Are beauty pageants dead? Was it negative publicity, bad ratings, or was it lack of financial success? Carol Crenna “> FASHION STATEMENTS “THIS ‘IS:not.a simple ques- tion to answer. Both .na- ‘tionally . and locally there have been big. changes to ‘this rather unstable industry “recently, starting with the Miss) Canada Pageant, which influenced several = regional beauty. contests. Its .owmers’ feel that it died of “Natural causes. ~ “. ”, While-some people feel it was ‘feminists. who killed the Miss Canada Pageant, others say it was because the owners, :Baton Broad- Casting, could not afford to orga- nize it with enough class to give it : any credibility. Still other opinions say it.simpiy did not get enough ‘viewer interest because _televi- _“sion-watchers in. Canada simply * do not care who wins. : __. it. was reported in this month’s _« issue of Chatelaine magazine that . the’ Miss Canada Pageant never “°F turned ‘a. profit since the Baton . firm. bought it in 1970. Never- “theless, the article states that the pageant consistently ranked “among the-top 10 shows of the “year for: its “audience numbers. ‘. The final 1992 contest was seen by 1.7. million’ Canadians — more viewers than a Hockey Night in ‘ Canada telecast. Leading feminists won't disagree that their influence did “playa part.in the demise of the “beauty queen. They are saying . that the death is a. triumph for their cause, feeling that pageants ““objectify women by celebrating their looks above all other " qualities.”’. (Stated in the same Chatelaine article.) ‘It may be a fairy-tale ‘image “ that; ‘drew. our attention to the . show: ever. since it began in 1946. .! It let’ us envision that a beautiful . princess, plucked from anonymity, ‘could -be given instant fame and showered with gifts, including that much- -desired, ill-fitting crown. ‘But: princess stories, which say that: ‘goodness and beauty trium- -phs over-all, are never what they appear. to be. -An obvious example is Princess Diana. . Today’s women have changed. They don't simply rely on fate or luck to. find themselves on the right. stage at the right time. They have‘ realized that it takes more ~ than . an’ answer to a ludicrous question (“What would you do to save the world if you could, in 20 wards or less?’’).to reach the top anymore. It takes hard work, and a keen sense of direction, to get a ~ shot at success. ° _: Looking the - part ‘is still im- perative, however, . and . while beauty standards may change they . will - never. disappear. But every . successful: woman. ° instinctively . looks’ the part. It comes with the LAYER WHITE on white for inexpensive summer coolness. job, and the confi dence it takes to get it. in trying to keep up with women’s changing attitudes, the Miss Canada Pageant changed its format. Its talent contest began to allow unconventional pageant skills, iroversial swimsuit competition in favor. of a fitness.contest, ‘and featured contestants in* sweats on exercise bikes. The ideas may have been OK, but the presentation suck as. swimming and ~ costume design to replace singing -: and dancing. -It dropped. the.con- since lacked any kind of interest. Baton Broadcasting was right to want to change the format. The airhead image of the contestants has got to go. The long, drawn-- out length of the. television pres- entation shculd be cut down to a manageable show. (How many hours did you ever get through?) it-has to be brought into the 90s its outdated ‘rules. of chaperons . ‘and strict’ virginal prerequisites for contestants are licking scandal bombs. The swim- suit competition shoulda’t have to. go — female body building com- petitions are as popular with the masses as ever — so give the con- testants a few toned, healthy mus- cles. . _ All the contest needs is a little more substance, along with all of its original glamor. Give the con- ‘testants a chance to show their in- telligence and individuality and. they will. It now appears that 1993 may, -indeed, see the crowning of Miss Canada and Miss Teen: Canada. The owner has told the press that . Building Art - Gallery he is seeking buyers for the rights to the Miss Canada Pageant, and some organizers of regional con- tests are confident that we have not seen its end. A contest that has also changed with the times is the Miss North Shore Pageant, which was held on July 27 as the North Shore: Youth Contest. To suit. modern. ‘stand- ards, for the first time: men wer allowed ‘to. compete in the: pag eant, and the ref: is now tit! As one of the five judges whose - task was to. pick this. year’s: win ner, I can say that the competition had its minor” faults, -which -in- cluded politics, i ch , Poor turn-out. of the show.-that. ma questionable succes of he young: N tants, who ranged to 21. Competing: fe were Cherie Baker, Tara-Lee Hansen; _ dex, Sherina- world saw its 1992 winné the first- male. contestant enter.’ Bevil.. Conwa! within, not just from without: T have a feeling t 17-year-old, .He’ll “go. places: Conway, who already had. royal blood before being: crowned, felt today’s youth ‘to. show ‘the? publi just what they are capable. of a complishing. - Cenway ‘iidn’ i ‘have to jugaie o parade in a: bikini*to win the au- dience’s, and the judges’, interest?. He is a good speaker, a talented. painter and illustrator. (he :is- ha ing his own show’ at the Ferry in... West Vancouver), and he got the three rows of crowned princesses, seated behind the judges, screaming and hooting louder than I’m sure any: male member of the audience has: ever done for a female contestant. * There were at least two other contestants. worth mention. Sherina. Mohamed, who ‘came. a very close. First Runner-Up, is a personable. - lady’ and - talented singer who has confidence beyon her 21 years. Cherie Baker, the, lovely 19. year-old. contestant’ who-: is © 2 proud. member. of. the. Squamish Nation, .had a: “mission: when ° . joined- the competition. Her. goal’ of her people: and. their "strong values is a truly honorable’ c ne.