What are the cons of beauty pageants?
Although there are pros to beauty pageants, there are also many cons. When it comes down to beauty pageants, a major component is when the contestants are asked a question they must answer. In the 2009 Miss America Pageant, Carrie Prejean was asked if she was a supporter of same-sex marriage. The reason that Carrie did not become Miss America is because she answered that question truthfully. She told the judges, '"I believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised, and that's how I think it should be."' Carrie's answer did not fly with Perez Hilton, one of the judges, and that is why she became the runner up for Miss America. The con aspect of this is that the judges don't always judge based on what's honest and fair, they can judge based on what they want to hear ("Beauty & the Beast; The Miss USA Contest Shuns Family Values"). Another con of beauty pageants is that contestants are not judged on anything except how beautiful they are. It's so demeaning to women to stand in front of people and have them judge you on how beautiful you are (Tom Hamilton). It's even worse when someone doesn't win an award because then that person starts to think, "why don't they think I'm beautiful too?". Also, the prepping for beauty pageants is no walk in the park either, especially with young children.