They say the eye of a hurricane can be a really calm place to be. They also say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So, when a beauty contest becomes a hurricane, does that make the eye of the beholder calm? Not quite!
When cowgurl sent me an invitation to report on her Miss Whyville Contest, I wasn't sure if I should go. The whole question of beauty - and how cruelly some people treat others because of their obsession with beauty - is really touchy. But I decided to go, and see how it went.
Over 30 contestants were supposed to come, but only four ladies made it for the whole thing: bluishy, catgirl, Lilly2000, and redrobin. Cowgurl was host, MC, and head judge.
It sounds simple, but it wasn't! Contestants, judges, and audience kept disappearing from the Sportzplatz, reappearing, and trying to become participants or judges or quit the contest! There was even an incident of mudball throwing!
In the midst of all the chaos, I heard 08 say, "This beauty thing can sure be a pain..."
Finally, things settled down enough to go through the first two rounds, which were casual & evening wear. After some juggling of judges, the scores turned out to be:
- Lilly2000 with 51.5 pts
- Bluishy with 53 pts
- Catgirl with 53.5 pts
- Redrobin with 58 pts
With things getting more and more hectic at the 'Platz, cowgurl decided to hold the final round -- with Redrobin and Catgirl -- at the City Hall Auditorium. Redrobin almost didn't make it - she didn't realize she'd been selected to go to the next round!
The two questions were: What is your favorite song, and why? and What three words describe you best? "Great questions!" I thought, "especially that second one!"
Redrobin said, "My favorite song is 'Isac,' because it expresses a lot of feeling, and the three words that describe me best are funny, kind, and understandable." Catgirl said, "My favorite song would have to be 'Oops...,' because it's got a good beat for dancing, fun lyrics, and a good video. And I'd say smart, funny, and friendly describe me best."
After a few moments to discuss scores with the judges, cowgurl announced the winner: Catgirl was cowgurl's Miss Whyville!
We all congratulated the winner, who got 100 clams, and the runner-up, who got 50 clams. When I asked her about her success, catgirl said, "It felt astonishing to win, I felt like I was about to faint!" She also observed, "Beauty contests in Whyville are great, but not if you dis people on how they look and say they're ugly or something."
In the end, I was pretty impressed. Cowgurl managed to mix a little bit of brains with the beauty part, which was cool. And nobody was insulted for not having a "perfect" face, which has been happening around Whyville a lot lately.
It was a nice contest.
As for this obsession with beauty that's going around, I like to think that folks are using the word "beauty" for an artistic appraisal of people's skill at the Face Factory, and at combining face parts.
The problem is, some folks seem to think that just because they're looking good they're better people. Those people are flat-out WRONG. Anybody with any class will reject ignorance like that!
I really like the Block Movement that recently hit Whyville, led by 08 and others. What's cool is that it reminds us that Whyville faces are pieces of art, and that art doesn't have to be "real world"! They became living pieces of abstract art, like Picasso!
I'm so pumped by the Block Movement, and I enjoyed the Miss Whyville contest so much, I've decided to hold my own beauty contest - only this one will be won by the person with the most unique, most artistic, wierdest, coolest, funkiest face possible! I'll offer 200 clams for the winner, straight from Bigfoot's Big Wallet.
I'll put up another article to announce when the contest will happen. In the meantime, get designing! And remember, beauty is in the eye of the Bigfoot!
Bigfoot Bill
