I could only feel sorry for her, being so inarticulate on the spot and then suffering public scorn for a long time to come. This “character” part of beauty contests is such a disingenuous farce, trying to pretend that anyone watching actually cares what these living mannequins think. She is this year’s icon of our youth and beauty obsession. To expect her to have intelligent opinions is just the hypocrisy of pretending that she’s supposed to be more. I feel even sadder when one of these beauty freaks does betray a sharp mind: Why has someone with wits and knowledge gotten caught up in something so shallow as a tits-and-ass-sell-gas celebration?
After being stumped by a Miss Teen USA pageant question on live television Friday night, Lauren Caitlin Upton’s confused, mangled response has been drawing a lot of attention.
The 18-year-old got a chance to redeem herself Tuesday on NBC’s “Today” show when she was again asked why one-fifth of Americans can’t locate the U.S. on a map.
“I would love to re-answer that question,” Upton said. “Well personally, my friends and I, we know exactly where the United States is on our map. I don’t know anyone else who doesn’t. And if the statistics are correct, I believe there should be more emphasis on geography.”
From the rest of this article, it it sounds like she zoned out for a moment and missed the original question; and rather than admitting that she made up something vague (obviously not realizing people would get hold of the video of her answer and have a field day with it).
I think it’s interesting she didn’t dare say “I’m sorry, could you ask me that question again?” rather than make up something she hoped would fit the question she didn’t hear.
Comment by: Mike O
1Well, at least she got in the mandatory “for our children” at the end!
Whew, that was C-L-O-ummmm-S?—-E? Yeah, C-L-O-S-E CLOSE!
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
2I saw that recently…scary stuff…I hope people only want to have her beauty, not her question answering skills!
Comment by: Siamang
3This is a video I’m planning on saving and showing to my daughter when she starts asking for make-up.
“Is THIS what you want to become??!? Now get back to your math homework!”
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
4Good thinking, Siamang ;-)
Comment by: Richard Wade
5I could only feel sorry for her, being so inarticulate on the spot and then suffering public scorn for a long time to come. This “character” part of beauty contests is such a disingenuous farce, trying to pretend that anyone watching actually cares what these living mannequins think. She is this year’s icon of our youth and beauty obsession. To expect her to have intelligent opinions is just the hypocrisy of pretending that she’s supposed to be more. I feel even sadder when one of these beauty freaks does betray a sharp mind: Why has someone with wits and knowledge gotten caught up in something so shallow as a tits-and-ass-sell-gas celebration?
Comment by: Laura M.
6Sometimes it’s for fame, someimes it’s for scholarships.
I have noticed lately that the ones who do seem to be intelligent and articulate do seem to fare better in the Miss America contest.
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
7Here’s an update on this:
From the rest of this article, it it sounds like she zoned out for a moment and missed the original question; and rather than admitting that she made up something vague (obviously not realizing people would get hold of the video of her answer and have a field day with it).
I think it’s interesting she didn’t dare say “I’m sorry, could you ask me that question again?” rather than make up something she hoped would fit the question she didn’t hear.
Comment by: Tim
8I’m sorry, but I almost cried when I saw this. It is too funny.
On the brighter side, I hope that we all learned something from this! :) Maybe someone can tell us what that something was?
Comment by: Karen
9Salon’s feminist column, Broadsheet, tackled the implications of this one today:
http://salon.com/mwt/broadsheet