A few days ago, I watched the 2011 Miss Universe pageant from the lovely comforts of my home. While I didn't catch the pageant in its entirety, I was able to cheer on the contestants and anxiously waited for the results. Nelly Kamwelu (Miss Universe Tanzania) won 7th place in Best National Costume. While she didn't make the top 10 or 5, I was happy to see pageant contestants from Tanzania get some shine. I was also able to catch a few glimpses of her throughout the pageant.
To make a long story short, a beauty (may I emphasize BLACK) from the country of ANGOLA stole the show. She was clearly a crowd favorite and eventually went on to win the crown of Miss Universe. I was screaming at the top of my lungs when she won! I was so happy for a number of reasons. First, most of the major pageant systems to tend to favor Eurocentric beauty standards of straight hair, narrow noses and other keen features. Most black women are far from that, with out round noses, most-often-than-not kinky hair and larger buttocks. I believe this deters many a black girl from even attempting to compete in a pageant due to the fear that they may not win due to their looks. However, I believe winning goes far beyond that. It is about one's essence, intellect, service to the community and public speaking skills. It is about making each and every single individual you encounter feel like they are your new best friend. It is about bring out the best in yourself and others. Clearly, Leila did well against the rest of her competition and won her crown fair and square.
When black women win these pageants and other accolades, there is usually some type of backlash because of a few things. One contestant, who shall remain nameless, made the following statement: "She was the only girl I didn’t know very well. We didn’t see her much.” Then she criticized her looks. “She was often in jeans and not wearing makeup. We were all surprised by her win."
You can be reserved and have a personality. Makeup is used to enhance one's beauty, not change it altogether. In addition, I would also like to add that contestants who place do well in their interviews, talent, evening gown and other segments which they will be judged. The winner is not chosen based on the final question, but rather their overall scores.
All in all, our current Miss Universe is black, from Angola and speaks Portuguese. She is beautiful, smart and clearly a role model. Let's celebrate it, be happy for another's success and be done with it.
To make a long story short, a beauty (may I emphasize BLACK) from the country of ANGOLA stole the show. She was clearly a crowd favorite and eventually went on to win the crown of Miss Universe. I was screaming at the top of my lungs when she won! I was so happy for a number of reasons. First, most of the major pageant systems to tend to favor Eurocentric beauty standards of straight hair, narrow noses and other keen features. Most black women are far from that, with out round noses, most-often-than-not kinky hair and larger buttocks. I believe this deters many a black girl from even attempting to compete in a pageant due to the fear that they may not win due to their looks. However, I believe winning goes far beyond that. It is about one's essence, intellect, service to the community and public speaking skills. It is about making each and every single individual you encounter feel like they are your new best friend. It is about bring out the best in yourself and others. Clearly, Leila did well against the rest of her competition and won her crown fair and square.
When black women win these pageants and other accolades, there is usually some type of backlash because of a few things. One contestant, who shall remain nameless, made the following statement: "She was the only girl I didn’t know very well. We didn’t see her much.” Then she criticized her looks. “She was often in jeans and not wearing makeup. We were all surprised by her win."
You can be reserved and have a personality. Makeup is used to enhance one's beauty, not change it altogether. In addition, I would also like to add that contestants who place do well in their interviews, talent, evening gown and other segments which they will be judged. The winner is not chosen based on the final question, but rather their overall scores.
All in all, our current Miss Universe is black, from Angola and speaks Portuguese. She is beautiful, smart and clearly a role model. Let's celebrate it, be happy for another's success and be done with it.
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