With Sara Milliken’s recent National American Miss Alabama crown and Jane Dipika Garrett’s Miss Universe Nepal 2023 milestone, many have posed the question… are there plus size beauty pageants?
While organizations have since broadened their inclusiveness, we’ve long known competitors to have a stereotypical look for the stage. Generally, in the earlier days of the pageant world, girls/women with slender statures were the holy grail. The associations heavily mirrored the mainstream modeling industry, with a hyper-focus on picture-perfect bodies and the pretty privilege that comes along with it.
While race and sexual identity discrimination have often been a topic in the diversity conversation concerning pageants, weight has notoriously spearheaded these discussions. Truthfully, socially classified “obese” individuals still aren’t a part of modern-day beauty standards.
So, when a full-figured queen is seen strutting in front of the judges, even today, it’s controversial for many in the media. However, honoring the female aura and appearance shouldn’t stop at a certain number on the scale, nor should the embracement of larger people be deemed “promoting obesity.”
These days, voluptuous contestants have a lane crafted specifically for them that prioritizes…
