Beauty pageants reveal power and priorities

The Uneasy Alliance of Capitalism andPatriarchy

• The controversy surrounding beauty pageants is rooted in the uneasy alliance of capitalism and patriarchy.

• The pageant’s evaluation based on physical appearance remains a concern, as it is stylised performances tailored for consumption.

The Voices of Participants

• Participation in beauty pageants is seen as an aspirational opportunity for young women, especially from countries with limited female visibility.

• However, beauty pageants often package women’s bodies for public consumption and corporate sponsorships, resulting in conditional empowerment.

Governments’ Choices and Empowerment

• The choice to host beauty pageants over international forums on women’s health, employment, innovation, or rural development reflects patriarchal mindsets.

• The focus should be on everyday dignity, access, and agency, not just global visibility.

No Binaries

• The conversation around beauty pageants should not be polarized into ‘for’ or ‘against’ binaries but should be an opportunity to question collective values and define empowerment in the 21st century.