An Ageold Tradition

I remember it from my childhood. Back when television was four regular channels, and one local channel. 'Here she comes, Miss America.' Back then it was even more of a national event I think. There weren't as many shows to get excited about, and a national beauty contest was quite a thrill, not to mention for most people's thoughts, quite an honor. Beauty pagents have taken their hits over the years since then mostly in regards to exploitation, but in reality they do a lot to advance the lives of the young women who take part in them from scolarships to travel opprotunity to careers in the entertainment world. There's also been a lot said for the backstabbing and even dirty tricks between the contestants of such high-profile contests, but that could be said about just about every form of competition sadly, so it's not really fair to judge a beauty pagent by such things.

All in all the fact that the 2007 contestants are gearing up in Vegas for the 86th (yes 86th!) running of the Miss America pagent is still a thrilling and prideful event. I hope Illinois wins!