PNB's list of Top 5 pageant news stories has become a New Year's tradition, like "Auld Lang Syne," hangovers and writing the wrong year on checks. It's a tradition we are delighted to continue.
2002 was a very unusual year. Most of the major pageant news stories were also major stories in the mainstream media. For this reason, we are presenting our summary in a slightly different way.
First, we offer the traditional list. It was compiled by our board, all of whose members are journalists, not pageant fans. (Some, in fact, have a low regard for pageants.) Second, we offer a pageant-style account of 2002 by a devoted pageant fan with a keen interest in news and history.
This contrast should offer a valuable perspective on pageant news and how it fits into the world of journalism.
PNB's Top 5
1. The Miss World Pageant created a furor with its decision to stage its contest in Nigeria. That angered influential Muslim extremists in that country, who forced a change in the date of the pageant so as not to conflict with Ramadan. The decision also angered those who oppose persecution of women in Nigeria's Muslim areas, and it sparked a boycott by several contestants. Finally, deadly violence by Muslim rioters forced the pageant to retreat to London.
2. Miss Universe was dethroned. Oxana Fedorova, the first Russian to hold the title, was ousted for allegedly failing to meet her contractual obligations. The mysterious change sparked widespread speculation about sex, marriage, money, pregnancy, superpower politics and any number of other things.
3. Rebellion continued to rock Miss America. Katie Harman, Miss America 2002, was outspoken in her criticism of the venerable pageant's policies. Her successor, Erika Harold, was equally defiant, and forced pageant officials to back off from their opposition to her preaching of sexual abstinence. In a more unusual development, Rebekah Revels, who had given up her crown as Miss North Carolina in a mini-scandal, reconsidered and took the state and national pageants to court to reclaim her title. For a time, she was permitted to participate in pageant activities in Atlantic City, which was an extraordinary concession.
4. Halle Berry, who is more identified with pageants than any major actress in years, became the queen of Hollywood. She won an Oscar for a serious dramatic role, then emerged as the first "Bond girl" in history to overshadow her male co-star. As a black woman, she continued to demolish color barriers, routinely gaining roles that were not specifically written for women of color. (Another pageant veteran, former PNB cover girl Maria Menounos, became a major fixture on "Entertainment Tonight.")
5. Miss Universe Inc. was sold. In a somewhat complicated deal, Donald Trump exchanged co-owner CBS for co-owner NBC. The practical result was that NBC became the broadcaster of the pageant, effective in 2003.
A pageant fan's top stories
These are rated in descending order, pageant-style. Because of the busy year, there are 10. (Wish we had thought of some of these!)
First Place -- Turmoil, riots, and boycotts connected with the 2002 Miss World Pageant.
Second Place -- The Rebekah Chantay Revels/Misty Dawn Clymer Miss North Carolina case of nude photos vs. pageant titles, and Rebekah's subsequent selection as Miss World USA.
Third Place -- Miss Universe 2002, Oxana Federova of Russia fired. Justine Lissette Pasek becomes Panama's first Miss Universe as she assumes the Miss Universe title Sept. 25.
Fourth Place -- Miss America Organization finance, personnel problems, lawsuit of former Miss America CEO Robert Beck, and ratings decline cause headaches during the year. National board names George Bauer as perminent CEO in November.
Fifth Place -- CBS out, NBC in as pageant broadcaster and co-owner of the Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA pageants, ending a 35-year tradition with CBS.
Sixth Place -- The death of one of the most prominent and beloved Miss Americas, Marian Bergeron Setzer, Miss America 1935. Her husband, Frederick C. Setzer, died seven months earlier.
Seventh Place -- The Brandy Watkins (Miss Memphis) residency scandal in the Miss Tennessee system. Watkins of Arkansas is released from title, pageant first runner-up Kelly Miller assumes Miss Memphis title in May after four weeks of media attention.
Eighth Place -- Miss United States Teen co-founder Tony Cain dies; his partner, pageant director Fred Goble, dies four months later. National pageant scheduled for July is postponed until November.
Ninth Place -- Halle Berry, Miss Ohio USA 1986 and Miss World USA 1986, wins Best Actress Academy Award, becomes first African-American woman to win the award.
Tenth Place -- Miss America 2003, Erika Natali Louise Harold, wins national title and is angered after she is told to not use her abstinence platform; pageant officials retract after national publicity. Her state first runner-up, Michelle Lane LaGroue of Naperville, Ill., assumes Miss Illinois title and suffers injuries in a November car accident.
