The contestants often would say that "we're ALL winners in the end," since the least amount they walk home with is $5000 (on top of what they already won in their state and local pageants). Still, when you consider how they're all put through the paces for the three weeks leading up to the telecast — as well as anywhere from a year to a lifetime's worth of preparation — that money doesn't seem like much of a "prize." It's hard earned income!

They're providing ABC with three hours worth of free prime-time eye candy, which to my mind smacks of exploitation. I don't know how much the ABC/Disney corporation contributes to the non-profit Miss America Organization (which doled out $35 million in scholarships alone last year), but you'd think they'd want to make sure that the contestants on the telecast "win" a lot more than a paltry 5 grand.

You also have to wonder what the contestants really expect to get out of this in the long run, aside from the experience itself. Several previous winners have gone on to high-profile careers (such as Lee Meriwether, Phyllis George, and that notorious orange juice shilling homo-hater Anita Bryant*), but most of them seem content to marry a politician or Texas oilman and fade into comfortable obscurity.

The talent competition in particular has a very Victorian "finishing school" feel to it, as if the ultimate goal of all of their efforts is to land a good husband. During the preliminaries the reigning Miss America, Heather French, pointed out her fiancee in the audience, as the spotlight landed on this pudgy, balding, middle-aged doctor. Typical! Aah, but I'm sure he's a nice guy, and her mother must be thrilled, so I should mind my own business...

*Anita's anti-gay activities back in the '70s seem even more bizarre to me now, after having seen first hand what a large and enthusiastic part of The Pageant's following is made up of gay men.)