SOCIAL MEDIA A BETTER PLATFORM FOR FAME AND ADVOCACY
Historically, pageants have been springboards for careers in the limelight, with former Miss Universe Singapore contestants like Eunice Olsen and Rebecca Lim achieving significant success in show business.
However, the allure of beauty pageants as a launchpad to fame is fading. Social media platforms have democratised the path to stardom, offering quicker and more direct routes through content creation, audience engagement and brand partnerships.
Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube allow individuals to showcase their talents, share their stories and build personal brands without the pressure to conform to specific beauty ideals.
Personal trainer and influencer Tyen Rasif, a former Miss Universe Singapore contestant, discussed how she participated in 2018 because she saw the pageant as a platform for her to advocate for causes she is passionate about.
She shared that her participation negatively impacted her self-esteem.
In a 2019 YouTube video and more recently on Instagram, she said the experience made her lose sight of her initial objective of promoting bodybuilding and fitness. She was, ironically, pressured to “lose muscle” in order to blend in with the rest of the contestants.
Social media, in contrast, empowers individuals like Ms Rasif to advocate for their passions authentically, reaching a wider audience without the constraints of a pageant format.