The Pageant Girl

I competed in my first pageant when I was twelve years old.  It seems like so long ago.  

While watching TV one day after school, I saw a commercial announcing a local pageant.  It immediately caught my attention and I held the idea of entering in the back of mind.  It was the Cinderella pageant.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  

I was always interested in pageantry and would faithfully watch every national pageant on TV.  I made it a point not to miss one.  I would sit on the floor in front of the TV with a notepad and keep points and try and guess who would win.  

I would also dream and imagine myself one day being on a stage competing for a Misses title.  I loved everything about pageants.  The glitz and glamour of it all, but that all changed when I started competing. 

Throughout the years, I have experienced the good, the bad, and the ugly, and it didn't take me long to see what pageantry was really all about.  

Each pageant has its own uniqueness, but they all have the same purpose--to find the prettiest girl in the competition and crown her the winner.  

In the Netflix's movie, "Dumplin," they do a good job of capturing a lot of what the pageant industry is all about. 

Dumplin' is about a plus-size, teenage daughter of a former beauty queen who signs up for her mom's pageant as a protest that escalates when other contestants follow in her footsteps, revolutionizing the pageant and her small Texas town.  Its heartwarming storyline truly depicts every girl's struggle with self-image, self-confidence, and self-acceptance.  It also shows how one's self-image reflects the way they view the world and gives the presumption of how others see them.

Since it dealt with pageantry, I decided to take the time and watch it.  I'm glad I did.  If you haven't watched it yet, I am recommending it. 

They got a lot of things right in the movie especially when trying to capture the true atmosphere of pageantry and the people involved.  You see, there really are different types of contestants who enter, and moms who hang onto their crowns and sequin dresses forever.  For example, you have... 

1. The fake contestant.  On her trail of giddiness, she tries to be everyone's friend while sharing her annoying laugh, and loose embrace hugs. She tries too hard to be everyone's friend and someone she really isn't. Oh, and I can't forget the fake boobs.  
2. The bratty, stuck-up contestant.  She looks down her nose at everyone and would do anything to push others out of her way (or off the stage) to get what she wants.  She is full of conceit and self-centeredness. She is in it to win it and pouts when she doesn't.  
3. The sincere contestant.  She is sincere about competing and enjoys each moment.  She is friendly, real, and is always there to help someone along the way. She has dreamed of this moment since she was a little girl.

... but what about the different body types.    

The pageant girl type is usually one who is slim, in good shape, very tall, and I can't forget blonde.  It seems like this is the only type of girl who ever wins a pageant.  But there are many who don't fit that type who compete and do very well and sometimes win.  For example, these are some types I have seen.  

1. The buff one.  She has worked out every day for weeks.  The calves of her legs could knock you off the stage if you got to close, and she looks like a body builder instead of a pageant contestant.  
2. The fluffy, curvy one.  She is confident in the skin she is in.  She doesn't mind if her body isn't in perfect shape, and isn't afraid to wear a bikini with high heels and muffin tops.
3. The short one.  She is always a foot shorter than all the other contestants no matter the height of her own stilettos, but she doesn't mind.  She isn't afraid to stand next to them because in her mind she can reach heaven with her smile and her hair.
4.  The tattoo one.  She has tattoos up and down her body, but that doesn't stop her, she just adds an extra layer of foundation to cover them up. 
5. The fake boobed one.  She loves them and will flaunt them.  They are always on her mind and she will even stuff her bra to add more fluff. (not joking)
6. The sky-scrapper.  She towers over all the other contestants with her sky-scrapper height then wears 6" stilettos to make sure she is tall enough. 

I could go on and on describing all the things I've seen throughout the years.  But I think you get the picture, pageantry can be a circus and a beautifully orchestrated event all wrapped up in one.

Don't get me wrong.  Pageants can open doors to different opportunities and give one the chance to test and build their confidence. But they can also be very damaging and cause strongholds and negative mindsets that can keep them bound for life. 

As a self-image coach and etiquette instructor, I understand first-hand what it's like to struggle with self-acceptance and self-confidence.  For years, I have struggled with many insecurities like only being 5' 3.5' tall.  I've always wanted to be taller.  In my mind, being taller would have given me more opportunities to achieve my dreams.  blah blah

But when we start accepting the way God has made us to be-short or tall, curvy or straight, blonde or brunette, it opens the door to so much more opportunity than we could ever imagine.  He has a plan, and it's always the best one for us.  

Stop trying to be someone you're not.  Stop trying to fit everyone else's idea of beauty and outward appearance.  You are equipped with all the things necessary to fulfill your God-given purpose.

You don't have to be the pageant girl type to win in life.  Embrace you through the strength of God's mercies and grace.  And understand, with His strength, you can find the confidence you need to accept who you are and embrace the beauty and image in which you have been crafted--in His image. 

Don't waste a lifetime beating yourself up over things you can't change, and start focusing on the things you can change.  True beauty comes from the heart, and not from a perfectly manicured physic with fake boobs and long blonde hair.  
   

"NETFLIX'S DUMPLIN' HAS AN EMOTIONALLY IMPACTFUL MESSAGE OF SELF-ACCEPTANCE, WRAPPED IN A CHARMING COMING-OF-AGE STORY & STEEPED IN DOLLY PARTON MUSIC."  Screenrant, Dec 7, 2018

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