Miss California Alyssa Campanella became Miss USA 2011. Despite this victory, it turns out that beauty contests are rooted in failure.
A new slideshow from Slate.com explains the history of the competitions. This starts with a rocky beginning:
The circus magnate P.T. Barnum founded the modern American beauty contest in 1854, when he invited women to flaunt their figures in front of judges. Unfortunately, the contest was derided as low-brow and scurrilous. But Barnum tried again: This time, he asked participants to submit daguerreotypes—early versions of photographs printed on metal plates—for judgment. The more subdued format took off.
Failure is the secret to success. If Barnum had not chose to deal with the negative commentary, we might never have a Miss USA pageant and Miss Campanella might not have her crown.
But wait, why is it Miss USA and not Miss America? It turns out that there are two separate competitions. Back in 1950, Yolande Betbeze became the next Miss America. Betbeze had attended a convent school and wasn’t so sure about being photographed in her swimsuit photos. A major sponsor pulled out and decided to start their own pageant. Today, both events are owned by the same company.