Miss Universe Topless Photos: Here we go again.

OK, first lingerie, now topless body painted photos. Beside full nudity, I don’t know how much further the Miss Universe Organization can push the envelope.

This comes as no surprise to me based on how the organization and its representatives handled the controversy around the Miss USA photo. The women are the victims here.  I feel the Miss Universe Organization puts the contestants in a very difficult position when they say “the contestants were given the choice to pose topless.” There’s no choice. I say BRAVO to those ladies who refused to take it all off and stand their moral ground, even though they have eliminated themselves from any chance of winning the crown.

This type of photography doesn’t empower women. All it does is further the stereotype that pageants exploit women, which is a step backwards, not forwards. There is nothing creative or new about using the old “sex sells everything” marketing tactics that the Miss Universe Organization has chosen. ‘

I vividly remember a couple seasons ago on one of the episodes of Trump’s show, The Apprentice, when for several weeks the female team had beaten the male team because the ladies used their sex appeal to win the tasks. In the board room, Mr. Trump told the women that they were smart and accomplished women; and he didn’t want them to continue to use the “sex card” anymore. In essence, he challenged them to use their creativity to show substance from within. I wish Mr. Trump would listen to his own words and apply them to his pageant. I, for one, am tired of this organization hiding behind the “its art” façade. It’s exploitation. Period.

Most titleholders are woman of great depth and service. Beauty just happens to be the frosting on the cake, not the cake itself. It’s a shame that the public will never open their minds to seeing the remarkable things these women are doing in their home states and communities because of the shallow actions of this organization.

There are still many value oriented and high quality pageant opportunities for girls and women to participate in if they want to personally grow using this type of vehicle. The Miss Universe Organization just isn’t one at this time.