Poorly written scripts or #AdLibFAIL?

I read this super funny post today entitled 10 Awkward Utterances During the Swimsuit Competition. Thank God I wasn’t the only one noticing the weirdness of the “corny skybox commentators Jeannie Mai and Shandi Finnessey.” Below are the silliest ones.

 

3. Miss Australia

“She holds a special interest in holistic health. In fact, health is the first section she reads in the newspaper. First of all, the fact that she’s even picking up a newspaper? Smart and beautiful.”

(Ummm…What is the world coming to, if our measure of intelligence is the mere act of reading a newspaper?!)

2. Miss Netherlands

“She wants to be a child psychologist. But right now, she’s a male psychologist.”
“I know a lot of men that would want to lay on her couch.”

(Huwaaaat?!?)

 

1. Miss Ukraine (the runner-up)

“You know what? It may be sarong, but it’s so right.”

(Womp womp womp…super corny!)

I wonder who wrote their scripts or were they ad libbing as well? I hope they get better writers AND hosts next time. It was all just so plastic this year (even more than before)

I know not everyone agrees with beauty pageants, but to many pageants are a welcome reprieve from normal life, where women are impossibly gorgeous and living the life of the rich and famous. I myself love watching them, but I need to keep telling myself that it is not a realistic measure of beauty and than it’s okay not to look like that. So I know that these things have an effect on our self-image and esteem. As with everything you watch and read, we need to be critical and not just take it all in.

The Pageant Itself

I watched the pageant without TVCs and guess what?!? It felt so short and fast paced! I guess more time is needed for the sponsors (aka cash cows). We all know that there is money involved in this endeavor, however of all the years, this is the one where I really felt that the production and dresses (the one’s provided by the sponsors, NOT the national dress and evening gowns) looked cheap. The beautiful National Dress Portion where everyone paraded in their beautiful national costumes was a measly VIDEO REPLAY! (WTH?!?) It really saddens me how even more commercial it’s become. We all know it’s a business for Trump but does he really have to be that obvious?

The pomp and pageantry is disappearing. The next thing you know, we will just see video clips of all the contestants but only the 16 finalist will appear live inperson! =(

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The Winner

I’m happy Miss Angola won. She was the most breathtaking (it’s a BEAUTY contest after all) and had a good answer. I think she deserved it. Though I don’t agree with everyone who got into the top 16 and up, but then again, those people judging them had more than the duration of the show to judge and narrow them down. And beauty is so subjective. Everyone has their own opinion.

During the pageant’s question and answer portion, judge Vivica A. Fox asked Supsup the question: “Would you change your religious beliefs to marry the person that you love? Why or why not?”

The Filipina replied, “If I had to change my religious beliefs, I would not marry the person that I love because the first person I love is God, who created me. I have my faith and my principles, and this is what makes me who I am. And if that person loves me, he should love my God, too.”

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Miss Philippines

I’m happy and proud that she made it is as far as she did, but I wish her answer in the Q&A portion was more…umm… what’s the word… tolerant of other peoples religion and beliefs. I think in a shrinking world of internet and budget travel, we are now, more than ever before, exposed to the different beautiful cultures of the world. I just expected something more cosmopolitan. But then again, her answer was honest and from the heart. It is what she believed in. Kudos to her courage. Now more than ever, people are trying to be more sensitive to differences in race/culture/beliefs, it might have been a good idea to phrase it in a better way that didn’t feel excluding to other religions. Something along the lines of mutual respect for each others religions would have been nice. I feel like she answered the first thing that came to mind without composing it because she had no interpreter. (I’m sure many people will be offended by this post, as beauty pageants can bring out very emotional responses in people, but hey, it’s my blog so I get to say what I feel. If you don’t agree, are disgusted, have a violent reaction, etc. feel free to post it in your own blog =P)

The Use of Interpreters

I know many Filipinos are proud that we can speak English (Saw so many tweets on how we are so galing coz’ Miss Philippines didn’t need an interpreter) but is it even a plus for the judges if the contestant doesn’t have a interpreter? I don’t think so. Many of the pageant contestants CAN speak English but they opt for an interpreter as a strategic option. Those split seconds that they buy to compose their thoughts, makes all the difference. It’s the difference between a well thought out culture/religion sensitive answer versus a straight from the heart brain fart. There is no shame in using an interpreter. In fact some may even say that you are being proud of your Tagalog heritage.

Yes it will lessen the time you have for your answers, but a lengthy answer is no match for well thought out, succinct answer. Quality over quantity wins every time in the Q&A. One day I hope to see a Filipina beauty queen use our native tongue, Tagalog, on stage with pride! Let’s be proud of our language EVEN if we know how to speak English. Why not?!?

One of my favorite stories from my MIL (also a former diplo wife) was how they were in a dinner of ambassadors, chatting,  joking around and having a good time. Then the ambassador from X (can’t remember the country) who was speaking English fine the entire night was asked about a sensitive issue related to his country. And he was suddenly in need of  a translator! Haha! Imagine that?!?  During that time it took to find a translator, the ambassador I’m sure was able to find the best way to answer the question in a diplomatic manner.

I’m just saying, we don’t have to speak English just because we know how. In contests and other tricky situations, there are options that can give you an upper hand. There is no shame in utilizing these options. In fact, I’d be proud to hear a Miss Philippines speak in tagalog on that Miss Universe stage!

Again these are just my personal opinions so please respect them. They do not reflect the opinions of my husband nor his place of work. I’m allowed to brain-fart because this is a blog, not a beauty pageant. If you don’t like it, feel free to move on to another webpage. No hard feelings. =)