and media evolve, so does the way in which pageants and titleholders are represented, scrutinized, promoted, and supported. The way pageant directors, beauty queens, and media present themselves and each other has created great controversy around the respectability of such activities. Beezie Chapman, pageant producer and coach expresses her view of of media when saying, "the media loves to look at things from a negative point of view because they like to sensationalize things without knowing all of the facts or presenting all of the positive aspects of pageantry. I think they like to use shows like “Toddlers in Tiaras” to glorify all of the negative things that we certainly don’t consider to be good" (Chapman, 2014).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-LGezgoh3E
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It is important to understand how the change in technology and media convergence has also changed pageantry and how others perceive it. When pageants first began in the 1900’s they grew through word of mouth, promotion of flyers, and printed press. In the past people, including feminists would boycott beauty pageant supporters and would protest against such events. Fans would only know as much about the contestants as what was written in brochures or local press. As time has progressed, the general public at the click of a button had “owned rights” to information about contestants, directors, rules, and regulations. Beauty pageants and queens combined have millions of followers on social networks and blog sites, news coverage, televised competitions, online streaming, television shows, and mobile applications to keep them updated. The Miss USA Links to an external site. and Miss America Links to an external site. pageants have productively used transmedia to grow their fanbase and build support. Because not all are familiar with transmedia, I have included this definition, “transmedia storytelling represents a process by which narrative information is systematically dispersed across multiple media channels for the purposes of creating a unified and coordinated entertainment experience. Ideally each medium makes its own unique contribution to the unfolding of the story” (Anderson, 2011). This use of transmedia not only benefits fans and the organization, it also gives critics a database to dissect and exploit contestants, directors, and sponsors for both negative and positive feedback. It is because of transmedia that fans and contestants have become so actively involved. On one platform there may be information about contestants, on another it could be information from the contestants, while other platforms could consist of articles or books documenting
the history and events. Each mediated platform contributes to the world of pageantry
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Fan pages, social cites, and blogs are a few platforms that are used for people to vocalize their opinions, “like” and share photos, post videos, support their favorites and bash what they dislike. One incorrect or correct interview answer can go viral within minutes and can cause permanent ramifications. We have seen this kind of viral activity happen on m any occasions in the past. One example was during the Miss USA 2013 pageant when Miss Utah failed to correctly answer a televised interview question, it went something like this, "Powell stammered some things about education, jobs, and men, quickly drawing harsh criticism for her delivery (or lack thereof) on blogs, social media – and captured on dozens of YouTube channels” (Clay, 2013). Kelly Clay, a reporter who had no interest in watching the Miss USA pageant, was informed of Powell’s response through social media and wrote an article discussing the premise of her interview question. This demonstrates how the growth and involvement of media has escalated the intensity and severity of judging these competitions. What takes place during one of these competitions has the potential to either jeopardize or solidify future opportunities and credibility. Because media is so involved, extreme caution is to be taken by participants when speaking or socializing publicly.
A twist on this idea of information being consequently disbursed is the privacy issues of personal information being made public online. Social media has many privacy concerns especially for public figures that are representing an organization or body of people. Meikle and Young (2012) dissect the impact that social media has on private online communication and observe “It is no longer always clear to what extent messages are intended to be shared one–to-one and to what extent they’re intended to be available to a much wider public” (p.72). Because of these uncertainties, it is important that participants (especially in national pageants) treat their personal profiles as if fans, critics, and or directors are constantly watching them. With one screen shot and share, anyone with access to personal information has the power to disburse it with “a much wider public” (Miekle and Young [2012]). When registering for pageants, contracts are signed which hold participants accountable to certain standards. One of the standards states that participants can have no nude photos online or available to the public. Violation of the agreed upon contract can result in demotion and banning from future involvement. One instance of this was when Carrie Prejean, Miss California USA Links to an external site. 2009 was reprobated not only because she spoke against gay marriage during the televised Miss USA interview portion of the contest, but because an ex boyfriend shared a nude video of her online without her consent. This negative attention lead to this discussion, “Officials with the Miss California USA Pageant said today in Beverly Hills that title-holder Carrie Prejean is in breach of contract and entered the contest under false pretenses. Donald Trump, who owns the Miss USA pageant, will decide tomorrow whether she will keep her crown” (Grad, 2009). A video that was intended for the eyes of one man years prior, came back to the future to rob Prejean of her crown. This goes to show that because of media, one mistake from a person’s past has the potential of being detrimental to their future. Below are a few of the requirements and standards bestowed on titleholders mentioned by Danielle Martin and Beezie Chapman.
Do titleholders have regulations about content that can be post by or about them online? If so, what are they?
CHAPMAN: In the old days I know it used to be that they never would allow you to be in a picture with just one male figure. You would need to be in there with your girlfriend or your mom or at least have three people in the picture because you would want anyone to say, “yeah this is my boyfriend or this is whatever”. That’s just one of the loose rules that they used to have. Also to never show a drink in your hand at any time is a rule that they have too. It’s just to portray the girls in the most wholesome manner that they can.
MARTIN: Definitely no nudity, like I said before no provocative pictures. I mean I’m not going to tag myself as “Miss California Teen is partying it up in Las Vegas”. I guess that’s a restriction, as far as I can remember its basically just act with good moral content.
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It is changes like these in new media that have both grown and complicated the pageant world meaning that, “the social world of the Internet is as diverse and contradictory as society. So, the cacophony of virtual communities does not represent a system of relatively coherent values and social rules” (Castells, 2003). Being that the Internet is as diverse as the society it reflects, the social struggles that are present today are vivid in the discussions and content posted daily. How does this relate to pageantry you might ask? Every historical, political, and social accomplishment in the land of pageantry either represents or opposes a group of individual’s values, agenda, or beliefs. Because of this, no matter what policies or guidelines are in place, what ethnicity wins the crown, what scholarships are won, or how much emphasis is switched from beauty to merit, there will always be those in this virtual community chiming in their destructive criticism to negate the progress being made. The current Miss America is a woman of Indian decent from Syracuse. She rightfully earned the crown proving the progress of diversity in American pageants. Her success has created huge backlash online where people have made positive and negative opinions known on all social networks and media cites. “Congratulations Al Qaeda,” tweeted one user, @Blayne_MkItRain (the account has since been deleted). “Our Miss America is one of you” (Williams, 2013). Web users have a sense of safety while posting behind their smart phones and computers leading to extreme online discussions that rarely happen while communicating face to face. I asked Chapman and Martin about whether or not this online behavior should be regulated and these were their responses:
There has been a recent stir up over the current Miss America. There have been some negative comments that have been thrown out there through the media, you know people who are racist and have issues with having an Indian descendent representing our country. So how do you feel that having people so involved in social media and news, being able to just throw their comments out there affects you (beauty queens) running or being involved?
CHAPMAN: Personally, I would never do anything like that to go against anyone in a negative manner. I think it’s mean and is a form of bullying and being cruel. It’s using media in a negative way and I don’t think that’s what it’s for although people tend to use it that way. If they do use it that way I think that’s where freedom of speech comes into affect. We do live in America and we do have that freedom to say what we feel. I just believe that we need a lot of filters and monitors personally so that we don’t hurt people’s feelings on purpose.
MARTIN: It’s funny you mention that because when she won I was watching, and of course I was on Facebook, and I saw a lot of the nasty comments and I saw on twitter a lot of the harsh tweets that they were tweeting. They made me feel disgusted as an American that people of our country were doing that and that they were discriminating against a girl who is probably more educated than half of the people who were sitting behind that screen. Do I think that it hinders us? No. I think that it gives us an option and an obligation to speak out about the events that are happening.
In an interview with pageant consultant and director Beezie Chapman Links to an external site., I was able to learn about the media standards and struggles of pageantry. Talking with Danielle Martin, Miss California Teen 2008 also gave great insight from a titleholders perspective about the stereotypes and misconceptions that are being proven untrue through media and public discourse. They went as follows.
What attempts are being made through media to negate negative
stereotypes towards pageantry?
CHAPMAN: In California we are trying to put the best image forward for Miss California and Miss California USA, that they’re wholesome girls with goals and they go to college and have dreams and they work for different charities and philanthropies to make a better society. Those are the things that we are hoping to get out into the media and that we wish the media would focus on.
MARTIN: I think by just reaching out to your community and exercising education, really getting out what the pageant industry really is about. That’s really the only way that personally I or any other contestant can.
What forms of media do the pageants you are or have been involved in use to gain a following?
CHAPMAN: My pageant in particular I use Facebook, Twitter, and also Instagram. I think Instagram is really a good form of media of communication because it’s pictures and people can see what’s going on without having to read a bunch of stuff. Facebook is good because it links you to a lot of different people who are interested in the same thing.
MARTIN: I guess you could say all of them. I know of pageant contestants and titleholders that have Twitter accounts, Instagram accounts, and Facebook accounts. They are televised such as Miss America and the Miss USA Organization. Then like I said previously “Honey Boo” “Toddlers in Tiaras” those are televised as well. There’s kind of a little bit of everything, I know there are pageant magazines so that’s a big media as well so it’s really everything.
Of those which seem to gain the most attention?
CHAPMAN: I think it’s pretty even as far as I’m concerned, I think with Instagram you have to stay up with it every day just about, or every other day posting new pictures to keep the attention on whatever it is you’re focusing on. With Facebook you can post maybe once a week and it works just as well.
MARTIN: I would have to say television because it can be viewed by anybody and I feel that if it’s like a Twitter account or a Facebook account you would have to somewhat know who the person is or something about the industry, but if you’re just flipping through a channel and it happens to be pageant season and Miss America’s on T.V. then boom anybody can watch it and its broadcasting so that’s free to the public.
(VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH DANIELLE MARTIN MISS CALIFORNIA TEEN 2008)
As a beauty queen do you find yourself monitoring cautiously the content that either you post or is published about you in the media? If so, what measures do you take?
MARTIN: I feel that as a titleholder you should already have a good moral standing. Personally, I tend to stir away from the negative parts of any kind of social media or participate in any kind of negative acts. I tend to not put myself in that situation.
When viewing possible contestants social media profiles, do you feel that it has the ability to positively or negatively influence you wanting them to be involved?
CHAPMAN: Even as a pageant consultant that’s one of the first things that we look at together is their Facebook or their Twitter or things that get posted on social media. A lot of times they think something is funny, or was a good time for them and the image or wording itself can portray themselves and pageantry in a negative manner so we go through and clean it up, not to show a false representation of the person but just to let them know that whatever they put on there is going to be on there and anyone can see it.
Do titleholders have regulations about content that can be post by or about them online? If so, what are they?
CHAPMAN: In the old days I know it used to be that they never would allow you to be in a picture with just one male figure. You would need to be in there with your girlfriend or your mom or at least have three people in the picture because you would want anyone to say, “yeah this is my boyfriend or this is whatever”. That’s just one of the loose rules that they used to have. Also to never show a drink in your hand at any time is a rule that they have too. It’s just to portray the girls in the most wholesome manner that they can.
MARTIN: Definitely no nudity, like I said before no provocative pictures. I mean I’m not going to tag myself as “Miss California Teen is partying it up in Las Vegas”. I guess that’s a restriction, as far as I can remember its basically just act with good moral content.
How do you feel the popularity of social media has affected the way you connect with pageants and fans?
MARTIN: I definitely feel that my communication has grown, just being on Facebook and on Instagram, lots of people, pageant coaches, smaller pageants, local preliminary pageants, they’ve reached out to me and contacted me because they’ve seen me in other pageants competing or because I’m a friend of a friend who was in the pageant. It widens the opportunity I guess you can say; it’s a way of contacting or getting information out there.
If you could say one thing to the public about pageantry what would it be?
CHAPMAN: If you take another look at it and really become educated on what pageantry does for young women, it provides scholarships, it provides interview skills, it provides socialization and teaches them how to have manners, grace and class in social situations. If you become more self aware instead of judgmental and open to the idea that pageantry is a good thing, I think then we could get some positive media exposure.
Despite the constant criticism from the media, pageants have embraced this online culture and have used it to display the integrity and values of its representatives. Contrary to common belief, pageants provide skills that women must acquire to be successful. It builds confidence, discipline, appearance, composure, relationships, and prepares for interviews. Most beauty queens are actively involved in charity, non-profits, volunteer work, achieve high academic success, and have overcome challenging obstacles. Media is the platform that allows these determined women to share their character and qualifications with the world. For this reason, they embrace the good and bad that come from it hoping to not be targeted as the next shallow and unintelligent beauty queen.
References
(Clay, K. (2013, June 17). Miss Utah Demonstrates Why Women Need to Learn To Code. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyclay/2013/06/17/why-women-need-to-learn-to-code/ Links to an external site.)
(Anderson, M. (0011, May 02). Transmedia Across Disciplines at National Association of Broadcasters | Magazine | WIRED. Retrieved from http://www.wired.com/2011/05/transmedia-across-disciplines-at-the-national-association-of-broadcasters/ Links to an external site.)
(Graham Meikle and Sherman Young (2012). Media convergence networked digital media in everyday life. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan)(Grad, S. (2009, May 11). L.A. NOW. Retrieved from http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/05/miss-california.html Links to an external site.)
(Castells C2 The Culture of the Internet [27][[Castels, M (2003). The internet galaxy: Reflections on the internet, business, and society. Oxford University Press: USA]
(Williams, A. (2013, September 21). Beauty Pageants Draw Social Media Critics. Retrieved April 03, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/22/fashion/beauty-pageants-draw-social-media-critics.html Links to an external site.)