Tsk Tsk...another beauty pageant?!

 Before I proceed to write, please this is not a diss or shade or anything remotely resembling these. I am only putting to paper (or in this case, blogosphere), something that's been on my mind for a bit.

Just today, I came across the Most Beautiful Face in Nigeria Beauty Pageant and photos of the contestants wearing bathing suits and posing on a beach. I wondered why the promo photos for a contest that clearly made reference to facial beauty, had to show the said girls in full, striking all sorts of sexy (or wanna be sexy) poses. I mulled over that for a few seconds and then my mind drifted to the all the other pageant calls I had come across over the past few years and then I thought to myself "e remain make I do face of Tobe beauty pageant, kpata kpata, I go get 5 contestants"

Am I the only one that feels there are so many girls who are more interested in being social butterflies and the trendiest fashion bunnies? It also seems like a good number of them believe that being in a beauty pageant will fix that, especially if they win. And then, our many Nigerian entrepreneurs (a word, which I think is slowly becoming bastardised) are feeding this need by creating pageants for every single thing...

I listened to the song, "Pretty Hurts" by Beyonce and I kinda wished that most of the ladies going all out for Pageants would take a moment and listen to the words. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy beauty pageants...the ones that come with some real sense of impact and purpose and in which you can actually tell that the ladies strutting the runway are not all hot-bods-and-no-grey-matter. 

I once had the unfortunate opportunity to listen to a reigning beauty queen get interviewed on radio...I also got to see the lady. I have to admit, she was a stunner to look at but when she opened her mouth, my brain registered her as a twisted Orga because she could not construct one full sentence in english. I also remember that she was on air to talk about her empowerment initiative and how she would be sharing copies of a book she had written and how she wanted young people to read more and be educated. In my head, I said "baby girl, you need that education". It was a huge laugh because even random people I met referred to that interview and how embarrassing it was.

With that particular incident, I wasn't sure if to be disappointed at the girl or the organisers that gave her the crown in the first place...it was just sad.

So, as much as I feel ladies should not shy away from being beauty queens, I think that the definition of beauty should go beyond being a damn fine stunning hottie...like Beyonce said, "it's the soul that needs the surgery".

Too many girls are struggling too hard to become physically perfect and have the perfect body. Working out is a good thing but too many people are focusing a lot of energy of achieving 'summer bodies' than on achieving lasting life goals and building real legacies. 

Here is a little something to consider: Beauty pageants are not meant to fill up an emptiness inside you...if you fill it first (with skill, love and compassion, knowledge and self respect) you will be more equipped to truly be a role model. For some, you may find true happiness in the perfect body but i do hope that everyday that you wake up, you are happy...that should be one of your aspirations in life.