Miss USA Pageant Stops Pretending, Puts Contestants in Lingerie

Nicole Houde, Miss New Hampshire. Photo courtesy Miss Universe Org

The Miss USA pageant has always been Miss America’s more scandalous cousin. But, like the Miss America pageant, it still halfheartedly promoted itself as a guardian of femininity and tradition. But this year, it has given up on pretending to be traditional and modest, and has embraced its true trashy self by unveiling promotional photos of the girls not in ball gown – or even bikinis – but in black lingerie and smudged black makeup.

Sure, the Miss USA contestants of late aren’t exactly the definition of purity or conservative values – though Carrie Prejean, formerly a Miss California, became a darling of the right after answering a question (almost incoherently) revealing her non-support of gay marriage, she also was revealed to have made a sex tape and had breast implants. Not exactly the demure picture of womanhood pageant officials typically strive for. And then there’s Tara Conner, who was almost stripped of her crown when she tested positive for cocaine. Soon after, more racy photos of her partying surfaced.

Despite bringing a lot of shame to the organization, Conner now serves as a judge or the pageant, and of the lingerie photos, she told CBS: “Basically, a swimsuit is lingerie, just different material. So, I really don’t know why everyone has their panties in a wad, because it’s the same concept. You’re seeing the same amount of skin, but all of the goods are covered, so there’s really no issue.” Except, you know, a swimsuit is not lingerie, and despite the fact that they might reveal similar amounts of skin, there’s no way around the implications of sexy underwear.

Certainly this is just a stunt to drum up publicity for the pageant, as Miss America got booted from its home on TLC because of viewership, not to mention the fact that pageants now have to compete with much more scandalous TV fare, like “Jersey Shore,” or even the Victoria’s Secret runway show. If this were really the opportunity pageant officials claim it is, they would celebrate women of scholarship and distinction without putting them in a bikini or a bustier. But in a way, I appreciate the fact that the pageant isn’t even trying to maintain some false illusion that it represents wholesome, apple pie-baking country girls instead of fake-from-head-to-toe fame-seekers looking for a modeling contract or a Playboy spread.