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There She Is...
Young Women and Beauty Pageants By Teri Brown
There are probably very few of us who don't know the old Miss America song, even if we didn't annually watch all those lovely women competing for the title of most beautiful woman in the United States. I remember sitting cross legged on the floor, eyes glued to the television set, picking and choosing who was the most beautiful of them all and waiting to see if the judges agreed. There was just something glamorous and exotic about beauty pageants.
In the decades since my childhood, watching pageants became a guilty pleasure, as they were often reviled as exploitive and anti-feminist. Only recently have pageants gained a reputation as being a wonderful experience for young women along with the bonus of offering some very hefty scholarships.
"Ever since I was a little girl, I remember watching the pageant on TV and dreaming of someday being up there on that stage," says Farrell. "It wasn't until my freshman year of high school that the pageant was really introduced to me."
Farrell's dance coach at her high school, who was also a family friend, once won the Miss Oregon USA pageant and encouraged her to try for the teen competition. Farrell participated in the Teen USA system for the next two years and each time placed in the top 10. She won the Miss Teen Oregon Pageant on her third try.
Farrell recommends the experience for other teens and young girls because of the opportunities you have to speak out on issues important to you. "It can be a way to really get to know yourself," says Farrell. "Not only do I get to spend the next year supporting and encouraging my peers, but I have also found and made new lifelong friendships during my two weeks in Palm Springs."