It's time to start talking about pageants again. And I know what you're probably thinking: “In this day and age?!” Or, "they're still doing that?" I get it! Many people in the U.S. consider pageants to be irrelevant. (Honestly, we're probably right to give an organization formerly owned by Donald Trump a healthy dose of side-eye.) But hear me out; I attended the Miss Universe competition in El Salvador just before Thanksgiving, and I now consider it my calling to explain why we should all be paying attention again.
Explaining this is important to me on a personal level. After all, I am a pageant girl (and a proud one, too). In 2018, I became Miss Black New Jersey 2018 and Miss Black USA Heart Truth Champion. As part of that experience, I traveled to Haiti and witnessed firsthand the kind of inspirational impact my crown and titles had on an assembly room full of kids. As a Haitian-American woman, it felt amazing to sponsor a conference and workshops that focused on building confidence and owning your power. When I returned home, my mom told me, “I’ve always wanted to help the girls there…now, you can.” It's my dream to eventually represent Haiti on Miss Universe’s international stage, to show the world a proper depiction of my island and be able to give back even more to my community in the process.
So yeah, watching the Miss Universe competition happen in front of my eyes meant a lot to me personally. Haiti wasn't actually represented on the stage that night (for the first time since 1989), but I was grateful to be in the building and represent in my own way. The experience was electrifying, and it showed me how far pageants have come.
The night of the competition, I watched delegates of all sizes compete. A trans woman from Portugal placed in the top 20. The very first Pakistani representative killed the game in modest apparel and joined the ranks, too. Then there was the first Black woman representing Spain placing in the top 10. I was especially wowed by the performance of Colombia's rep, the first mother and wife to compete worldwide and go as far as the top 5. Nicaragua made history by bringing the crown home for the first time. And no, nobody gave the stereotypical answer of “world peace” when asked about their goals—I’m looking at you, Miss Congeniality!
When I looked around the room, I was aware of the empowerment, pride, and triumph radiating from these women. And outside? Crowds on the streets were waving their respective flags and going wild. It dawned on me then just how different pageants are perceived in U.S.
Abroad, pageantry is everything. (The president of El Salvador even showed up to the Miss Universe show!) Crowned queens drive tourism, make a difference in their communities, are role models, and are well positioned for public-facing opportunities when their reigns are over. Why shouldn't we want to spotlight these things in America too, especially now that we see our modern values reflected on stage?
We consider our society to be forward-thinking and pro-women, but that should also mean that we embrace women-led initiatives in other forms. Both the new owner and CEO of Miss Universe are turning pageants in a fresh direction, but what if we, the audience, also took back the system and started seeing it through the female gaze? Why should women in pageants face ridicule or be dismissed simply because they've chosen to step on stage in gowns, swimsuits, and costumes? What would it look like if we actually applauded these women for the impact they’re making in their respective communities?
It takes courage to represent a nation on an international platform, subjecting yourself to commentary from people watching all over the world. But there's no denying how empowering it is, too. As a firm believer in taking up space in your industry and looking fabulous while doing it (I mean, I am a fashion editor), I vote in favor of giving pageantry a fresh shot. Pageantry is not irrelevant; And with Miss Universe, I’ve witnessed its power with my own eyes.
Tarah-Lynn Saint-Elien is the fashion editor at Cosmopolitan, writing weighty and witty stories that run the gamut of gushing over Zendaya to convincing you of everything you need in your closet! She began her journey in the industry with a fashion and faith blog and an internship at Elle.com almost 10 years ago. Since then, she's also served as the style editor at The Haitian Times. The Haitian-American pageant queen is a Syracuse Masters graduate and the author of two books, including: Claim Your Crown. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @iamtarahlynn.
