“So much for world peace” or “Who wants to talk Project Runway?”

This was the punchline delivered by one of the news anchors on the Good Morning Today it’s Early show yesterday after running a story about, ahem, current Miss USA Tara Conner. Of course, no one got it and he had to explain that she’s being scrutinized for her underage drinking, drug use, and same sex lip locking (not that there’s anything wrong with that! well, she was Miss Teen USA, but she was 18! we think, not sure if she was at the time, but let’s not split hairs here) and that typically that’s the answer contestants give when asked…just as I will do now, he let it go and moved on…but I laughed, talking head, dude, I laughed!

Today, cbs13.com ran a story (lucky for me as I’ve been itching to rant on the subject and needed the “local angle” to pitch to my editor at headquarters) about a local beauty queen’s reaction to Donald Trump’s decision to let Miss USA keep her title as long as she agreed to enter rehab.

“There’s a lot of sexuality floating around. A lot of drug use. And we need to send our children a solid, consistent message. It’s non negotiable, and you need help and to face the consequences,” says Moore.

You said it Dr. Deborah Moore. We really need to get that floating sexuality thing under control. Oh, btw, have you seen those shots of Tara in her swimsuit wearing next to nothing by the pool? Va Va Va Voom! Oh, sorry, what was I saying? Something about a solid consistent message to our children…

But, seriously folks, Tara said she was sorry, that she won’t do it again and that this is not what Tara Connor is about. Isn’t that the standard, accepted “I got caught messing up and now I’m oh so sorry” apology?

“We don’t want our young women growing up watching pageants and thinking its okay to drink, to do drugs, and to smoke and be wild in public,” she says. “We’re unfortunately living in a culture where raunch has gotten elevated and confused as glamour.”

We just want our young women growing up watching women duct tape their breasts together, put vaseline on their teeth, and use athletic spray to keep swimsuit straps in place, so that they can be pretty enough to walk in front of glaring men with clipboards?

And we’re supposed to then be shocked when the type of person that gets into the pageant business is also the type of person that enjoys the nightlife?

This reminds me of my favorite quote from Drop Dead Gorgeous:

My mom gave me this 9 mill for my 13th birthday. Yeah. I’ll always remember what she put on the card. “Jesus Loves Winners”. That’s why I always aim to win.

I have to watch that movie again.

Author: RonTopofIt

RonTopofIt is a complex personality, as are most of the small breed of modern day renaissance millionaires. He wishes more people were like him and yet believes that it takes all kinds. You've met RonTopofIt many times, you just don't remember him. View all posts by RonTopofIt