Gay marriage row at Miss USA show

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Gay marriage row at Miss USA show
20
Wed, 04-22-2009 - 10:04am

Should a beauty contestant be asked about a hot button issue?

Miss USA California Responds To Gay Marriage Question From Perez Hilton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XMvviFbkf0&feature=related

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8009359.stm
The runner-up at the Miss USA beauty pageant says her outspoken opposition to gay marriage cost her first place in the competition.

During the televised event, Carrie Prejean - Miss California - said she believed that "a marriage should be between a man and a woman".

She had been asked for her views on the subject by one of the judges, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton.

"It did cost me my crown," said Ms Prejean, after the competition.

The eventual winner of the pageant was Kristen Dalton, Miss North Carolina.

'Alienated'

"We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage," said Ms Prejean, in a section of the show that has become a popular clip on YouTube.

"I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman," she continued.

"No offence to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."

The remarks drew a mixture of booing and applause from the audience.

Speaking after the show, which was broadcast on Sunday evening in the US, Ms Prejean said: "I wouldn't have had it any other way. I said what I feel. I stated an opinion that was true to myself and that's all I can do."

Hilton said he had been "floored" by Ms Prejean's answer, which, he said, "alienated millions of gay and lesbian Americans, their families and their supporters".

He told ABC News: "She lost it because of that question. She was definitely the front-runner before that."

Keith Lewis, who runs the Miss California competition, released a statement condemning Ms Prejean's comments.

"As co-director of the Miss California USA, I am personally saddened and hurt that Miss California believes marriage rights belong only to a man and a woman."

The issue of same-sex marriage is a flashpoint in American politics.

Four US states now allow gay marriage, but many other states have passed legislation outlawing it.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2009
Wed, 04-22-2009 - 11:15am
Definitely they should be asked hot button questions. The judges can disagree with the answers, but they're supposed to evaluate the poise of the contestant while explaining her reasoning. If she articulated her points well, then her position on the issue is secondary to her ability to think on her feet and present a cogent thought without getting flustered.

 

Community Leader
Registered: 04-05-2002
Wed, 04-22-2009 - 11:33am
Definitely.





iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Wed, 04-22-2009 - 11:49am

"...her response was painful--what in the world is opposite marriage? Is that the Schwarznegger/Shriver, Matlin/Carville union?"


LOL She sounded like a future

 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Wed, 04-22-2009 - 11:58am

It's just that "Beauty Pagents" focus mainly on the skin deep type of beauty.


Shouldn't a nationwide contest have already eliminated someone that can't articulate their opinion if this is what's expected?

 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2009
Wed, 04-22-2009 - 12:31pm
This business with these questions at beauty pageants is to see how flustered (thus evaluate poise) the contestant gets. Apparently, there is no way to determine poise other than to parade the young women out there in expensive evening gowns and put them on the spot with a question that they may not have previously thought about. If only the judges asked "what is your favorite color and why?" The contestant could say "Orange is my favorite color because....blah...blah...blah."

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2009
Wed, 04-22-2009 - 12:44pm

I could be wrong, but I think since the 70's they've billed it as being about scholarships, etc., instead of as a beauty pageant.

Kate

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Wed, 04-22-2009 - 1:08pm

Yes, these hot-button topics should be discussed even at that level.


iVillage Member
Registered: 12-31-2008
Wed, 04-22-2009 - 1:39pm

Where I didn't watch the pageant, I did see the clip of Miss CA answering the question that Perez Hilton asked her.

It is hard to know if she truly lost because of her answer, but Perez Hilton should know better than to ask a question like that if he is not prepared to hear her answer. I actually admire her for standing up for her views (even though I don't agree with them) than "caving" in and giving the politically correct answer that Perez wanted to hear.

He showed ZERO class when he viciously attacked her on his blog.

In light of what happened, perhaps the pageant officials should review the scores again and take out what ever 'points' they got or didn't get for answering the questions. I am not sure how these things are calculated....but it would seem like the fair thing to do. In my opinion, Perez should be bared from ever being a judge again since he clearly showed he wasn't in it to be fair.

A contestant shouldn't be penalized for her answer to a controversial question.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Thu, 04-23-2009 - 9:40am

"these hot-button topics should be discussed even at that level"

She didn't answer the question well IMO. The same question has been asked of people in politics, at all levels, law & religion but how many of them give an honest answer? Instead most give an answer that their audience wants to hear. I thought the question was inappropriate given the venue.

I don't watch these pageants & to be honest see them as superficial & degrading.

bird-1.jpg New picture by 1944misty

 


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Community Leader
Registered: 04-05-2002
Thu, 04-23-2009 - 11:54am

"I don't watch these pageants & to be honest see them as superficial & degrading."


I agree.






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