Some beauty queens are made, not born
Published on May 15, 2005 - Behind the winning smile lies months of gruelling training. The women of the Miss Universe competition may make it look easy with their relaxed attitudes, God-sent bodies and confident public speeches.
But behind the scenes they have to attend months of virtual “boot camp” training to keep their bodies in top shape and to promote their mental strength.
Winning the title brings so much prestige that some countries, like Venezuela, have started special schools to groom and train aspiring beauty queens.
The success of Venezuela on the international beauty queen stage – with four Miss Universe titles and many runners-up – is an example of hard work and strong ambition.
According to the US-based Brooklyn Rail magazine, the first steps towards taking part in beauty pageants are enrolling in the schools. Osmel Sousa’s Miss Venezuela Academy selects around 20 girls from over two thousand participants to join six months of intensive training for the Miss Venezuela contest.
They learn how to apply the right amount of make-up, pose during photo-ops and choose the right clothes.
Sousa’s Academy works with a team of professionals, including fitness trainer, plastic surgeon, dermatologist and dentist to help the girls improve on all areas of their natural beauty.
Brooklyn Rail said the girls were expected to improve their muscle tone and lose up to 10 kilos in weight. They stretch, run, lift weights, hike, swim and do yoga every day. Their diet consists of tuna, green salads and pineapple.
In Venezuela, many girls between the ages of five and 10 are sent by their parents to beauty academies, where they attend six hours of classes a week to learn proper etiquette, such as how to greet callers on the phone or how to hold a salad fork.
Miss Belize Andrea Elrington said competitors from countries such as Venezuela and Puerto Rico had an advantage over those from Asia and Africa because the beauty pageant business is taken very seriously. They train intensely from a very young age.
“I don’t think it’s a lack of intelligence or beauty with the other countries, rather a lack of preparation that’s necessary to come here and compete at such a high level,” she said.
Piyarat Thesbontri, head of PR at Channel 7, which is an official sponsor of Miss Thailand Universe, said local candidates begin training in make-up, hairdressing, and walking and sitting properly only three weeks before the Miss Thailand Universe contest.
The winner then undergoes a one-day make-up course and works on her physical appearance for some weeks. She gets a personal coach to take care of her weight, her exercise regime and instructions in walking and posing styles.
“It’s a must for Miss Thailand Universe to get training in the wai and Thai dance. She has to take this instruction seriously,” Piyarat said.
Miss Jamaica Racquel Wright said she had prepared well for Miss Universe 2005. Before she won her local title on April 17, she took part in a two-month preparation class.
“I attended a voice and speech course, learned how to walk properly and got the chance to increase my knowledge of the world,” she said.
Miss Nigeria Roseline Amusu said she also took part in various speech classes and learnt how to move on a catwalk.
Besides getting into shape and finding a swimsuit and evening gown, training for interviews is one of the most important tasks for beauty pageant contestants from the United States.
According to the US publication, the Reno Gazette Journal, many American contestants at the local level are not only trying to win a title but get the chance for a scholarship to pay education fees. About 40 per cent of US competitions are judged on interviews, so the contestants have to be well-spoken and up-to-date with current events.
Besides Venezuela, India has a strong reputation for turning out beauty queens.
According to Susan Runkle’s research into the nascent beauty industry in South Asia, most of the finalists for the Miss India title come from urban areas.
Twenty-three out of several thousand contestants get to join a 30-day Miss India pageant training school where they put in a punishing work schedule of 15 hours a day. The contestants attend fitness classes twice a day, which involve mostly aerobic exercise, and have all of their meals catered by a dietician.
Every aspect of the Miss India pageant employs the best-known people in the glamour industry – a fashion designer, dietician, dermatologist, hair stylist, make-up artist, a personal trainer and dental surgeon. The entourage also includes a diction coach, the head of an art foundation, a photographer and a spiritual guide.
Contestants’ lives during this time are strictly controlled. From skin care to diction to diet to spirituality, it seems the effort and hard work earns high rewards, judging by the success of Indian beauty pageant contestants over the years.
While the ultimate winner gains countless opportunities, the losers generally find the effort they have put in is not wasted. The exposure they get through the pageant draws offers for jobs such as television reporter, modelling, image consultants, actresses and even politicians.
|
