The New Universe

The recent Miss Universe pageant was a crowd drawer as it welcomed new guidelines into the pageant. For starters, they accepted transgender women, which was a highly-contested subject of debate. They also accepted females who were already mothers, which was a taboo then. The former organizers only wanted single and biological females to seemingly represent the whole of the universe. It was a welcome decision. The clamor of these sectors was finally heard. Their representation into this big stage is now realized, a long dream that was fought for. However, will it become the norm?

My friends and I were discussing the possible implications of the show, as it is a prime mover in popular culture. It will definitely break stereotypes and blur the guidelines of pageantry. Then again, we also scrutinize what pageantry is all about. To me, it is beyond looks, beauty, style, poise, and elegance. It is what a person can do, in a short period, with the crown on her head. It is a symbol of women empowerment that would soon sprawl to equality. The unheard voices due to traditional patriarchal systems are now audible, because of this new platform.

Indeed, we are in a new universe. Gender roles are now disassociated with biological sex. We are now embracing the diversity of the literal universe. When the top 20 delegates were announced, it was a breath of fresh air to finally see Middle Eastern countries, a plus-sized contender, and those of color. The pageant has given us a new lens to the world, that it is not all black and white. There is a lot more to see and discover. We hope this continues until the next years to come.

On the other hand, it will deliver pressure to other pageant organizations in keeping up with the times. The way I see it, it is an evolution of how we relate to one another. Just like technology, we keep on adapting, adjusting until it finally becomes ordinary. The only thing to worry about is the capitalizing of these new sectors which lead to inauthentic campaigns for their representation. As this is something new, we should be wary and vigilant that they will not be used for the sake of just selling.

I'm excited to see what this new beauty queen can do for the rest of the world, or the universe rather. Her presence and voice will be instrumental to advocacy campaigns all over the globe. Miss Nicaragua's love for animals and in recognizing mental health issues will go a long way in the different discourses in society.

She may be beautiful but she is also a reminder that societal norms can change and that the world is not just about men. Her answer on opening the income gap between genders will take part in future discussions of business leaders. This is a development to our socio-political sphere. I only hope it doesn't go backwards from there.