Word to the unwise: fake it
Rebecca Bauman
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: After Hours
I don't agree with the answer Miss California, Carrie Prejean, gave during the interview portion of this year's otherwise stellar Miss U.S.A. Pageant. But that doesn't mean I didn't feel rotten for her loss of the much-coveted crown. When she was asked if all states should follow Vermont's lead in legalizing gay marriage, I knew she'd been set up.
"Oh, that's not fair!" I thought. "She's gotta say 'yes' or she's toast!"
Miss U.S.A. has to be current, has to be "with it," has to be bold and open-minded, of the age, of the people. Especially the gay people, as it's been pointed out by numerous media pundits that a pageant audience ain't exactly brimming with straight men.
Ah, but, lo and behold, miss true-to-herself done got burned.
It made me mad. Why bother asking an interview question for which only one answer is correct? Where's the room for speaking from the heart, for honesty, for realness? And isn't the interview portion of a beauty contest supposed to be more about poise than the content of one's answers? Aren't these challenges supposed to be about looking smart, not being smart?
Well, I thought, of course they are. And that was Prejean's problem; she didn't have to buckle, didn't have to compromise her beliefs to win the crown. She only had to act smart.
The following is the completely diplomatic, savvy and, yes, smart answer Prejean could and should have given:
"I believe that, as Miss U.S.A., it would be my job to speak on behalf of all American people, including those who are currently denied what they believe are their rights. While I might not always sympathize with the causes and concerns of those individuals who are hoping to make change, I choose to support the democratic processes that work to represent all Americans fairly, to ensure that their voices are heard and that this land remains their land."
I'm available for pageant coaching. My only fee is a commitment from my clients that they will sit through my three-hour diatribe on the ungodliness of beauty contests and pageants.
"Oh, that's not fair!" I thought. "She's gotta say 'yes' or she's toast!"
Miss U.S.A. has to be current, has to be "with it," has to be bold and open-minded, of the age, of the people. Especially the gay people, as it's been pointed out by numerous media pundits that a pageant audience ain't exactly brimming with straight men.
Ah, but, lo and behold, miss true-to-herself done got burned.
It made me mad. Why bother asking an interview question for which only one answer is correct? Where's the room for speaking from the heart, for honesty, for realness? And isn't the interview portion of a beauty contest supposed to be more about poise than the content of one's answers? Aren't these challenges supposed to be about looking smart, not being smart?
Well, I thought, of course they are. And that was Prejean's problem; she didn't have to buckle, didn't have to compromise her beliefs to win the crown. She only had to act smart.
The following is the completely diplomatic, savvy and, yes, smart answer Prejean could and should have given:
"I believe that, as Miss U.S.A., it would be my job to speak on behalf of all American people, including those who are currently denied what they believe are their rights. While I might not always sympathize with the causes and concerns of those individuals who are hoping to make change, I choose to support the democratic processes that work to represent all Americans fairly, to ensure that their voices are heard and that this land remains their land."
I'm available for pageant coaching. My only fee is a commitment from my clients that they will sit through my three-hour diatribe on the ungodliness of beauty contests and pageants.
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