Has The Time Come To Discontinue The Miss America Pageant?

Shiney, happy, plastic people strutting their stuff for a buck. Aspire higher.

I think it's a great platform to raise awareness or start a career. The Miss USA pageant inspires young girls and we need that more today than ever.

I don't know if I have ever watched an entire Pageant show of any kind, but I do know that there are some benefits to this program. I know that it does provide scholarships and opportunities, and also, it does offer a platform for the contestants to speak about issues and challenges in the world that are important to them, in front of a large audience. They are given an opportunity to share their ideas, talents and beliefs with people who might not know about these things if not for the televised show. That said, I never understood the value of these talented and lovely women walking around in their bathing suits. That seemed very antiquated and silly to me.

I dont mind it - maybe need to revamp it though...

I think it is antiquated and needs an overhaul. The pageant, if continued should not include evening gown and swimsuit competitions. Unfortunately, I think that most people still form opinions on superficial things like how someone looks in a bathing suit not how intelligent they are. The news if full of stories of celebrities being to fat,to thin,getting boob jobs etc. You do not see stories of smart women solving the worlds problems. Because in this supposed age of equality and enlightenment no one would watch such stories. Miley Cyrus twerking is much bigger news. Even in the schools it is more about looks than academics. At an 8th grade graduation I attended they gave away awards for best hair, prettiest eyes and most popular. It was sickening. There should be a better way for these women to get scholarships other than parading around in evening gowns and bathing suits.

Some enjoy entering the pageants, so leave them alone! If the scholarship money helps them get an education, I say kudos.

I think it's needs to be revamped. People that are bigger than a size 0 or 2 are beautiful too, and there's all different kinds of beauty. The standards for this pageant set a bad example for young girls, they should be taught to feel confident in how they look without makeup or fancy clothes, and to be happy, healthy, and kind. The pageant has good meaning, but the standards of beauty need to redefined.

I'm not a big fan of pageants. Why don't they have pageants for men? Oh wait. Is it because they have other opportunities?

I enjoy seeing the contestants striving to win for scholarships to finish their education. Fitness evaluation would better fit with today's healthier living. I believe the swimsuits can be eliminated since this is the only part of the pagent I don't like.

Well, on the one hand: it is a scholarship competition that many notable and high achieving women have used on the ladder to success. On the other hand: the "talent" competition and public speaking portions never seem to fail to produce humiliating "pageant fails". On the whole, I'm glad folks like Heather Whitestone got an international platform for their message. So, yes, the pageant should continue (though I wish it weren't produced by a boor and oaf like Mr. Trump).

I think it's gone in a direction much different than what was originally intended and gotten out of hand.

Why should something be discontinued simply because some people don't like it? Why take the opportunity away from people that want to compete and work hard to get there? That doesn't seem fair to me If you don't like it then don't watch it but those that want to compete should have the chance to. These women choose to be in the pageant so they are not being exploited nor is it sexist either. I'm tired of all this politically correct crap. These women are fit and healthy their not stick figures. And most of them have degrees or are working towards one. I don't think the pageant is objectifying anyone and yes I think it should continue.

I do not think it is necessary to showcase it on TV. I am under the impression that this pageant is linked to scholarship money so while that is certainly a worthwhile endeavor, it is biased (due to it's very overt) on the physicality on the women. So if you do not fall into a certain category of 'beauty', you are unlikely to win any of the money. I know pretty women who are smart and it shouldn't take anything away from them, but how many of us fall into this subjective beauty.

Women compete with themselves and others all the time. I think it's time to compete against something that matters. Who cares if you have big boobs and a perfect head of hair. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes and really doesn't need to be paraded around.

I don't mind if it stays or go. I think that they should do away with swim suit competition.