Social media is a better platform for fame and endorsement
Historically, beauty pageants have served as a springboard to a career in the spotlight, with former Miss Universe Singapore contestants Eunice Olsen and Rebecca Lim going on to have huge success in show business.
But the allure of beauty pageants as a stepping stone to fame is fading. Social media platforms have democratized the path to stardom by offering a quicker, more direct route through content creation, audience engagement and brand partnerships.
Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube allow individuals to showcase their talents, share their stories, and build their personal brands without feeling pressured to conform to a particular ideal of beauty.
Former Miss Universe Singapore contestant, personal trainer and influencer Tien Rasif explained how she decided to take part in the pageant in 2018 as she saw it as a platform to advocate for causes she is passionate about.
She said her participation in the activity had damaged her self-esteem.
In a 2019 YouTube video and a recent Instagram post, she said the experience caused her to lose sight of her original goal of promoting bodybuilding and fitness — and, ironically, pressured her to “lose muscle” to fit in with the other contestants.
In contrast, social media empowers individuals like Rasif to honestly air their passions to a wider audience, without the constraints of a contest format.
