For the first time in the 88 years of the Miss America pageant, the winner is from Indiana. Katie Stam, a University of Indianapolis
communications major, hails from Seymour.
Stam, 22, plans to emphasize community service as a goodwill ambassador for pageant partner Childrenâ??s Miracle Network.
What are your thoughts about the pageant or, for that matter, the broader pageant culture? Is it the wholesome slice of Americana as organizers like to portray it? A beauty contest with token side shows?
And what about University of Indianapolis hopes for a windfall of good PR? Will having a Miss America from campus help the institution?
Stam, 22, plans to emphasize community service as a goodwill ambassador for pageant partner Childrenâ??s Miracle Network.
What are your thoughts about the pageant or, for that matter, the broader pageant culture? Is it the wholesome slice of Americana as organizers like to portray it? A beauty contest with token side shows?
And what about University of Indianapolis hopes for a windfall of good PR? Will having a Miss America from campus help the institution?
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As for the good looks, that we gravitate to the pretty is a sad fact of life that turns up in all situations - even in presidential elections.
I have not been a fan of the pageants because of how some people (from the pageant) that I have came across has acted in public (around me, atleast). I am not saying all of them are that way. I am sure that Stam is a nice enjoyable person to be around. I just hope that she can help change the steriotype of these pageants. and bring a brighter light on them and a better outlook in the way we view them.
I agree with JM above, if it is all about intelligent young women who will be sitting in the corner office some day, what does it matter what they look like in a bathing suit? Let the pageant evolve with society and perhaps it won't be so offensive to intelligent women and girls.
I have never been able to compete with good looking males. It never offended me and I just keep working with what the best the good Lord gave me.
For me, the swimsuit competitiion is but a glance of the person, the talent and discussion is a greater glimpse of their being and perhaps helps me the viewer understand what they are made of. Isn't that what the creator intended?
-I'm from New Jersey. The pageant meant something to the state when it was in Atlantic City. It had personality. Now, well...
--I was also a judge for the Miss Indiana pageant one year (feeding into Miss America) and was amazed by the amount of charitable work and positive stuff these young women were involved in. Yes, I'm sure a percentage of it was to make them more pageant-friendly but, still, it was a very impressive group.
--Most of the off-stage, preliminary competition has to to with the interview. That's usually trivialized in the broadcast.
--All that being said, only a certain range of physical types will ever make it into the pageant.
--Lou
Regardless of how you feel about pageants overall, most of the contestants, as Katie exemplifies, are intelligent, well rounded young ladies who are involved with many charities and worth while organizations and who provide a good role model for others.
Instead of debating the worthiness of pageants, I would think Hoosiers would be celebrating Katie's accomplishment. I know that I am thankful that such an articulate, bright young lady represented our community with such success. It is refreshing that the spotlight is on our state for such a positive reason!