Farewell Ms. Wasilla

Sarah Palin's conservative views would prevent me from voting for her, but at the same time, I am intrigued by her meteoric rise from small, frontier-town mayor to vice presidential candidate. The phenomenon that is Sarah Palin has struck a chord with a segment of the population. Her rise to fame made me wonder about her background, and how she came to be the woman that she is today. Palin is quick to play up her "equal opportunity" upbringing, where her parents encouraged her enthusiasm for fishing and hunting. She uses sports metaphors ad nauseam to emphasize her athleticism and her passion for competition. Palin's competitive spirit was cultivated through another type of contest that she doesn't acknowledge as often as her days on the Wasilla High basketball team, too. Yes, Sarah Palin competed in beauty pageants, and that is something that the two of us have in common.

Unlike Palin, I am proud to have competed in pageants. Many aspects of my pageant training have prepared me for life as a young professional. Following college, when most recent graduates nervously practiced mock interviews, I already had award-winning interview and public speaking skills. As a title holder, I regularly met people from diverse backgrounds with different perspectives; there are many parallels between my experiences in pageants and my present position with the New York City Council. Both pageants and politics seem much easier than they are from the outside looking in. And just in case you think those modeling skills are not practical, I can walk -- or run, for that matter -- in high heels on most terrains.

I openly acknowledge the positive impact that pageants have had on my life. Therefore, it bothers me when women like Sarah Palin, who have benefited from being in pageants, disavow themselves from them as though pageants are some sort of youthful indiscretion. Palin admits that she received needed college scholarship money as a result of her participation in the Miss America program. She even recorded a video address for the contestants at the 2008 Miss Alaska pageant, telling them that they could be like her one day. The Miss America Pageant is the largest provider of scholarships for young women in the United States. So why is Palin, the self-proclaimed maverick leader, so afraid to embrace her pageant past?

I admit it; beauty pageants have had some embarrassing moments. Unfortunately, for the institutions and the women who have benefited from them, pageants are only discussed in the mainstream media in the aftermath of a scandal. The only recent winners that most Americans can sort of recall are recovering addicts and party girls. With all of the one-dimensional images out there I understand why people do not "get" pageants. Without first-hand experience, it would be easy to think that all pageants are sexist and demeaning to women. In reality, some pageants are a training ground for female leaders who are proud of their femininity.

There is nothing wrong with a woman wanting to be respected and admired for both her intelligence and her beauty. The two should not be mutually exclusive for women in the 21st century. Unfortunately, many women have been made to feel that they have to make a choice, as though having or working toward both is an affront to the natural order of society. Pageants showcase femininity, something that many professional women tend to shy away from. As long as we allow femininity to be treated as a distraction or some sort of an insult to professionalism, women will continue to bang their heads on the glass ceiling.

I do not believe that Palin did not enjoy her old pageant days. She seems to savor the limelight and recognition too much. Out of convenience she decided to distance herself from pageants, out of convenience she has decided to step down from her position as governor of Alaska. Savvy pageant contestants know how to leverage their experiences in order to launch themselves into the careers of their dreams. Palin may never admit it, but like that wink during her debate with Joe Biden, the strategy behind her latest move is straight out of the pageant girl's handbook. So farewell for now Ms. Wasilla, I know we will be hearing from you in the future.

Follow Chelsea-Lyn Rudder on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ChelseaLynR

Comments

[linzybel]

Chelsea, you write, "There is nothing wrong with a woman... wanting to be respected for her beauty..."

Suppose you have two daughters, one who is beautiful and one who is not. Should I respect one more than the other?

[njborne]

That's a rhetorical question not based on the tenants of this story.

[MelRoy]

I'm no fan of Sarah Palin's (as evidenced in my posts) but so what if she entered a beauty pageant in order to get scholarship money?

Didn't she win "Miss Congeniality" in the Miss Alaska contest, and what's wrong with that? I thought these pageants were supposed to be about sisterhood, as well as competition.

"There she is, Miss America
There she is, your ideal
The dreams of a million girls
Who are more than pretty
May come true in Atlantic City
Oh she may turn out to be
The queen of femininity
There she is, Miss America
There she is, your ideal
With so many beauties
She'll take the town by storm
With her all-American face and form
And there she is
Walking on air she is
Fairest of the fair she is
Miss America"

Written by Wayne Bernie, this is still the theme song. It objectifies women, doesn't it?

[LoriAnn]

Im not sure what to make of this article. As the Mom of a young model who is now a grad student holding two degrees and is very self aware, I feel I can say that being in that world helped to make her the woman she is today. Obviously Palin didnt glean anything from her days on the pageant circuit. She grabbed Sen McCains coat tails and flew into the lime light thru no effort of her own. She has held and quit many jobs and has few accomplishments to show for it. I personally dont find her looks to be anything out of the ordinary, her lack of world knowledge, mangling of native language, absolute ignorance of law and ethics is all laughable and eye opening at the same time ! We all have experiences in life that shape us and molds our outlook. Ms Palin is too busy trying to wear those spike heels and trying keep all of her donor " ducks in a row" to know who she truly is or what she truly believes ! Its all about making the money any way she can just like any other gop-stitute !!

[Hank007]

Beauty is not objective, it is completely subjective. To me, Palin is neither beautiful nor intelligent. She is arrogant and ignorant.

[CharlieMarlowe]

Please explain why you think someone should be respected for their beauty?

(I suppose dictionaries are as foreign to beauty queens as maps. Respect is not the word you should be using in relation to beauty)

[JazzSax UT]

maybe the respect comes from them showing that they have enough respect for themselves to try and look as beautiful as they can.

[CharlieMarlowe]

The word you are looking for is vanity (or possibly self0centredness). Your example is not the proper use of the word respect.

[Chelsea-Lyn Rudder - Huffpost Blogger]

beauty
pl -ties
1. the combination of all the qualities of a person or thing that delight the senses and mind

This is really about wanting to be respected for being well rounded. I look the way that I look for a reason, it is a reflection of a healthy lifestyle, exercise, knowing how to dress to suit my figure, etc. It does not just happen. In addition I pride myself on having an excellent formal education, travel and cultural exchange have always been a priority for me. I do not buy into the idea that I if you are an attractive woman you better play dumb, people might be offended if you seem to have too much going for you. Or, if you are smart, don't emphasize your looks in anyway, no one will take you seriously. I will not let the insecurities of others diminish my experiences or goals.

[uhavenoface]

How much exercise do you do to keep your nose so shapely?

Don't act like it's all hard work and nothing to do with genes you had nothing to do with and no control over.

[CharlieMarlowe]

More vanity

[annie g]

Since she was on the beauty pagent circuit I do believe that she thinks that what the political stage is for her also. Everytime she says anything it is a rambling, ineffective, nonsensical admission of how irevelant she sounds expecially with her winking and you betcha answers. Her so called speeches remind me of the standard answer at previous pagents where everyone wants "world peace" simply because it just sounds good but with no substance to back it up.
So please Sarah go enter a beauty pagent if you have the need to "win" something. Being President, Vice President or any other office is not for you to "have" for the moment and then quit when you feel like it.
We need people who are serious and knowledgable about the issues that confront America and who want America to suceed for all of its people not the few that you represent.

[R3dhead]

Of course she's not going to admit to her pageantry days. The moment it is popular then she's going to shout about it from the rooftops!

[Parrothead]

Palin has fell in love with seeing herself at the center of attention on television,now she's addicted Her comments are scripted to keep the media replaying those brain salad surgery comments over and over. The Democrats have replaced Ann Coulter with the Princess from Wasilla. A Republican friend of mine replied to me during a conversation about her being "QUALIFIED" to run the country should McCain~Palin win, which his stateent was " I don't care if she has any brains or not she's cute". Which brings me to what my drill sargent would instruct us before each pass off base, "Men! don't let the "Little head"" confuse the big head. The other problem I have with her that I'm suprised no one has caught on to is, she keeps comparing herself to animals, pitbulls, dead fish, momma bears, WHY?Winter is coming and the lakes and rivers will be freezing up in Alaska so there should be very little to draw attention up there. Hopefully she will realize how nice and quiet it is without all the pesky reporters asking "Gotcha Questions" which obviously got her. She'll write her 36 page book and spend her advance. Unless the Quitter in her comes out and she quits the book deal, then she can add a NEW line to her resume as a QUITTER. Princess Wasilla (Quiter) Palin, quit job number fill in the blank (____) . . Now the "DREAM GOP" ticket will be Princess Wasilla (Quitter) Palin and Michelle Bachmann.

[bayman]

"The phenomenon that is Sarah Palin has struck a chord with a segment of the population. "

Yes, the segment that's as ignorant as she is.

[ediva75]

YOU GOT THAT DEAD ON RIGHT!!!

It must suck and to me it is a sad site to be pretty and ignorant at the same time!!! LOL

[doxiedame]

Sarah Palin is a multimillionnaire now. She has the media to thank for that. She'd fade into oblivion without the exposure.

Sarah can do whatever she wants to do now. The ball is in her court. That's just where she wants it to be. For too many months it's been with the "oppositio­n"...Holly­wood, cable news, government.

I predict she'll be the female counterpart to Rush Limbaugh..­.competing with Ann Coulter..

Talk show host...radio or tv. My prediction.

Shopping at SAKS. No problem. Blink Blink. Gotcha!

[doxiedame]

I don't think Palin's going to run for political office again. She's been there...done that...left with her job unfinished. Sarah likes to be in control. To be in the spotlight...not in the glare of it. Running for office revealed too much about herself...her lack of intelligence...her inability to fit into the Washington scene...she became the butt of late night comedy and cable news. She was mortified. Hair loss told that story.

She said she doesn't need to have a "title" in order to have her say and get things done. She's a soon-to-be millionnaire. Why bother working in government? She can have her own show. Say what she wants. Bite back like a barracuda does. Be in control. Spotlight on Sarah once again.

She's financially set. She'll go out campaignin­g...spotli­ght on Sarah. She'll do what she can to defeat the Democrats. Bite of the Barracuda. She'll hit back at comedians, newscasters and Hollywood.

Payback time. Sarah wants the last word. Money is no option now.

[johnfoirdfw]

See, that's the thing about her and these other narcissictic conservatives, they tout their own "equal opportunity upbringing" but cannot seen to realize that many do not have an equal opportunity. They seen to think that their sheer good luck of birth makes them somehow better, stronger. It is the ultimate arrogance.

[VagabondSaint]

So this is what I am taking away from this post:

Beauty + intelligence + compassion + articulation = Chelsea-Lyn Rudder

Beauty + intelligence + ruthlessness + blind ambition - intelligence = Sarah Palin

Is my math right? It's not my strong suit. . .

VS

[Oonagh]

Sarah is just like the octo mom.... not too bright and looking for notoriety and I wish they would go away ...

[FHTB]

Not gonna happen...we can wish her away, but no matter how we try, it will not be done with attacks on her...only enables her supporters and her more.

[Havnagudtim]

That's it! She's gonna have a multiple birth and just blow that piker Octomom clean outta the water, you betcha.

[ProfessorDuh]

Beauty contests are relentless vanity parades with some pretty transparent window dressing.