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Given $100K, any gal can be a beauty queen. Lift this, tuck that, alter a few features, pump up the chest with silicon boobs --paid for by the pageant board, no less, and, voila! Miss America, or Ms. California, or whatever.

More than exploitation my objection is "shallow, shallow, shallow" when we celebrate and laud one just for their genes and some plastic surgery.

well, GG said it all ...my opinion exactly

I still enjoy watching them.

but then LIGuy as a man you are not judged by such hard standards concerning your looks....I know that men are visual and I understand that....as an aging woman I will not even dye my hair...I am determined to grow old with grace....I take care of myself and that is enough IMO....is beauty that is enhanced by plastic surgery really beauty? It is different if you have a really large nose or something but so much plastic surgery is not needed in my mind...it is ok to be who we are.

In this day and age, can it not be argued that these contestants participate in and encourage their own exploitation? If that is the case, is it really exploitation? As long as there is money to be had for continuing pageants, they will continue.

Like GothamGal said (paraphrased): given enough money anyone can be a beauty queen contestant.

"Morals charge" - what morals? WHO'S morals? This isn't such a clear cut issue anymore.

Pamela....I believe in growing old gracefully too....I have wrinkles on my face....oh, excuse me....character lines....LOL....the old double standard. My hair is thin on top....a bit of gray around my temples....middle age spread....but I still look younger than my actual age. True beauty is within a person....it's what is in their heart that's important.

GG said shallow....she hit the nail right on the head. This society is so shallow in it's values....or should I say lack of values?

Kelly....it's always about money and power....with some people.

I like watching the cheerleaders do cartwheels.

The shallowness of it all is another example of where our society is at this point in time. So artificial and shallow. I don't like how it represents western society to the world. It gives the religious extremists another excuse to bomb and kill more people. It served its purpose in the 50's when we needed an emotional lift after the Depression and World War II ended, but I would like to think we've outgrown them by now (I hope we have anyway.) What I object to, and sickens me even more, are beauty pageants for children. What are we saying to the little girls whose parents force them into taking part in these pageants? That what's important is what is on the outside, not what is on the inside? It's also eye candy for the pedophiles in this world who kidnap children they find attractive in some sick way. I don't understand why these pageants haven't been stopped. It places women and children in an unsafe position. Opinions? Comments? anyone?

Well, JB, I think we should have male beauty pageants if we have female ones. LadyClaire I agree with you...and what about those little girls that dress up like grown woman and they have their own beauty pageants? That just gives me the shivers.