I'm not at all interested in pageants. On the other hand, it's nice to see full-figured, curvier beauties appreciated instead of the usual stick-thin models we're used to seeing on the covers of magazines and in the spreads. But other than that one aspect, I don't care. It's like the FIFA World Cup. I'm not going crazy over it, I'm not watching it, but I'm mildly pleased if my country wins. That's as far as I can take it.

Having once been a pageant contestant myself, I can vouch that the winner is not always chosen based on her looks, poise, or ability to answer those staged questions so well. Sometimes, there are political motivations behind it, or someone's sponsor has paid a good amount of contributions to the various organizations that run these pageants.

I don't regret my pageant experiences as I learned a lot, won some, lost some, and met people from different walks of life that I wouldn't have met if I hadn't entered those pageants.

I have never been a fan of these pageants. Especially the ones involving younger children that have unnecessary pressures placed on them by their parents. In my opinion these should be canceled because of the negative messages it sends to girls. Women can look at these and can see the farce and the hogwash behind these pageants but younger girls that are just discovering themselves might take these pageants the wrong way. Girls are probably comparing themselves to these contestants, thinking that this is the ideal of beauty, when it is not.

I think that these pageants should end but knowing that it won't then they should at least be updated to present real beauties from around the world. Because it amazes me how "Ms. Universe" always looks the same way and rarely represents the different Diasporas and beauties in our world. As well, the categories should be reminiscent of real contributions from these women, such as charity work contributions and whatnot, instead of being judged on the bikini they're wearing.

There are so many avenues for women with beauty and brains (or no brains) to make money and get exposure in North America. I don't understand why someone would got through the time and expense of the pageant circuit. It such a bizarre dream to have, in my opinion.

But truthfully, in some nations, this pageant still has a lot of weight. Which is why Latin American countries do so well at these contests.

Maybe they should start being "judged" on their everyday accomplishments instead of a 30 second answer that they are making up on the fly under pressure. But yah, I say scrap the whole thing. Trump, you're fired!