FOF #382 - Let Beauty Set You Free - 09.05.06
Video artist Kerthy Fix was leery when she went on assignment to follow Miss South Carolina 1986 pageant winner Dawn Smith Jordan around for the reality TV show "What Not To Wear." She discovered that for many women in the South, being in a pageant is actually liberating for them:
"They all told me that having to have a platform, having to read the paper and know about current affairs, having to have talent and the interview process in a lot of these pageants is the most heavily scored part. And that is invisible to the TV viewer. You don't see the judges interview the contestants. And in the Miss America system it's extremely important because they don't want some bimbo out there, they want somebody intelligent who can speak well.
All these women were saying 'Once I got trough that system nobody could intimidate me. Job interviews were a breeze, I could speak to a room full of people.' It was interesting to find out this is why women stay in these pageants."
Listen to today's show as we talk with video artist Kerthy Fix who recently spent the last month in South Carolina as the field producer for the Learning Channel's Reality program What Not to Wear.
Kerthy and the production team followed three 40 something moms who competed together in the 1986 Miss South Carolina pageant and were asked 20 years later to recreate the experience in front of a crowd of 3000 people.
What Not To Wear: "Pageant Rewind" airs this Friday Sept. 8 on The Learning Channel at 8pm, 11pm and again on Sunday at 2pm, eastern standard time.
In case you wanted it, here is the music of Dawn Smith Jordan available on iTunes by clicking here.
The podcast that scores high on entertainment and low on baby momma drama- the Feast of Fools.
Featured Music:
Baby Teeth - The Baby Teeth Album: iTunes | Amazon
Rachael Sage - Blistering Sun: Amazon | Site
Dawn Smith Jordan: iTunes | Amazon
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Posted by Fausto | 11:14 PM | Podcasts | Email to a friend
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Comments
Wow! I can't believe I am the first to comment.
My mother was involved with a local preliminary to the Miss Tennessee Pageant, which was part of the Miss America system. She used to talk about all of the behind-the-scenes dirt that nobody ever saw. From contestants who practically stole dresses, costumes, and talent routines, to the use of toilet paper to "stuff" a dress, to the politics that went on between the pageant franchise owner and the judges that determined who would win long before any of the actual competition took place, it was far from the squeeky-clean image the pagenats want to project. It will be interesting to see if any of this dirt makes it into this reality show, or if it is as whitewashed as Tom Sawyer's fence.
Said by: David at September 5, 2006 07:35 AM
You guys don't know who Stacy and Clinton are from What Not TO Wear??!
I'm sorry but you're going to have to
give uup your queer card.
Said by: Curt at September 5, 2006 09:51 AM
Kerthy is adorable! I love her energy and her adorable laugh! :)
I haven't watched 'What Not To Wear" in ages.. but I do know about Stacy and Clinton. In fact I saw Clinton at Sidetrack one night. Of course he's a big ol' queen. I mean come on. :)
But this was such a fun show... and I'll have to check out the show. I remember Kerthy from the Sept. 11 show-- it was a pretty harrowing account as I recall.
Said by: RcktMan at September 5, 2006 04:45 PM
hey fausto have you heard, willie ninja passed away. :( i think i remember a past episode where you were discussing him being sorta overrated. still tragic and hes dont a lot for pop culture.
Said by: mary at September 5, 2006 05:30 PM
How have you never seen What Not To Wear? Seriously! Y'all may have declared a war on ugly, but Stacey and Clinton are the ones actually fighting the battles. The show isn't at all like your typical trashy reality show. It's about finding the beauty in everyone, regardless of their shape, and building up self esteem by showing them that they *can* look good if they try.
Said by: Frank at September 5, 2006 06:45 PM
I love Stacy - I think she is great. She has a hot bod and knows what she is talking about, hell, she's been on Oprah before.
As for Clinton, who didn't know he was a mo'?
Said by: Ren at September 6, 2006 03:47 PM
Thank you for a fun show. It brings back memories of when I competed in female impersonation pagents in the early 90's.
I enjoyed being the center of attention when I modeled my evening gown and performed my "talent" number. I had little talent, but a big heart and personality.... I won a few "Miss Congenieality" awards along the way...
There was some shady queens, but I just ignored that and had fun. I had much more fun then talent ;)
Said by: Miss Bunny at September 6, 2006 03:51 PM
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