Not giving up, Phineas instead advertised for women to submit daguerreotypes (photographs taken by an early photographic process employing an iodine-sensitised silvered plate and mercury vapour) of themselves to be judged. 60 years after the failed attempt, the first successful beauty pageant was held.
‘Atlantic City’s Inter-City Beauty Contest’ was first organised in 1921 to attract tourists to the Atlantic City in New Jersey over summer. It was later renamed ‘Miss America Pageant’.
Pageant being the epitome of beauty, has gone through numerous phases to become what it is today.
Alongside beauty, intelligence is also a key in capturing the crown. All glitz and glamour, Miss Grand Sarawak 2020 state director Teresa Suli Noel shares a little on pageantry:
Benefits of organising pageants
Beauty pageants is almost every girl’s dream. Organising beauty pageants is just like achieving the dream for them. It also helps to develop strong networking skills and resources for the contestants, organisers, sponsors and whoever is related to this business.
How can it help society?
It helps the society in terms of economy. For example, financial support for those involved in this industry, such as the dress designers, make-up artists, traditional costumes enthusiasts, photographers, and many more.
Beauty pageants organised based on traditional events will definitely promote tourism in our country. The winners usually will get invited to promote products for business entrepreneurs and even corporate companies. In other words, it helps corporate alliances.
How can it help the participants?
Beauty pageant is one industry that helps to boost the self-esteem and confidence of the participants. It helps them with their future life and careers.
Some of the winners have gone on to become brand ambassadors, models for photography and catwalks, beauty pageants judges, beauty consultants, invited speakers and many more.
The process from joining a pageant up till the crowning stage
The initial process to join a beauty pageant is to get yourself equipped with the organisers’ requirements: getting physically and mentally prepared for the pageant. Then get the necessary costumes or garments, and other beauty artistries. The performances during auditions and crowning are the most important to determine their placings in the beauty pageant.
Being the State Director for Miss Grand 2020, Teresa shared that the beauty pageant will be held in April next year. The pageant will start off with the district pageant competitions — Serian, Semarahan, Lundu, Betong, Miri and Bintulu — before the grand finale in Kuching, Sarawak.
Miss Grand is an international franchise beauty pageant. District winners will need to get themselves qualified to join the state’s Miss Grand Sarawak. The top 2 winners of Miss Grand Sarawak will then join Miss Grand Malaysia. The national winner will proceed to represent Malaysia in Miss Grand International.
The theme for Miss Grand 2020 is ‘Stop War and Violence’. Other than physical training, Miss Grand Sarawak Committee prepares the girls with speeches based on the theme. Being the voice for victims of war and violence, the participants can be more confident and focused when dealing with future endeavours.
Pageant enthusiasts can visit Miss Grand Sarawak and Sarawak Paperbeads Official on Facebook and Instagram for more information regarding the pageant.
