I just have to point out that about 20 years ago my husband and I were out to dinner with another couple who we were just getting to know and somehow the topic of beauty pageants came up in conversation. I made some crack about how ridiculous and antiquated and offensive the Miss America pageant was and then added something about how it’s all made worse by the fact that the organizers claim it’s a scholarship competition. Wouldn’t you know it, but my new friend said “Well, actually …” and it turned out that her sister had been 3rd runner up and used the money for medical school. (Interestingly, she did have to sue the pageant to collect.)