Earlier beauties are more beautiful

Free Thinker *

Naked-eye witnesses say that only 3 or 4 are really beautiful; others are so-so; but the majority of them are smart and elegant. With due respect to all the 30 contestants may I have the pleasure to declare that ‘you all are winners’. Every individual is unique - everyone is beautiful. The beauty contest is just a business and we are supporting it because millions of people are involved and billions of dollars are invested.

Earlier beauties are more beautiful, this is not an exaggeration but a statement of fact coming out from the heart. The new generation may not agree because they have not seen or experienced the charming faces of the earlier stars and bewitching beauties decades ago. Those who have crossed 40 or 50 or even 60 will be able to feel and fantasize about the charm of Madhubala & Madhuri, everlasting Semi & Rekha, and irresistibly enticing Sen & Rai.

Youngsters of today may think that they know and experience more through the net in the virtual world. With the help of technology they believe that they can see, sense, and experience from Apsaras to Noors. AI is helping them too. But when an AI (Indian) is asked who is the most beautiful lady? - “Parvati Mata”; the purest lady?- “Sita Mata”; most attractive? - “Laukika Apsara”; most intelligent?- “Saraswati Mata”.

In the process of universalization of beauty today, physical looks are given less importance. Primary emphasis is given more to personality, wisdom, knowledge, and conduct. These are of course important but for a man – appearance matters the most. I strongly feel that appearance is neglected to a great extent; bodily beauty must be the main criterion; the brain is only a supplement.

The problem with these Z girls is that they always bow down to the mobile. They are addicted to Junk foods, ignore exercise, use excessively unhealthy drinks, and indulge in unfettered nightlife - these make them look dull and deformed. They are not taking a balanced diet or doing physical activity. Their natural looks disappear due to these crazy habits. It diminishes their natural glows and takes away their beauty elements.

It was impossible for me to see and interact with 30 of them physically because I was neither a police officer nor a politician, nor an invitee nor a jury. Despite this handicap, I have glimpses of the girls on screen. Their daily activities and exposures are made available in the media including social media. Their looks and features could be fathomed. None were found extremely intimidating and seducing.

Without make-up, these beauties may look pale. Many of them may fail in the real test of aesthetics in the virtual matrix. They speak well, behave well, quite sociable and their EQ and IQ are quite appreciable. But the body-beauty quotient (BQ) seems lacking.

Every culture has its own concept and idea of beauty. Japanese beauty notions can’t be compared with Nigerian beauty beliefs. Indian beauty may not be comparable with the Europeans. American beauty will certainly be different from Arabian beauty.

For the sake of business, beauty is globalized by multinationals or beauty-product Companies. They are playing a humongous role in the commercialization and marketing of beauty. Globalization of beauty is not an essay task because of the multifarious ethnicities, cultures, communities, and races. Still, in the last 70/80 years, the notion of beauty has seemingly harmonized globally through cinema, beauty magazines, TV, beauty contests, the internet, mobile phones, etc.

Just imagine - how can a Chinese or Indian or African or European or Brazilian compete in a common beauty contest platform? It is made possible by the organizers by harmonizing elements of beauty. Once a look is presentable - the color of the skin or hair, shapes & sizes of body parts, even heights - all are made redundant. Contests are seemingly made for a better personality and intellect.

Earlier the contestants were not exactly State / UT representatives. Individual participants were entertained extensively; it was free for all. The present contest system is perhaps based on equal representation.

It curtails the sample size. Earlier we used to see 70 beauties at the finals, mostly from cosmopolitan or metropolitan cities. Today we are getting beauties from small towns too but certainly not from the rural areas where survival is still more important than any other things.

We have got Miss India (at Imphal ) and they have got AIIMS (at Guwahati). Both are following the mantra of “Nation first and People first”. We are more people-oriented; we know the pulse of the people. Miss India comes once in a blue moon day, whereas we can go to AIIMS frequently as it is not far off now.

Phones and foods have dented our beauties. New generation pageants look like renovated Barbie (artificial) the older generation beauties look like Madhubala (natural). Many may still go for the latter though the majority will be after Barbie, now 83. After all, beauty lies in the eyes of the ‘beer’ holder.

‘Beauty is skin-deep‘ – we like that only – MCP.