Furthermore: Where the Headlines Take You
When I was growing up, I remember feeling sort of unsettled by the annual contests for Rose Festival princesses. My school didn't participate, but we used to joke that if the Royal Rosarians (who run the whole show) ever let us in, we'd have to make sure to elect a boy to be our Princess. Well, it seems that these days, Gresham, West Linn, and Canby High Schools all have boys-only pageants that raise money for charity – and no doubt, revel in giltzy fabulousness as well!
Beauty pageants are a truly all-American fascination, but it's surprising how hard it is to find books about their history. I've selected a few gems from the library's collection below, which I hope you find enjoyable.
Pageants were incredibly popular in the first half of the 20th century, and women (and a few men!) received crowns representing the glory of products and industries as diverse as donuts, dairy products and anti-freeze – as well as the usual title “Miss [insert place name here].” Candace Savage's Beauty Queens: A Playful History explains it all, with lots of photographs and the inside scoop on everything from the arrival of the bikini to the iron rule of Miss America director Lenora Slaughter to contests for babies and little girls.
And what of more recent developments in the world of beauty queens? Pageant: The Beauty Contest delves into the contemporary state of beauty contests, as well as their history. Author Keith Lovegrove introduces readers to contestants for Mr. Universe, Alternative Miss World, Miss London Airport, and of course, Miss America, with fascinating photographs on every page.
Rodeo Queens and the American Dream focuses on a particular type of contest, with a complex history indeed. Joan Burbick's history of rodeo pageants discusses the increasing commercialization of all aspects of rodeo, the public perception of rodeo queens, and many other issues, drawing from documentary sources and Burbick's own interviews with dozens of former rodeo queens. Rodeo Queens has more substantive text than the Beauty Queens or Pageant, and it is both intelligent and readable. It's a great choice for those of you who enjoy a good narrative history.
Posted by Emily-Jane
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