Beauty Queens and Conservatism: A Perfect Match

The conservative movement is full of intelligent, beautiful and ambitious women.

As a former beauty queen, it’s no surprise to me that many of them got their start in beauty pageants; I can tell you firsthand that pageants offer real, substantive life lessons.

I began competing in pageants when I was 18 months old and continued until I was 18.

It was never a full-time job — more like an extracurricular activity. I loved it because it challenged me to engage with my community, represent myself with poise and confidence, develop strong communication skills and grow as a person and leader.

During high school, I had the honor of serving my hometown community as a beauty queen for two years. In my junior year of high school, I served as Teen Miss Hemet and in my senior year as Miss Hemet. In those roles, my love for community service truly deepened. I participated in Chamber of Commerce events, welcomed new businesses into our local economy and used my title to serve men and women in assisted living. Those experiences strengthened my sense of civic responsibility and taught me how powerful it can be to use your platform to make a positive difference in other people’s lives.

There’s a common misconception that pageants are all superficial with no substance. The truth is, they can be powerful tools for personal growth and leadership development.

Some of the most valuable lessons I learned in pageants include,

• Public speaking and communication — learning to express myself clearly and with confidence.

• Grace under pressure — performing and thinking on my feet in stressful situations.

• Personal image and discipline — understanding the value of a first impression and the importance of perseverance.

• Community engagement — learning to serve, advocate and lead with purpose.

• Resilience and confidence — handling criticism, setbacks and competition with courage.

• Maintaining a teachable spirit — staying open to growth and recognizing progression is built on a willingness to keep learning.

Erika Kirk is a shining example of how pageantry can shape a young woman into a poised, articulate and influential leader. Her ability to communicate with grace and strength in the face of adversity has made her a beloved figure among young conservatives today.

Kristi Noem is another example of a conservative leader who developed poise, communication skills and public presence through pageantry. As she rose in political leadership, those foundational experiences helped prepare her for the responsibilities of serving as governor of South Dakota and now Secretary of Homeland Security.

Kirk and Noem illustrate that beauty pageants aren’t just about crowns and sashes — it’s about building the skills, confidence and character to be successful in life.

Pageant alumnae are an excellent fit for the conservative movement because conservatism values ambitious, intelligent and thoughtful women. Conservatives celebrate the talents beauty queens develop and honor marriage and motherhood as powerful, meaningful expressions of womanhood.

For some, pageants can seem shallow because of its emphasis on outward beauty. At the heart of it all is a simple truth: pageantry may celebrate beauty, but true beauty comes from within — and that’s what sets it apart from a superficial display.

Even though I didn’t always walk away with the crown and sash, the most important lesson I learned from beauty pageants was that true beauty was a reflection of inner beauty — and that kind of beauty never fades — it grows more radiant with time.

For many of us who were contestants and followers of Jesus, we understood that we reflected the Light of the World. That foundation of faith, combined with the strength and grace learned through pageantry, is what makes so many pageant alumnae powerful voices in our culture today.

Image from Getty.