Opinion: Has Pageant Culture Died?
posted by Breyonna Hardy | April 21, 2023 | In News, OpinionOn March 21, two men and six women started their promotion, while securing their declaration in the 2023 Mr. and Miss FSU Pageant.
The eight contestants for 31st Miss Fayetteville State University and the 20th Mr. Fayetteville State University are junior nursing major Jalon McAllister-Smith, junior business administration Michael Woodley-Chapman, junior music education major NaCosha Hammock, junior race and public health major Iyana Beachem, junior chemistry major Asia Hammock, sophomore political science major Niayah McFadden, junior nursing major Jayla Herring, and junior political science major Jadelyn Velasquez.
While I’m happy for those that are running to become the next Mr. and Miss FSU, I also find it shocking that Asia Hammock is running as she already reigns as the 81st Miss Fayetteville State University.
Running for presidency again is one thing but running for queen of the university again is raising eyebrows, especially for people that have invested in pageant culture at FSU since the beginning.
The Preamble of FSU’s Student Government Association Constitution states that “the students at Fayetteville State University, aim to promote student success and the pursuit of excellence, shared governance, global responsibility and collaboration.” The preamble also states how the student body has the right to express themselves freely while staying grounded in the historical ideals and traditions upon which our institution was founded.
Miss America doesn’t run again after the selected woman has won the title, even with Queen Elizabeth II, when she was given the crown passed down by her father, she reigned for more than 70 years until her death, I don’t think Queen Elizabeth II would have tried to reclaim her crown in the event of her vacating or passing it down.
And this is not Britain. This isn’t the American Presidency election either. This is pageant culture at FSU where the tradition has been sacred and dear to those who had reigned as Mr. and Miss FSU and those who invest in it. Now this tradition is in jeopardy because someone who already has the crown is running again.
Has the allure of pageant culture been tainted by other considerations?
There have been many changes in the pageant culture, but it has been for the worse. It has become more about investing in what they look like and appearances instead of investing in their talents and what the contestants can bring to the table. With reigning Queens running again to remain supreme of the university, if pageant culture wasn’t already heading to its demise, this revelation now can help speed up the process.
Its not fair that the current Miss FSU can run again while the other legendary Miss FSUs had to concede and pass the throne to next woman who will reign as queen of Fayetteville State University for the year.
I applaud her for having the courage to run again, but also, I feel like her running again is stripping the opportunity from the other girls such as, Hammock, Beachem, McFadden, Herring, and Velasquez in the event she wins again.
I felt like she did what she was supposed to do as the 81st Miss FSU and now its time to pass the crown to the next woman and give one of these dedicated ladies a once in a lifetime opportunity to become Miss FSU and bring what they will bring to the court.
It’s okay to make new traditions, but not one that can jeopardize everything for which FSU stands.
Photo from 2022 Miss FSU Coronation by Jacqueline Leibman
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