Image: INQUIRER.net/Lance Uy
Countless are the ways women have led changes to the society and for some of them, pageants have been one of the avenues that amplified their voices.
Thousands of editions of pageantry have proven that more than the showcase of standards that meet the eye, it is when women hold the microphone and speak their thought-provoking statements that they empower not just themselves but the females that rally behind them.
In celebration of Women’s Month, as well as the International Women’s Day this March 8, here are some of the iconic responses from pageant question-and-answer segments that embody womanhood and the power it has.
READ: #HerStory: Women Transforming Society
Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen of India
Question: “What is the essence of being a woman?”
Answer: “Just being a woman is God’s gift that all of us must appreciate. The origin of a child is a mother, and is a woman. She shows a man what sharing, caring, and loving is all about. That is the essence of a woman.”
Miss Universe 1999 Mpule Kwelagobe of Botswana
Question: “If Miss Universe would become pregnant during her reign, should she be allowed to continue as Miss Universe?”
Answer: “Personally, I think Miss Universe is a symbol of a woman as well as she is celebrating her femininity. And I believe that, if she should fall pregnant, it would not in any way interrupt her duties. I believe that as a woman she should celebrate her femininity.”
Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela
Question: “Do you believe men or women have it easier in life? And why?”
Answer: “Actually, God made us to share and have differences. But the big difference between women and men—doesn’t matter what kind if life they live—is that men think that the faster way to go to a point is to go straight. Women know that the faster way to go to a point is to go through the curves and fixing every curl.”
Miss USA 2016 Deshauna Barber of District of Columbia
Question: “The Pentagon recently made the decision to open up all combat jobs to women. Now some have questioned if this has put political correctness over our military’s ability to perform at the highest level. What are your thoughts?”
Answer: “As a woman in the United States Army, I think it is an amazing job by our government to allow women to integrate into every branch of the military. We are just as tough as men. As a commander of my unit, I am powerful, I am dedicated and it’s important to recognize that gender does not limit us in the United States Army.”
Zozibini Tunzi at 2019 Miss South Africa pageant
Question: “Through all the darkness that South African women face—emotional, physical, sexual and economic abuse—what reason do we have to keep smiling?”
Answer: “We have absolutely no reason, because South African women are dying everyday and mostly, people are doing nothing about it. I think it’s time to stop asking women what to do and start asking perpetrators to do better, to be better, to start treating women the way they deserve to be treated. It is not up to us, it is up to the perpetrators to start doing right.”
South Africa’s Zozibini Tunzi at 2019 Miss Universe
Question: “What is the most important thing we should be teaching young girls today?”
Answer: “I think the most important thing we should be teaching young girls today is leadership. It’s something that has been lacking in young girls and women for a very long time, not because we don’t want to, but because of what society has labelled women to be. I think we are the most powerful beings on the world and that we should be given every opportunity, and that is what we should be teaching these young girls, to take up space. Nothing is as important as taking up space in society and cementing yourself.”
Brazil’s Elis Coelho at 2019 Miss World
Question: “Why you? I want to hear a reason why everyone should think, ‘Yes. She’s the one to be Miss World.’”
Answer: “Thank you for the question. I believe in purpose. And when you know your purpose in your life, you are ready to change the world. We always need to look for a purpose and try to do the best of us every day. I’m not just here to be myself, but I’m here representing all these girls, all these beautiful projects. I want to work not alone, but together, with all this women to make the world better.”
Miss World 2019 Toni-Ann Singh of Jamaica
Question: “Why should you win? What’s special about you?”
Answer: “I think I represent something special, a generation of women that are pushing forward to change the world. I wouldn’t say I’m different from any other women on this stage, but I will say that my passion for women and pouring into them and making sure that they’ve had the same opportunities that I’ve had is something that sets me apart.”
Colombia’s Valeria Maria Ayos Bossa at Miss Universe 2021
Question: “According to Global Citizen, 95% of the world’s countries are led by a male head of state. How would the world be different if more women were in charge?”
Answer: “Women are leaders by nature. We have the power to raise our voice and make decisions in society, as role models make an example but not just with words, (but) with action. That’s why women raise their voices on this platform called Miss Universe. We are taking charge of our lives and deciding what we want to abort to society in order to make it a better way. So women, let’s raise our voice and make us a better-united universe.”
South Africa’s Lalela Lali Mswane at Miss Universe 2021
Question: “What advice would you give to young women who are watching on how to deal with the pressures they face today?”
Answer: “I would implore young women today to choose courage over comfort at every opportunity they get. I would also like women to know that since the beginning of time, they’ve had anything—everything, rather—within them to achieve anything they’ve wanted. It is unfortunately the world that convinced us that we do not.”
Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu of India
Question: “What advice would you give to young women who are watching on how to deal with the pressures they face today?”
Answer: “I think the biggest pressure the youth of today is facing is to believe in themselves; to know that you are unique and that what makes you beautiful. Stop comparing yourselves with others and let’s talk about more important things that are happening worldwide. I think this is what you need to understand. Come out and speak for yourself because you are the leader of your life, you are the voice of your own. I believed in myself, and that’s why I’m standing here today.”
Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel of USA
Question: “If you win Miss Universe, how would you work to demonstrate this as an empowering and progressive organization?”
Answer: “I would use it to be a transformational leader. As a very passionate designer, I’ve been sewing for 13 years, I use fashion as a force for good. In my industry, I’m cutting down on pollution through recycling materials when I make my clothing. I teach sewing classes to women that have survived from human trafficking and domestic violence. And I say that because it is so important to invest in others, invest in our community and use your unique talent to make a difference. We all have something special, and when we plant those seeds to other people in our life, we transform them and we use that as a vehicle for change.”
