How the drastically changed pageant seasons are upsetting the natural cycle of national pageants

With Miss World moved to August and Miss Universe to, according to latest information, December, the pageant season is drastically changed from the traditional notion that the latter starts the season while the former caps it. Call it beauty pageant climate change but across the globe these drastic changes are affecting the schedules of national pageants.

Miss World was actually founded as a summer pageant as it initially kicked off in the "balmy" yet rainy July London. In its early years it became an October pageant and since 1959 it became your regular November/December pageant. Not much changed since then except in two instances. In 2006, Miss World wisely avoided the harsh Polish winter for a much tolerable autumn. In 2010 it made a mistake by having the finals in October, a typhoon season in the West Philippine Sea area. It was a year when Miss World contestants paraded swimsuits with umbrella at hand.

This year, the August schedule is a drastic change that caused an upset to the natural order of things in the pageantry world. Now France, South Africa and Russia must think how to send its representatives as these countries in many instances send a single contestant, first to Miss Universe, then to Miss World.

Marielle Wilkie was chosen as the Barbadian contestant for Miss World 2012

Barbados for example has released a statement to Missosology that they have chosen Marielle Wilkie, 21 years old and stands 5'9", as their Miss World 2012 rep without a formal pageant. Meanwhile, Brazil simply recollected its losers for the past three years and appointed a winner. Rumors are circulating that 2011 top performers Philippines and Puerto Rico will now simply appoint their representatives out from their left-overs last year.

These scenarios are a disgrace especially for nations with so many beautiful women like Brazil. While it is understandable that winter is unbearable in Inner Mongolia or that a December Miss Universe seems to reinforce the notion that it is meant to be about a summer in Johannesburg, sticking with the usual schedules makes the life of national pageants easier. Organizers must realize that drastically changing the schedules and upsetting the natural flow of the pageantry season will have wide ranging negative impact. MU and MW must appreciate that consistent schedules are crucial for national pageants struggling with preparations and, above all else, in finding sponsors. Let's hope that in 2013, these pageants will finally get their acts together, revert to their original schedules and perhaps make everybody happy.