During the Miss USA pageant, which aired April 19th, judge and self-proclaimed "Queen of all Media" Perez Hilton asked Miss California Carrie Prejean, a politically fueled question during the question and answer portion of the competition. Referring to Iowa's and Vermont's recent decisions, Hilton asked Prejean whether other states should follow suit and legalize same-sex marriage. There's been some debate as to whether the question should have even been asked of any contestant. Does politics belong in beauty pageants? But the most buzz has come from Prejean's answer:
"Well, I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land that you could choose “same-sex marriage” or opposite marriage. And, you know what? In my country, and in my family, I think that I believe that a 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 that it should be, between a man and a woman."
Her response caused a mixed reaction from the audience with some of those in attendance booing (the first for a Miss USA contestant) and some applauding, and a thinly veiled look of discuss from Hilton. That was just at the pageant, the reaction from the rest of the public has been just as diverse but on a much grander scale. Everyone from radio personalities to political pundits to soccer moms have been talking about it. Did her answer cost her the crown? Was it a fair question? Does politics belong in beauty pageants? Etc, etc.
I'm no expert on beauty pageants, but the question didn't seem all that out of place to me. In the past haven't contestants been asked about gun control/foreign relations/poverty? Those are just as political. I think the only difference is that this particular question has to do with an issue that is at the top of most media coverage. It's a big deal right now so everyone is paying much more attention to it. Events in Iowa and Vermont have been bogarting a large portion of media coverage so the public is more sensitive to anything having to do with the controvery of same-sex marriage and gay rights.
No one will really ever know if Prejean's answer lost her the crown. I have to admit I'd be disappointed if it did. In no way do I agree with her opinion (and I'm still confused as to what "opposite marriage" is) but that's my point. It was her opinion. Whether you agree with her or not she has every right to believe what she wants to believe. How ironic is it that in a competition to pick a woman who best represents America, a country which brags about the freedoms of speech/opinion/religion/etc its citizens has, a contestant could be penalized for holding an opinion that the judges/audience/public think she shouldn't have? I'm curious as to exactly how political these contestants are supposed to be. I think it would be a fair guess to say that these women are no more or less informed about politics than the average individual on the street. But is this competition supposed to be about their politics? I always thought the answer and question portion of the competition was supposed to be more about poise. How they handles such awkward and uncomfortable situations. If that's the case then I can see how Prejean may have lost. She wasn't exactly composed when forming her answer.
But my biggest problem with all this is how much attention it's getting. WHO CARES? It's a beauty pageant. This woman isn't some politician who's helping to form public policy. If people really want to complain about opinions like this why not go after bigger fish who's opinions can actually have a direct influence on the issue. Unless I'm mistaken and this young lady is the governor of a state that is in the process of deciding whether to legalize gay marriage, in which case the attention is well deserved.
*For the record, Miss North Carolina Kristin Dalton won the crown.
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