Fun Fashion

Fun Fashion for Who?

I recently returned from a National Pageant Competition utterly dazed and confused as to what exactly Fun Fashion is. At this particular pageant, this portion of the competition was worth 25% of the overall score, and billed as a way for the contestant who is twelve years of age or older to show her personal fashion and sense of style. 

This pageant does not pre-approve the outfits nor the contestants' "sense of style"; the selection of clothing and the routine is left to the imagination and judgment of the contestant, her family, and the State Director.  I spent over an hour being "entertained" by the risque behavior of many of the girls and young women, many of who were dressed inappropriate for their age.  I began questioning exactly where I was.  As the contestants came out on the stage, one by one, either acting flirtatiously or in a suggestive manner, I began to wonder if I had wandered into a strip tease show.  Yes, at a National Pageant.  I must add, not all of the contestants wore clothing so tight there was little left to the imagination, nor did they all walk directly in front of the judge’s quivering their lips while flashing their thighs. Ahhhh. I'm not a prude, but I recognize innapproriate when I see it.

Yes, it was definitely a show...one leaving me with a bad taste in my mouth. Is this a positive experience for the girls and young women?  I began thinking maybe, perhaps, I was simply from an area of the United States where this type of behavior on stage is not acceptable, but that it might be A-OK in other parts of the country.  Regardless, I question: Since a National Pageant is a coming together of girls, teens and young women from across the country, from all states and territories, and obviously what is acceptable in one region is not acceptable in another…..exactly how fair is this portion of the competition? 

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