Beauty pageants serve as a platform where contestants can display not just their physical beauty, but also their intelligence, talent and charisma. Some people believe that pageants solely encourage physical beauty and repress an individual’s intelligence and charisma. Emily Eshbach, a junior at IUPUI, says beauty pageants bring some of the best qualities out of her.
Eshbach has been in multiple beauty pageants and has been participating in them since the age of seven. Her mother served as her director during a princess pageant, which operated as a mentoring program. It was through this program that she was encouraged to start participating in pageants.
“My mom actually was always into mentoring young women in the interview portion of the pageant because she saw the growth and professional skills that came with it,” Eshbach said. “She never influenced me to do it, rather the growth and strong character these young women held was something I wanted to emulate.”
From Eshbach's early exposure to pageants as a mentoring program, she discovered a platform that not only allowed her to showcase her skills, but also provided a way to contribute to crucial charitable causes. Her participation in these pageants became a catalyst for her engagement in philanthropy, leading her to pursue a degree in the field to further her efforts in community betterment.
Pageants have associated charity platforms that contestants support, which help raise awareness and funds for important causes, which was something Eshbach found she cared about deeply. Approximately 70% of pageants feature associated charity platforms that contestants actively support. Eshbach attributes her experiences in pageants to her philanthropic work.
“I believe that being in beauty pageants made me the woman I am today, by being the president of Zeta Tau Alpha, raising awareness for breast cancer and being a part of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy,” Eshbach said.
For Eshbach, pageants were not only a way to bring awareness to causes she cared about, but also to bring herself out of her shell.
“Without the Miss America organization, I would still be a shy girl who is afraid of what someone thinks,” said Eshbach. “This formed my confidence to become an eloquent speaker and a role model for young girls to be confident in their successes. The dresses were just a bonus!”
Eshbach encourages anyone thinking about joining or participating in pageants.
“Get out of your comfort zone and just do it. There are a lot of professional opportunities and it helped me network with people and helped me receive scholarships,” Eshbach said.
The "invisible orientation": Ace identity, culture and misconceptions
By Jackie Bozinovski | April 10International Asexuality Day took place April 6, and for all asexuals (aces), it’s a day to celebrate ourselves, our experience and the community as a whole. As an asexual myself, I’ve read a plethora of asexual content that gave answers to all my questions and a voice to affirm that my identity is valid and my experience matters. As such, I’ve decided to clear up three common misconceptions about the asexual community and shed some light on the invisible orientation.
Hinge released their dating report, here’s what IUPUI students think
By Milo Anderson | March 29From fears of meeting new people to a pandemic to getting into the landscape of online dating, there are plenty of reasons to feel awkward about dating as a young adult. Gen Z has been forced into the middle of one of the most turbulent times to meet new people, and for some, it can be too much.
Herron School of Art and Design annual wearable art show to take place March 28
By Hanne Brandgard | March 27Since 2004, Herron School of Art and Design has put on the Wearable Art Show. This event gives interested students a chance to test their creativity and transform their art from a stationary work to a piece of clothing. This year’s 20th anniversary show will take place on March 28 at the EFAC building.
