9 crazy facts about beauty pageants

We only see part of the show, but we do not know what is happening behind the scenes.

There is a lot behind the perfect snow-white smiles, golden sparkles and voluminous hairstyles. One of the participants in the Miss Black Texas beauty pageant said that everything that happens in the pageant is a theatrical performance. Beauty pageants have been held since the 1850s, and during this time, standards and rules are changing all the time. However, there are facts that may surprise many.

How was the first competition

Few people know that the first competition was organized in 1854 by the legendary circus showman Phineas Taylor Barnum. He was so risky that instead of a live performance of the girls, Barnum simply asked for photographs of the contestants to evaluate their beauty.

The Miss America contest has been held annually due to the increase in the level of tourists

The Miss America pageant was the first to provide an incentive to keep tourists in Atlantic City after Labor Day. In 1920, a parade of beautiful women took place in the city, hoping that tourists would be intrigued and extend their vacation, Time reports. The following year, the parade was turned into Miss America and the first winner was 16-year-old Margaret Gorman from Washington, DC.

Evaluation of the parameters of the contestants

In 1935, at a beauty pageant in Dallas, girls were forced to pose in swimsuits inside wooden planks. It happened like this: a silhouette of a girl in profile was cut out on a wooden panel, if she stood in it and her dimensions fully corresponded to the cut, then she was boldly selected for the next stage.

Standards are getting smaller every time

According to the Today edition, in 1930, the average body mass index of the participant was supposed to be 20,8. In 2010, it was already 16,9. Note that, according to the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute, a BMI below 18,1 is considered insufficient and unhealthy.

In order for a girl to participate in a beauty contest, she undergoes plastic surgery at the age of 12

Venezuela has the most beauty pageant winners. There are six Miss World winners in this country, seven Miss Universe and six Miss International. In this South American country, girls go to school, learn to talk, walk properly and imagine themselves crowned beauties. It is at the age of 12 that bootcamps encourage girls to undergo plastic surgery.

Smells awful behind the scenes

While the stage is overflowing with beauties with perfect makeup, voluminous hairstyles and lush outfits, things are very different behind the scenes. The smell of bodies, sweat, synthetic clothes, the scent of varnish, perfume and other cosmetics – all this is mixed and has no relation to beauty.

Vaseline is used for a perfect smile

The participants have one secret that absolutely everyone uses. To keep smiling on stage, girls apply petroleum jelly to their teeth – due to the fact that this product has a slippery texture and an unpleasant taste, girls have to keep their mouths open.

The waist of the girls is the merit of the hemorrhoid cream

When you look at the contestants, it seems as if they are only doing what they are dieting and going to sports. However, the secret of their ideal waist is in the ointment for hemorrhoids and in the film, which is wrapped around the waist and only then is sent to the treadmill.

Girls use glue and duct tape

The contestants are worried about their reputation, so before the fashion show in swimsuits, they use special glue and adhesive tape to fix the swimming trunks so that they do not slip. As one of the former Miss America says in an interview, this happens quite often.

Leave a Reply