It's wild to me that some public high schools still hold beauty pageants.

I remember in 1992 arguing with a teacher who claimed my high school didn’t hold any exclusive events.

“What about Miss Heritage?” I asked. “Isn’t a beauty pageant exclusive?”

No, he said, because anyone can participate. It’s a scholarship competition.

I sat in my seat and seethed. Why was this man assuming EVERYONE could participate? Could EVERYONE buy or rent an expensive gown, get their hair and makeup done? And could EVERYONE achieve the absurd level of specific gendered beauty expected in said pageant?

I remembered all this after seeing photos on FB from the same pageant, still going strong, held last night. And the same reframing that it’s a “scholarship” competition in which everyone is encouraged to participate.

C’mon y’all.