MISS UNIVERSE OR MRS. UNIVERSE?

MOISES B. LOBO

Married women and those with children are now qualified to join the 72nd Miss Universe beauty pageant starting year 2023, according to Miss Universe Organization President Paula Shugart. The beauty pageant isn’t called Miss Universe for nothing. Why would you allow married women to join this pageant where in the first place, the title of the competition speaks the qualification itself?

We’ve preserved the traditional qualifications of the Miss Universe pageant for over 70 years, and now, it will change suddenly? What for? According to Shugart, “The organization didn’t want to preclude someone from competing if they felt that they could handle that job”. We’re not excluding them; it’s just a matter of fact that we should respect the purity of the pageant. The main essence of the event is to show the virtue of a woman. Therefore, allowing married women and those with children, will neglect the natural spirit of the said competition.

The courtesy title “Miss” is only allowed for women who are not yet married; therefore, it is clearly stated that Miss Universe pageant is for ladies only. If you want to let married women to boost their confidence and join such beauty pageants, then they should join a spare pageant which will fit their status, not a pageant that will show their differences from the other candidates. If that’s the case then, why don’t we just provide a pageant that speaks the qualities of married women, instead of combining them in one competition.

Equality isn’t the matter here; it’s about respect and justice for unmarried women. Separating married women from this competition is not discrimination. We’re just giving unmarried women their time to express the beauty, purity, and chance to outstand and speak their selves.

-oOoThe author is Teacher at San Miguel Academy Incorporated