“Oh, no. Not another reality show.”
I think that’s become a lot of people’s first reaction when they hear about a new reality show. Then, when they hear the premise of the reality show, there’s a lot of eye rolling and head-shaking.
That was my reaction when I heard about Instant Beauty Pageant. But I watched the first episode. And I must have liked it, because I’ve watched several episodes since then. In fact, as reality shows go, this one isn’t too bad.
Instant Beauty Pageant, on the Style Network, has a simple premise. Every episode, the show travels to a new city. There, six unsuspecting women are ambushed on the street, are given $500 and three hours to shop for an evening gown and swimsuit, and then must compete in a beauty pageant in front of a live audience. The winner receives an all-expenses paid, 6 day, 7 night trip to Cabo San Lucas, and is crowned Miss Instant Beauty (Insert Name of City Here).
Sounds kind of silly, huh? Well, it kind of silly. And one good thing about Instant Beauty Pageant is that this reality show doesn’t take itself too seriously. The hosts know it’s just a fun bit of nonsense, and that’s okay. Because, while many reality shows seem to require participants to be dramatic and make fools of themselves, all Instant Beauty Pageant asks it’s contestants to do is have fun trying something new.
But it’s not all sunshine and flowers. Instant Beauty Pageant turns some of the contestants into instant divas. (Or, in the case of the friend a contestant can call upon to help them get ready, instant “stage mothers.”) In one episode, a contestant’s helper seemed to make it her mission to insult each and every one of the other contestants, letting them all know they were dogs compared to her friend. In another episode, a male helper transformed into a Svengali, much to the contestant’s surprise. He ordered her around, ignored her opinions and suggestions, and generally ticked her, and the viewers, off.
So, yes, a reality show like Instant Beauty Pageant can bring out the worst in people. But it can also bring out the best. In one episode, a contestant was hit by a massive case of stage fright right before the curtain rose. The other contestants seemed to completely forget she was their rival for a pretty tasty prize. Instead, they rallied around her, giving her the encouragement she needed to go on.
Not that the contestants take the beauty pageant all that seriously. At first. In the beginning, most of them seem to be doing it as a lark. They get to have fun spending someone else’s money, and just might get a free trip out of the deal. But, during the three-hour prep time, the competitive juices start flowing and, by the time the beauty pageant begins, you can tell most of these women really want to win.
As for the beauty pageant itself, it’s pure amateur night. And nobody expects anything else. But considering these women have so little time to prepare, and many of them have never been on stage before, they do surprisingly well. The talent competition is particularly fun. Or painful, depending on your point of view.
And the winners’ reactions can be surprisingly touching. Cheesy, perhaps. But still touching.
Instant Beauty Pageant isn’t groundbreaking TV. But this reality show can be a fun way to spend an hour.
You can catch new episodes of Instant Beauty Pageant on the Style network, Friday nights at 8 pm Eastern.
Reference:
- The Style Network home page: www.stylenetwork.com/index.html
