This past Saturday, the 2013 Miss World pageant was won by 23-year-old Miss Philippines, Megan Young. Held in Indonesia, the Miss World 2013 pageant had contestants from 127 countries competing for the oldest international beauty pageant title.
Young’s victory was a big win for the Philippines. By earning the Miss World title, Philippines is now the third country, after Brazil and Venezuela, to win all four major international beauty contests: Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss International, and Miss Earth.
This should be very celebrated news, but after Nina Davuluri, we should have known better than to expect no controversy.
It is rumored that less than 24 hours after the pageant results, the U.S. filed a formal protest with the Miss World pageant organizers. Although Young spent most of her life in the Philippines, she was born in the United States. The protest is allegedly arguing that because of this, she should be credited as a U.S. entry as well. The protest claims that because her father is American, her surname “sounds very American.” Apparently, she should be declared a “dual contestant” because of her dual citizenship.
Thankfully, these rather outrageous protests are not confirmed. This does not, however, stop American media outlets such as CNN and Hollywood Life from emphasizing her birthplace.
So first Nina Davuluri isn’t “American enough” because of her ethnic background. Now, despite Megan Young culturally identifying as a Filipina, America wants to be credited in her win because she was born in the U.S.
Yeah. That makes a load of sense.
