Topic: Pageants

Tara Palmieri and Anderson Cooper discuss the psychological implications of Trump's "smile" comments, citing Yale professor Marianne LaFrance’s research on facial expressions. The discussion takes a bizarre turn as Palmieri refers to Collins as a "vessel" for the American people. The hosts mock the idea that Trump is trying to return to a 1950s archetype where women were only valued for their beauty and deference.

The inaugural Miss AI pageant features digital models created with generative artificial intelligence, such as Moroccan finalist Kenza Lely. The winner of the competition will receive a $5,000 prize. The hosts contrast the idealized AI models with the recent crowning of a 350-pound Miss Alabama in a human pageant.

In Italy, over 100 transgender men (individuals assigned female at birth) have entered the Miss Italy pageant as a protest. This follows a ruling by pageant organizers that only those assigned female at birth can compete, which excluded transgender women. The hosts discuss the absurdity of the situation and the decline of traditional beauty contests.

Rikkie Valerie Kollé, a transgender woman of Moluccan descent, was crowned Miss Netherlands 2023, marking the first time a trans person has won the title. The victory allows Kollé to compete in the Miss Universe pageant. The selection has sparked debate regarding the inclusion of biological males in female beauty competitions and the influence of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agendas in Dutch culture.

The Miss Universe pageant in New Orleans featured Miss Ukraine, Viktoriia Apanasenko, wearing a "Warrior of Light" costume complete with motorized wings and a sword. The attire is intended to symbolize Ukraine's fight for freedom and invokes the imagery of Archangel Michael. Speculation exists that geopolitical interests may influence the outcome of the competition, potentially positioning Ukraine as a top contender or winner.

The hosts analyze a confusing Australian news report regarding AstraZeneca vaccine availability for people under 40. They discuss the "peak-end rule" in psychology, suggesting the report was designed to leave viewers with a negative impression of the AstraZeneca jab to favor other brands.

Kataluna Enriquez became the first transgender woman to be crowned Miss Nevada USA. The hosts discuss the impact of "woke culture" on traditional institutions and pivot to a tangent about the disappearance of women-specific sports like six-man basketball.

John C. Dvorak reviews the Miss USA 2019 pageant, focusing on the winner, Cheslie Kryst of North Carolina, and the political nature of the competition. He notes that Kryst, a lawyer, emphasized her professional background and wore her hair in a natural style. The hosts critique the diversity-focused questions asked of the finalists and suggest the outcome felt semi-rigged to favor specific political narratives.

During the Miss USA pageant, Miss Arkansas is asked why the United States remains racially divided despite its diversity. She responds by advocating for the celebration of diversity and warns against looking at others and saying, "I am racist against you." The hosts mock the phrasing of her answer and her subsequent elimination from the competition.

Angela Ponce won the Miss Universe Spain title, becoming the first transgender woman to compete in the international pageant. The hosts recall their previous predictions that such a milestone would occur. The discussion briefly touches on the changing standards of international beauty competitions.

MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski reports a claim that Donald Trump's biggest complaint about the White House is the inability to watch pornography. The segment includes criticism of Trump's past involvement in beauty pageants and his treatment of women. The hosts question the validity of the "porn" claim, suggesting it may have been a joke taken out of context.

Observations of the Miss USA broadcast suggest potential rigging, noting that winner Sarah Rose Summers was given a standalone interview segment before the final results. The broadcast also featured a contestant resembling Stormy Daniels, while the winner's use of the invented word "connectioning" drew scrutiny.

Contestants in the Miss Peru beauty pageant used their platform to protest violence against women by reciting crime statistics instead of their physical measurements. Figures cited included 82 murders and 156 attempted murders of women in Peru this year. The winner, Romina Lozano, highlighted that over 3,000 women are registered victims of human trafficking in the country.

A preliminary deconstruction of the recent Miss America pageant highlights the highly political nature of the questions asked of the finalists. The hosts criticize the pageant for focusing on anti-Trump sentiment and plan a full analysis for the following episode.

Mikayla Holmgren, a student from Minnesota with Down syndrome, has entered the Miss Minnesota USA pageant. If she wins, she will be the first person with Down syndrome to compete in the Miss USA pageant. The hosts discuss the "trailblazer" label given to her by organizers and the evolving standards of beauty pageants.

The hosts provide a critical review of the Miss USA 2016 pageant, noting a shift toward "multi-culti" finalists and a lack of traditional beauty standards. They analyze the "walk" of the contestants, describing a specific swaying motion used to create the illusion of a waist. The production is criticized for having contestants shout their introductions over loud DJ music, which the hosts attribute to poor television production.

A new rule in the Miss USA competition allowed fellow contestants to weigh in on the final scores, which the co-host sarcastically labeled "women supporting women." During the final question, Deshauna Barber defined "confidently beautiful" through the lens of earning respect in the military regardless of appearance. The hosts mock the "phony" nature of the answers and the focus on "powerful" self-descriptions.

Perez Hilton, serving as a judge for Miss Universe 2015, delivers a televised insult directed at former owner Donald Trump. The hosts analyze the reaction of the production staff and host Steve Harvey to the comment, suggesting a "curse" began on the production immediately following the slight against the former owner.

A comparison of pageant standards under Donald Trump's ownership versus the current management highlights changes in contestant selection and stage behavior. Observations include a shift toward mixed-race contestants, such as Miss France, and a perceived lack of discipline regarding "duckface" expressions and mugging for the camera during the broadcast.

Miss Philippines, Pia Wurtzbach, answers a political question during the Miss Universe pageant regarding the reopening of United States military bases in her country. She expresses support for the American presence, citing the historical relationship and shared culture resulting from past colonization.