MODESTY:You Are My Ms. America

I am very troubled right now. Let me explain...

A few nights ago I caught some of the show Miss America Reality Check and did what I always do, looked for Miss Utah. Not only am I anxious to see who is representing a state that I love, I am always hoping she is going to be a representative of modesty as well. I was not disappointed when I saw Jill Stevens, a Soldier in the National Guard, who seemed unchanged by the pageantry, comparisons, and decorations of such a parade of women. She kept it real and stuck with her standards. She wore sleeves, was quirky, waved with two hands, did push ups, and refused to change herself and image just to please the judges. She was exactly what I would hope for Miss Utah and Miss America.

So the actual pageant "scholarship program" begins and I DVR the event for the sole purpose of seeing Miss Utah and hoping she might win. At the very beginning they select their 15 finalists and she is not one of them. Disappointed, we decide to turn off the show until the MC yells out "wait wait...we're doing things different this year" and then proceeds to tells us that their is one more contestant that has been selected because of the voting online.

Yep, you got it. She's back. Miss, -I'm so excited that other people in America appreciate her- Utah!

Here's where I begin to get frustrated. The first "competition" for these 16 ladies is the swimsuit competition. Don't get me started on this one. Not only do they need to just get rid of this excuse of a round, but to put it as the first eliminator? Basically saying, "this matters more than your talent, question answering abilities, and even how good you look in a gown (what's with the gown competition anyway, really). But here's the best part, the MC introduces it by saying
"Of course today we know the swimsuits are here, but they're just one part of the competition that's meant to highlight the importance of health and fitness"


Oh...Okay, now that makes sense. I thought it was just a tradition to check out cute girls in hardly any clothing, but if it has deeper meaning and significance...

Just not buyin it. Shouldn't their actually be a physical fitness competition then, like who can lift more weights, run longer, I don't know, something more centered on physical fitness and health instead of physical appearance.

I could hardly watch, I'm so embarrassed by the whole thing, but I fast forwarded until I saw her. Wait for it...YES!!! YOU GO MISS UTAH!! A one piece! Of course the only one wearing a one piece bathing suit, very much making a statement, that I knew from previous record, (including last year when Miss Utah was eliminated and later told "she must've been trying to hide something" by needing to wear a one piece)this is not really looked well upon. And although her lip was quivering and she didn't flaunt around like the others, I had high hopes.

To no avail. Her name was called and she was eliminated. I totally expected it though. The exact same things as last year with Miss Utah. The one girl, in the one piece. Not enough.

But in defeat this awesome gal, dropped to the floor with some of the other remaining contenders, and began doing push ups. Needless to say, she definitely had the best push ups. She got up smiling, so classy. Waved big, hugged and high fived the remaining contestants, and made me proud. But, I understand... the girl who has run a total of 12 marathons, including the first ever held in Afghanistan, earned the highest fitness award during Army basic training, was chosen as one of four “Women of Strength” featured in “Muscle and Fitness Hers” magazine- didn't cut it in the competition to "highlight fitness and health".

Can we call for a re vote? I mean the title is "Miss America". As in our Miss. America's Miss. Yours and mine, not just eight celebrity judges choice. Shouldn't we have some say in it? I wish. (For your info the actual winner, Miss Michigan, Kirsten Haglund, -who is probably deserving in other ways, happens to be the contestant who won the lifestyle and fitness competition.)

So tonight, amid my frustration, I give a shout out to MODESTY! To the women of sleeves everywhere! For the choices you make every day to be different. To decide that your unique bodies and features remain most beautiful to the world when they are respected by clothing (or for our husbands..wink wink). That what you give and how you live, truly show YOU off. That your outward display need not distract from the goodness of your soul. Here's to all the Jill Stevens. You are my Ms's America. And what a miracle your modesty is... in a world so desperately needing it. Carry on!