Nishtha Shrestha

The nature of beauty pageants is such that its glamour both attracts and repels a bystander. Being a witness to the recent public bashing among the "brave, bold and beautiful" ladies, one does wonder if the beauty promoted is only to please the eye. The unfair practices in such competitions have been called out in the past and it appears to be a common occurrence in beauty pageants around the world. The concern, however, is about the image of women this social media debate has created.
Beauty is an industry. As much as we deny it, we seek beauty in all of our choices. This trait of humans has been capitalised from decades.  The ideal beauty represented by the title holder is the criteria many young teenagers aspire to achieve. The winner, therefore, has not only won a crown, she has also earned the responsibility to be a role model for the gender. This duty is not her alone but all those who stood with her in this journey. This chosen cohort of ladies has been groomed to showcase their strengths and become a better version of themselves. While these participants are achievers in their own field, the rules of the beauty pageants somehow seem to have clouded their judgements.
The freedom of expression is a human right. The problem being addressed by the contestants is valid. The issue lies in how the power of speech is targeting the wrong place. The unhealthy criticisms being levied against each other is the very reason women are teased about in the society. We have being called names for this behaviour and the actions of these talented girls are once again reinforcing these labels which women everywhere are trying hard to put a stop to in their own ways.
It is a win if we women can truly stand for each other. A critic of the beauty pageants had earlier highlighted that the fight is with the organisation and not the participants. But the same mistake is being repeated once again as the group has sidelined the real issue while directing their anger on those who question their choices. 
The battle is and will be to ensure that best is chosen even if the definition of best varies as per the judges. Those who experienced the ordeal have the first right to clarify the problem but the ones who follow are not always necessarily trying to discredit the experience. It is a matter of prestige to be able to represent one's country on a global platform.
No path chosen to achieve this dream is superior in comparison to another. The source of the particular problem is many but the focus needs to be on the actions undertaken to resolve it. This may not be an issue for many, but as a member of the audience who looks up to empowered women, these women engaged in personal social media wars are likely to confuse the young girls about the idea of women empowerment.