Swimsuit Contest

Although swimsuit contests are very much a part of everyday life nowadays, this was not always the case. Initially, swimsuit contests were severely criticized and were termed to be disgraceful and shameful. Swimsuit contests are one of the effective ways to advance the modeling career of young (relatively) unknown models. Winners of most swimsuit contests get signed up for various jobs all around the country. People from the fashion, television and film industries are always looking for fresh faces.

Swimsuit contests are the perfect platform for discovering new swimsuit models. An important point to keep in mind is that a very small percentage of the total female population has the body that would make them look like a goddess in an extremely skimpy swimsuit. This is not the case with most of us. We all have our imperfections and they are precisely what make us special. Unfortunately, swimsuit contests have advanced the mentality that you have to have a model perfect body to carry off a swimsuit or to be beautiful. Many young girls have suffered from eating and emotional disorders because of these swimsuit contests. In addition to negatively effecting self esteem of many women, swimsuit contests are also responsible for diverting them towards a healthier lifestyle and eating habits.

Swimsuit contests are held for a number of reasons. One of the most common reasons for having swimsuit contests is fundraising or promotion. In such cases proceeds raised from the swimsuit contests are given to one or more than one charities. Swimsuits contests have helped in raising millions of dollars for charities all over. As mentioned above, swimsuit contests have gained rapid popularity in recent times and have become an integral round of well known beauty pageants around the world. These among others include Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss Earth, Miss America, Miss United Kingdom and Miss Australia, etc. Although swimsuit contests in these pageants are not important as they used to be. Previously, swimsuit contests were given higher weight-age in such beauty pageants. However, currently intelligence and communication skills are given higher weight-age. Despite severe criticism swimsuit contests have and will be an integral part of our everyday lives. Swimsuit contests are often stand alone events, in which, judges rate each contestant on the basis of various criteria as mentioned above. Some of these criteria are as natural beauty, fitness, intelligence, communication skills, confidence, poise, posture etc.

Despite their overwhelming popularity, swimsuit contests have quite a large number of critics. These critics claim that swimsuit contests objectify women and insult them to the maximum possible degree. Organizers of these swimsuit contests counter claim that they help advance humanitarian causes such as raising money for cancer or HIV Aids patients etc. Moreover, all contestants participate willingly and in some cases find amazing opportunities for advancing their careers. Critics also argue that swimsuit contests also imply that beauty and a model perfect body are two of the most important qualities a woman should have. Organizers of such swimsuit contests argue that Hollywood good looks and model perfect bodies are exceptions in our society and can not be achieved by everyone. Thus, we should take swimsuit contests at face value reacting to them the way they meant to be (i.e. a form of recreation). Because of severe criticism faced by swimsuit contests in beauty pageants a survey was recently conducted to ascertain their popularity. A whopping 87 percent of total respondents voted in favor of retaining swimsuit contests in beauty pageants.