"Beauty is in the eye of the
beholder"
A couple
of weeks ago I overheard two men engaged in a rather “lively” conversation
concerning a news item.
“You mean
sey dat a big, big politician like dat no ha’ nuttin’ better fi do wid him time
but a comment ‘bout di beauty queen dem?” the man with the cornrow hairstyle
and sunglasses asked shaking his head in obvious disbelief.
“A dat we
a pay dem fi do! Fi WASTE WI TAX DOLLARS! Before him go look ‘bout di nation business;
go fix di pothole and bad road dem and create some job fi di yute dem inna ‘im
constituency ‘im a talk ‘bout who no shape good!! Massa Gad help wi inna dis yah
country!! Look what ‘im a focus pon?! Eeeh??? Big Member of Parliament like dat
a talk say di gurl shape like di Jamaican economy to #$%%&***#!!!” replied
the older gentleman with a washed-out red towel over his head.
“See it
deh! ‘im have to apologize to di young lady ‘cause dat a pure careless talk fi
one leader! And even ef she nuh shape good a she dem gi di best figure prize!!!”
the younger man said.
Were it
not for this exchange and reading a subsequent newspaper article, I would have
remained totally clueless as to what was taking place. The reason is, I had
stopped watching or following up local and international beauty contests for about
a decade or so believe it or not. Although my little island has a record of producing
winners and top ranked contestants in the Miss World and Miss Universe
contests, I personally thought there was a general “decline” in the “caliber”
of contestants, some were actually “ugly” and the contests seemed superficial and
boring.
Even the
introduction of the phrase “Beauty with a purpose” did not change my view or
rekindle my zeal for watching the contests. Folks seem to forget that these are
BEAUTY CONTESTS! The contestant is supposed to be BEAUTIFUL AND have
“purpose” and “brains”. However, these are not intellectual contests and so even
if you are a doctor, lawyer or Indian chief, if you are “not” beautiful then
please DON’T enter the contests!!
Yes, I
know it seems as if my color is “green” from envy of the “beauties” but I
actually am not. Beauty is indeed in the eyes of the beholder and some
beholders need glasses, truth be told! I am almost CERTAIN some of the
contestants were “tricked” by “well meaning” family and friends! N-E-V-E-R E-V-E-R listen to family and friends as they
love you “unconditionally” and will tell you anything and everything to boost
your self-esteem and/or ego. How many times have you heard the contestants say “my
family and friends encouraged me to enter”?
Many
years ago, I knew a young lady who somehow thought she was beauty queen
material. Without sounding too mean I often wondered WHY or better yet WHO was
telling her that she had a chance of winning? She was an AVERAGE looking girl
who with make-up looked attractive enough but NOT pretty. She was not eloquent
or very intelligent whereby you could overlook what she lacked in the “looks”
department. Without exaggeration, she entered every conceivable contest and always
dropped out without even making the top ten. Worse of all it was costing her as
she had to be buying outfits etc. She FINALLY got the drift when she was
unsuccessful in the Festival Queen competition!
Clearly
Ellie is not beauty contest material by even a stretch of the imagination…let’s
just say “I am beautiful on the inside” besides my being an outspoken
individual and not always “politically correct” would not augur well for an
aspiring contestant. For example, one recurring question is/was “Why did you
enter the contest?” The response invariably is: “To get some exposure”. What
sort of exposure, I wonder? Of course, parading on stage before hundreds of
persons decked in bikini and high heels; that seems to be enough exposure
alright!!!!
If I were
a contestant and was asked that question, I would look the interviewer in the
eye and without batting an eyelid respond: “I am in it for THE MONEY! The cash
prizes; the car; the chance to travel all over the world, that’s why I entered!!”
Anyway,
these contestants should all be rewarded for their bravery as the hecklers in
the crowd can be a mean bunch!
People
are like stained - glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,
but when the darkness sets in; their true beauty is revealed only if there is a
light from within.
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
