Models vs Pageant Girls, What's the Truth?

[Alexandra H.]

On July 25th Toronto will play host to the 2009 Search for Miss Teen Canada-World pageant.

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I’ve mentioned this because while watching modelling industry “reality” shows I’ve heard the hosts and judges talk about the differences between models and pageant girls, but they never get too specific. Tyra Banks makes it seem that there is almost a degree of animosity between mods and beauty queens.

As a makeup artist I’ve worked with girls here in Toronto who have dipped their stilettos into both pools and I’ve rarely heard models or pageant girls disrespect each other. Toronto is a small market for fashion and beauty pageants but does this sort of cattiness occur where you work or compete?

By the way, I've never worked with a model who planned on getting into pageants but the pageant girls I've worked with all planned on getting into modelling; fashion work moreso than glam.

If you'd like more information on the 2009 Search for Miss Teen Canada-World just drop by my magazine.

ciao

 

[ScarlettLover]

This is my personal take on it. I actually have no beef with pageant girls, but I do have this kind of mental block when I think of them.

Growing up in the south (America) pageants were like THE thing to do. All the girls were really tan, perfect bod, the kind of barbie look.

I however, was lanky, pale, and stick thin. I didn't fit in, and when I did a pageant I was made fun of b/c I didn't have the 'cleavage' and so forth.

And of course I didn't win. I felt like I wasn't accepted, however in the fashion world I am.

I think it boils down to cliches. I think some pageant girls could say the same thing about being a fashion model.

It's really all silly, and now I think it's stupid to feel that way. But I can in some ways understand it.

 

[Alexandra H.]

I think it boils down to cliches. I think some pageant girls could say the same thing about being a fashion model.

Pageants never achieved the same status in Canada as they have in the US, but I think you're right about cliches.

 

[cygnenoir]

I think we're forgetting that there are all kinds of models.

Most of the pageant girls I've worked with also model. But they are not the runway/editorial models that we tend to think of. They do more commercial work like catalogues, local print advertising, some TV ads - things of that variety. If they do a fashion show, it's usually swimwear or lingerie where (sometimes) curvier and/or shorter girls are in demand. Especially for a male audience.

I've never really noticed any animosity either, but I think it's just another category of model like men or plus-size. I never see pageant girls doing anything avant-garde or edgy, everyone has their niche.

 

[ScarlettLover]

^I agree. Niche is the perfect word.

I don't see how grown women like Tyra could feel that way. I think it's kind of petty. I was a young teen when I felt like that. But I suppose age has nothing to do with maturity, right?

 

[cygnenoir]

Well, Tyra is in the business of creating controversy. I don't think Tyra has ever been in the pageant scene so I'm sure she looks down on it a bit.

I remember reading an article where it was mentioned that the winner of "America's Next Top Model" will likely never become a top model. The age restriction for the show is 18 and by age 18, most top models have already been discovered and have been working for a few years. I'm sure Tyra is very aware of this, so she has to play it up!

 

[TommyGirl]

I can only talk from the Finnish point of view, as I´ve done some work as a model ( exactly that wrong kind of modelling, "mall shows" ) and also worked back stages and known pageant girls.

Here in Finland we have a huge amount of beauty pageants, usually winning won`t lead to any success. We have one more appreciated competition, Miss Finland, winner goes to Miss Universe. Sooner or later the winner girl starts to talk about getting into modelling and wanting to get rid of the pageant girl status. At the most of the times it
won`t work, and the girl just fades away.

Agencies here make a big difference between models and beauty queens, due to that it`s hard for girls to sign with a good agency after their year. We have only couple agencies anyway, who have resources to take girl abroad. And those agents will snap all the good model material before they get to beauty business.

Pageant girls can work here, but as a very part time model, it has nothing to do with HF. In Finland the markets are small on every field.

 

[Alexandra H.]

I can only talk from the Finnish point of view, as I´ve done some work as a model ( exactly that wrong kind of modelling, "mall shows" ) and also worked back stages and known pageant girls.

Here in Finland we have a huge amount of beauty pageants, usually winning won`t lead to any success. We have one more appreciated competition, Miss Finland, winner goes to Miss Universe. Sooner or later the winner girl starts to talk about getting into modelling and wanting to get rid of the pageant girl status. At the most of the times it
won`t work, and the girl just fades away.

The Canadian experience seems to be similar to Finland's; pageant winners have no staying power and are quickly forgotten. If a girl moves into other fields such as modelling, acting, or television her pageant background is ignored or glossed over. It's not a guaranteed ticket to fame or fortune, but then neither is modelling (or doing makeup )

In my experience Toronto girls who do mall shows often end up working the car show/trade show circuit; they dress in skimpy clothes and pose in front of cars, boats, or other boy-toys while the guys-with-cameras (customers) photograph them. Their known as import models and I'm sure every city has them. Import modelling doesn't have the same cachet as fashion modelling but in small markets such as Toronto a girl who wants to earn her living as a model has to make the most of every reasonable opportunity.

If you're going to be in Toronto tonight (I never know who's following the threads) you can attend the Miss Teen Canada pageant; tickets are available through ticketmaster.

 

[Katie123]

Well, Tyra is in the business of creating controversy. I don't think Tyra has ever been in the pageant scene so I'm sure she looks down on it a bit.

I remember reading an article where it was mentioned that the winner of "America's Next Top Model" will likely never become a top model. The age restriction for the show is 18 and by age 18, most top models have already been discovered and have been working for a few years. I'm sure Tyra is very aware of this, so she has to play it up!

she's so aware of it that she let that girl celia (last season) in the show KNOWING she was 25 and kicked her out for being too old for the modeling industry

 

[TommyGirl]

The Canadian experience seems to be similar to Finland's; pageant winners have no staying power and are quickly forgotten. If a girl moves into other fields such as modelling, acting, or television her pageant background is ignored or glossed over. It's not a guaranteed ticket to fame or fortune, but then neither is modelling (or doing makeup )

In my experience Toronto girls who do mall shows often end up working the car show/trade show circuit; they dress in skimpy clothes and pose in front of cars, boats, or other boy-toys while the guys-with-cameras (customers) photograph them. Their known as import models and I'm sure every city has them. Import modelling doesn't have the same cachet as fashion modelling but in small markets such as Toronto a girl who wants to earn her living as a model has to make the most of every reasonable opportunity.

We have so small market here, def smaller than in Toronto ( let alone whole Canada ) , that you can`t make your living even if you take your clothes off ( car show girls etc. ). Only very few models/ex pageant girls can make their living doing fashion shootings in Finland, and I really mean literally few.

Those girls who will submit to do those car show things and stuff like that, are after fame anyway and have by no meaning potential to modelling. They usually start from Miss Hawaiian Tropic/ other bikini contest. I never did that, so my "modelling" is very limited. More I´ve done "behind the scenes".

It`s interesting that Canadian`s are able to forget the pageant background if girl moves on and succeed. Here it`s a real cumber. Media and everyone always doubt abilities with that background, in particular if girl wants to sing, act or write.

One of our beauty queens from 90`s ( also famous lingerie model here ) is now in parliament and she was also the culture minister. There`s very little attention paid to her job, tabloids just write about her men and looks, and her history.

So I can`t understand why anyone wants paticipate to beauty pageant