Definition of beauty contest

The term "beauty contest" originated in the United States in the early 20th century, during a time when women's roles and societal standards of beauty were undergoing significant shifts. The first recorded use of the phrase was in a magazine advertisement promoting a beauty pageant contest in 1921. The advertisement referred to the event as a "Beauty Strategic Review," but the term "beauty contest" quickly gained traction and soon became the recognized term for these types of events. The popularity of beauty contests spiked in the 1920s and 1930s as women began to embrace more liberal ideas of femininity and self-expression. With the rise of mass media, beauty contests became a platform for showcasing the latest trends in fashion, makeup, and hairstyling, as well as a forum for discussing issues surrounding women's health and hygiene. The famous Miss America pageant, which began in 1921, was originally conceived simply as a bathing beauty contest, but later evolved to include a range of categories designed to showcase the elegance, intelligence, and talent of the contestants. Today, the term "beauty contest" is still widely used to describe various beauty pageants, talent competitions, and other events that emphasize physical appearance and personal charm, although the connotation of the term may carry more negative connotations for some people due in part to critiques of the standards of beauty these contests can perpetuate. In any case, the evolution of the term "beauty contest" reveals much about the historical and cultural significance of beauty ideals, as well as women's evolving relationship with these ideals over time.