Every October in the little town (about 4000 people) I grew up in, there is the Yamboree. I know you're thinking that I have a spelling issue, but I don't. Down in Gilmer, TX we celebrate yams in October. Growing up I loved this time, we got a few days off from school, we got to march in a parade (I was in band, and also a cheerleader for a few years), food, rides, concerts, and animal competitions.The biggest deal though, was the pageant. Growing up, I was a little bugged by this. As an adult, I find it a bit disgusting! The clubs in the town pick one high school senior girl and she represents them in a race for the most funds. The girls sell tickets to a pageant and the biggest seller wins. So the girl with the richest parents wins every year. A few years ago, a girls parents cashed in some of their retirement to buy her a crown. How crazy is that!
After this girl wins, she and the other girls running have to buy these outrageous dresses that cost thousands of dollars and they parade around on a stage for all of their families and friends. There are dances that the other high school kids are in and then at the end the queen gets to bow and be crowned. There is a dance in her honor after.
Some of the funds go to the city, but the rest are for the Yamboree fund. They built this huge building to house the pageant. It is so silly, yet a Gilmer tradition. I danced a few years in the pageant and went to some of the dances.
How do you all feel about pageants?
The ones I hear about here in the West, you have to have a little skill for. Good grades, athleticism, poise, and some kind of questions. I think the Yamboree put a bad taste in my mouth for them, then there was that JonBenet thing.
2 comments:
I think you have told me about the yanboree before. I think its kind of silly to get involved in a pageant that can be determined by $$$. I wonder why any girls would put themselved through it. I think the yamboree sounds fun without the pageant, you know getting out of school, food and fun.
I actually grew up watching pageants, but reading that makes me realize how degrading they can be. We have to be careful!
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