This post might be a little controversial but I think its the time to post it.
Indian pageant fans need to be more critical, analytical and direct
Note : This is not directed against any person in particular. I am talking on general basis. You are free to agree with it or disagree with it. Also when I mention "Indian pageant fans" I don't mean all of them but only "some of them". Also in no way I am trying to change your opinions but we should be more reasonable and logical.
I think Indian pageant fans down the years have become very sensitive to criticism of "weak" and "mediocre" performance of their delegates and act too defensive that also includes putting down other countries victories and blaming the international pageant organizations.
Honestly most of them have FAILED to understand the requirements and changing trends at the international pageants. Not only the fans but also the pageant organizations have failed in doing so. As a result wrong girls are sent to wrong pageants and they end up being flop.
Also the way we support our delegates should be talked about. Do we really look into the following aspects :
1. Credentials of the girl
2. Past pageant experience
3. Strengths and weaknesses
4. Appropriateness as per the international pageant requirements
5. Does she match up to the international pageant set standards for beauty ?
6. The amount and quality of preparation she has recieved or done from her own side.
7. Background and credentials of the pageant organizations and the franchise holders.
I know point no.5 is quite controversial. Many of us and even I believe that every girl is beautiful in her own right and Beauty does lie in the eyes of beholder. But honestly these statements don't work at the international pageants. Not every girl is made for beauty pageants. Ofcourse some of them can be transformed like we had Asha Bhat and Manasi Moghe but one can't deny they always had that spark in them. If there were no set standards of beauty at these pageants why country like Venezuela make their girls go for cosmetic surgeries to attain perfection. They do it so that they meet the set standards of beauty.
when our girls don't place at ME and MI, most of the fans say " Oh she did her best and we are all proud of her". But I wonder honestly is that enough ? Atleast I am not proud of them. ( i know there is pageant politics and other factors too that might have led to their non placement but mostly who did not place deserved that non placement). Okay we are doing pretty decent at MW, MU, MS and MGI and those girls totally deserve applause. But we should not forget that we have not won MW and MU for the last 14 years.
The problem is we have started settling for mediocrity. We have stopped questioning ourselves as well as the organizations who have responsibility of selecting our delegates.
Why I made this post ? Because I believe we fans have a lot of power and influence if we stand united against something or in favor of something. I remember when Urvashi's name was not there in the initial list of Miss Diva contestants, there was a huge public outrage against it. It worked too and they brought back Urvashi.
In the end I will just say that we fans need to wake up and smell the coffee. If we stop compromising I am sure the concerned organizations will get back on track and who knows, We might really get winners in the coming years.
Kindly don't take this post personal. I am writing all this on a very light note with no harm intended to anybody.
Thank you !!