Countless of women represented Scotland and showed to the world that Scottish beauties are one of the best. From top left clockwise, Miss World 2001 second-princess Juliet-Jane Horne, Miss Universe 1980 first runner-up Linda Gallagher, Miss Universe 1977 2nd runner-up Sandra Bell and Miss Universe 1976 3rd runner-up Carol Jean Grant
On September 18, 2014, the people in Scotland will vote on a very crucial question, “Should Scotland be an independent country?” The choices are simply Yes and No but it will map the future of Scotland, of Great Britain and of Europe. Viewing things from pageantry perspective, Scotland needs to bolt out from its political union with England as its beauty pageant scene has long been obscured and stifled by the faraway London.
Scotland as a nation was last represented at Miss Universe in 1990 and at Miss International in 1986. The country is well represented at Miss Earth but its franchise is owned by an organization based in England. At Miss World, Scotland was only represented in 1999 and prior to that, it has to compete with England, Northern Ireland and Wales because there is only one delegate for the whole of United Kingdom. Scotland’s political union with England hinders Scotland’s full development at the Big4 pageants.
The beauty of Scottish women proved to be world class when it is competing as a separate nation. Miss Scotland Linda Gallagher for example became the first runner at Miss Universe 1980. She was just a few points away from victory and she could have been Scotland’s pride but those were the days when there is a Miss Scotland at the pageant. Now its all Miss Great Britain at Miss Universe and thus Scotland’s prospect of winning at the pageant these days is basically statistically improbable.
With Scotland competing independently, Scottish women get a better shot in winning a Big4 crown. Three years after Scotland granted the right to compete as a separate nation at Miss World, Miss Scotland Juliet-Jane Horne became the second princess in 2001. Indeed, the Scottish pageantry community is way better without the interference of London and the rest of the UK.
Latest polls suggest that the referendum will be a tight contest. But Scottish voters must not be intimidated by the scare tactics of the politicians and the biased media from England. The recent economic warnings that were raised by bankers, retailers and oil companies when Scotland becomes independent were only released to the public after a poll showing that the Yes vote is taking a lead. How come they were so silent when polls were showing that independence was very unlikely? Also, the devo-max offer of the Westminster was only put on the table after the Unionist camp rang the alarm bells because the Nationalists are gaining ground. There is treachery coming from south of the border and the Scots should know better.
An independent Scotland will guarantee that Scottish beauties will be seen and appreciated by the whole world. If Scotland remains within the United Kingdom, it will be perpetually under the mercy of London. All kinds of tactics were exhausted by London to discourage the free spirit of the Scots. One London newspaper even run an article saying that North Korea is in favor of Scottish independence expecting that the Scots are not intelligent enough to know that Unionists are already scrapping the barrel for new and fresh ideas.
Countless of brave Scots died in the country’s struggle for independence. Now, independence is at hand and it only requires a democratic and peaceful process. Scotland’s potential and its proper place in the world be it in pageantry, in economics, in science, in education or in diplomacy can only be truly realized with a free and independent Scottish nation.
