Beauty pageants. Of all the many, many symbols of human vanity, no institution can lay claim to more
bruised and inflated egos than the American beauty pageant circuit. Even
without getting into the horrors when the pageants are for children (lest we
remember that Honey Boo Boo is on the conscience of our species), the whole
enterprise is just… weird. Not to mention disheartening, as this kind of
superficial road show almost seems designed to make women feel bad about
themselves. I mean, sure, most of us would probably prefer someone who looks
like they subsist on more than just crackers and tap water, but even with that
in mind, seeing women get praised for their surface-level details? Not exactly
the best thing for the old self-confidence.