"Miss America represents the highest ideals. She is a real combination of beauty, grace, and intelligence, artistic and refined. She is a type which the American Girl might well emulate."

    -Those words were spoken by Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce President Frederick Hickman more than 75 years ago

The Miss America Pageant, more appropriately named the "Mis-America" Pageant is a parasite sucking the life, individuality and self-respect out of the people it comes in contact with.  It is an agent of evil portraying a negative and demoralizing image of women.  These young ladies are supposed to be "the best" for they are representing our nation, but instead they are any respectable persons nightmare.  They are the "face of America," but what does this say about what we Americans Value?  It is not just the terrible body image, or the low-level of intelligence, but the entire identity that the pageant supports that makes it such a horrifying organization. There are four main portions of the pageant, the swimsuit competition, the interview, the talent portion and finally evening gown.  Only one of these categories has to do with seeing how articulate and how much of a role model the woman is. If a woman can't walk in heels she is a failure regardless of the fact that she supports finding a home for all those without one.  Susie Clemson, a 2003 contestant even said that "I think like that we all are like pretty, you know? I mean yeah I like think that is really important."* All that I can say is no wonder other countries hate us.