Did you know President Barack Obama held his first full cabinet meeting this week? Neither did the local news.
But every broadcast of KFOR Channel 4 news Tuesday informed citizens of the latest Miss USA buzz.
Openly gay celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton served as one of the pageant’s judges Sunday evening, and has since blogged about it more than 15 times.
During the final round of questions during Miss USA, Hilton asked Miss California, Carrie Prejean, whether she believed gay marriage should be legalized across the nation. When Prejean responded that she believes marriage should only be between a man and a woman, Hilton showed visible disgust.
His disgust didn’t end with Miss California taking the runner-up position to Miss North Carolina. Hilton openly bashed Prejean with explicit name calling, YouTube videos, exposing her relationship with Michael Phelps and even a Larry King Live appearance.
Hilton shouldn’t have asked the question in the first place. If there was a right or wrong answer in his mind, then he shouldn’t have asked Prejean for her opinion. It’s just that, an opinion. Don’t ask someone to give their answer or opinion on an issue if you don’t want to hear the answer.
Miss California got it right. She should be praised for her honesty. The woman could have phrased her answer more suitable for the political or pageant world, but instead she told it like it was. Isn’t individuality and setting an example of honesty and integrity what the pageant industries vow they are truly about? The Miss USA circuit should stand behind Miss California’s answer that reflected her true beliefs.
Instead, more judges and Miss USA personnel are taking a stand against Prejean. The director of the Miss California USA pageant even spoke out in opposition.
This is ridiculous coming from an organization that has produced Miss USA’s and state winners who have been in hot water for alcohol addiction problems and nude photos. Donald Trump stood behind Miss USA 2006, Tara Conner, when she admitted to underage drinking and cocaine use. Yet many are turning their backs on a woman who put aside politics to speak her true beliefs.
This organization is not providing a necessary service to citizens or to its contestants. The pageant world needs to be shut down. When people are ridiculed and punished for expressing their beliefs and right to free speech, the organization has gone too far.
The pageant industry claims it’s winners represent our country and respective states.
But is that not what our senators, representatives, governors, ambassadors and president, among countless others, do on a daily basis? Why do we need a girl with a tiara and five inch heels to add in her politically correct, Donald Trump-controlled opinion too?
So many of these beauty queens gush that their lifelong dream is to run a charity or be a school teacher. So do it! Go to college and get your teaching degree. Start spending your time volunteering for charity rather than rehearsing ridiculous dances in a bikini.
These women, pageant organizations and American citizens need to rethink their focus. It’s time to move on from superficial beauty contests to tackle bigger and better issues.
-Elise Johnston is a psychology junior.
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JJanowiak 3 years, 1 month ago
Even if she was wrong, I at least respect her for standing up, giving an answer she knew would be criticized, and sticking with it through the firestorm.
eightbitgirl 3 years, 1 month ago
Perez Hilton's disgusting and misogynistic response to this girl is appalling. It's never okay to publicly belittle a woman with the words he used, but this is the same Perez Hilton who draws semen on celebrities and pulls homosexuals out of the closet before they're ready. I agree with gay marriage, so I speak out about it. This girl did not agree with it, and though I strongly disagree with her, she has the right to her own opinion on this matter.
It must be said, though, that Miss California did not lose the pageant because of her remarks. Miss North Carolina, the winner, had more points than she did in the other categories.
Flips88 3 years, 1 month ago
So your argument is "let's forget about pageants," yet you spend 95% of the article talking about them. Am I missing the point?
And for those that don't know...Miss California's answer was:
"I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage and, you know what, in my country and my family I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anyone out there but that's how I was raised and that's how I think it should be between a man and a woman."
Yes, belief in "opposite marriage" because that's what they think in her "country" and "family." NAILED IT!
kdbp1213 3 years, 1 month ago
assuming the women contestants are straight & hilton is gay: why is a gay man judging straight women's beauty?
please follow my reasoning: his sexual orientation dictates that he finds straight women unappealing. hilton should be judging a gay men's contest because he finds gay men appealing. the straight women contestants are getting moot votes from hilton because straight women are unattractive to hilton. make sense?
wouldn't we get honest votes when straight men judge the attractiveness of straight women?
dio 3 years, 1 month ago
Recent polls have shown that a fifth of Americans can't locate the US, South Africa and, uh, the eye-rack and everywhere like such as on a world map. Why do you think this is?
lott0969 3 years, 1 month ago
Miss USA is chosen to represent the entire country at a Miss Universe contest. America includes gays and lesbians. If Miss California's opinions contradict with those who support gay marriage, a competition to win the title for USA should not have been the place for her to express her personal views. If she was the right candidate for the job, then she would have known that. Sadly, she didn't, and instead of answering the question for the people of our country, she answered the question for herself. The right contestant won.
kdbp1213 3 years, 1 month ago
jjanowiak, who's wrong? who's right? that's what makes the USA great: we have our own opinions and we are allowed to peacefully express them.........
JJanowiak 3 years, 1 month ago
kdbp1213: Bigotry is wrong, and she is bigoted (not to mention incorrect in saying that gays are allowed to marry in the U.S.) but at least she has integrity. I imagine you're also a flaming-anti-gay crusader as well so don't bother responding...