Julie Anne's Blog

To Strut or Not to Strut?

Posted Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Hello, readers!

This morning I stumbled upon an article about a British beauty queen/soldier who is campaigning to get the swimsuit competition eliminated in British pageants.

Of course, this piece of news piqued my interest.

You can read the full story here: http://ow.ly/16RL1Y

I know that this topic is long been debated and there were actually two public votes in the last decade or so, and those votes illustrated that the general public likes the swimsuit competition. But? I still think this is a worthy discussion - after all, it keeps coming up.

I have been puzzling over exactly what I think about this, and it's kind of a two-part answer.

Do I think there is a better way to show judges that pageant contestants are physically fit? Yes, I do.

Do I think the swimsuit competition should be eliminated? No, I do not.

I love the swimsuit competition. I love the tradition of it, the glamor surrounding it - I think it's kind of a cornerstone of our pageant and I would honestly be sad to see it go. I would prefer the contestants to walk barefoot and wear more colorful swimsuits - but I'm not going to get greedy.

I don't think that a title was ever won in the swimsuit competition - and by that I mean, it's a highly publicized portion of the competition that ultimately has very little bearing on the overall results. Still - I would be sad to see it go.

As far as proving fitness in contestants, I really don't have any ideas. Do some flexing? Lift some weights? I would like all contestants to be healthy and fit - but that means different things for different people. I mean - you can have a very healthy contestant with NO coordination - I'd hate to throw her in a fitness routine and say, "Prove yourself!"

So maybe the swimsuit competition IS the best way to prove fitness. Maybe the swimsuits themselves aren't the problem - it's our views of health and fitness that maybe need to be readjusted.

What do YOU think?

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Comments

Lu Haynes from Kansas:
Most suits are tooooo skimmpy and they should consider going back to one-piece suits--

Share from Iowa:
A swim suit is the hardest piece of clothing for people to strut around in. I have done the pageants and swim wear and even bumps on your bikini line give you nightmares. I dont want to see it go, but I think their needs to be a revamp in the outfit. I would love to see color and not a standard style. Each contestant should be able to choose from the 100s of suits out there not a select few. I agree with going to one piece. It tames the sexy a bit, but still gives appearance of being fit. I would also like to see a bend in the rules. Of those who think swim wear is offensive or against their culture, they should have an option that is ok by the board as an alternative. I would like to see more full figured women in the running. Someone could be in perfect health and still look a little fuller. But the image is the only people who can pull a swimsuit off are the skinny. I used to be 120 when I competed in pageants and it was tough. I got slimmer and started haveing more sucess....that is where I dont think its right. My doctor said my health was fine, I just had baby fat hanging about....I think a lifestyle resume should be submited. Something that represents the things you do to shows health, and even take a physical test. So if you claim to constantly run everyday, they can ask you to run. If you claim that you eat salad all day they might ask you the ingrediants. I will hop off my soap box now:)

PageantMom from Washington:
Guaranteed swimsuit favors the thinner girls. Not all women are built that way. However, in a time when our nation is becoming more and more obese (and at a younger age), fitness is more important than ever. But I would definately favor a well-cut one-piece swimsuit that flatters more than one figure type. Its not all about abs--there is way too much giggle on girls bottom ends these days.

To Strut or Not to Strut?

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