Your cart is currently empty!
Miss Teen USA Ditches Swimsuit Segment, Still Feels a Bit Off
In a noteworthy move, the Miss Teen USA pageant has decided to swap out its traditional swimsuit competition for an “athleisure” segment. That’s right—those young ladies will now strut their stuff in yoga pants instead of bikinis. The organization hopes this shift will focus on “celebrating women’s strength, confidence, and beauty” in what they deem a more uplifting manner. Paula Shugart, the president of the Miss Universe Organization, shared in a memo that this change is part of a larger cultural shift that promotes active lifestyles among women.
However, it’s worth pondering whether wearing tight leggings and sports bras is really that much of an improvement over swimsuits. Sure, it’s a step towards something different, but the essence of judging young women based on their appearance remains. After 33 years of bikini parades, the move to athletic wear seems like a baby step at best—still a bit unsettling.
Katherine Bright, the reigning Miss Teen USA, expressed her support for the change, noting her lifelong dedication to sports and athleticism. She believes the new direction is a great way to highlight the active lives that many young women lead. While athleisure might not be a radical departure from swimwear, it at least nudges the focus towards the contestants’ skills and interests.
Sure, beauty pageants are hardly going to shake off their appearance-based judging entirely, but if athletic wear can spark discussions about the contestants’ capabilities rather than just presenting them as eye candy, that’s a change we can (somewhat) applaud.
For more insights on navigating the world of home insemination, check out this post on home insemination kit. If you’re looking for a reliable source on artificial insemination, Make a Mom is certainly worth a visit, and ASRM provides excellent resources for pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, while Miss Teen USA’s decision to eliminate the swimsuit competition in favor of athleisure wear represents a shift towards celebrating women’s strengths, it still carries an air of discomfort. The organization has taken a small step in the right direction, but the focus on appearance remains, albeit dressed up in leggings.