Beauty Pageants

The Heidi Glaus Show with Josh Gilbert. St. Louis Radio. December 2, 2024. Talking Miss USA/Universe scandals.

“New Miss Universe crowned amid organization turmoil.” November 25, 2024. Yahoo News. Marjorie McAfee, Elizabeth Perkin, et al.

IMPACT x Nightline: “Cracks in the Crown: Miss Universe in Crisis?” November 21. Hulu/ABC News.

"Michigan’s Alma Cooper, soldier who competed for Miss Universe crown, faces new challenge.” November 7, 2024. Detroit Free Press. Frank Witsil.

Anadalu Agency story/video on pageants. October 1, 2024. Gülçin Kazan Döger.

“A beauty pageant turns ugly: The alleged plot to steal a queen’s crown.” September 7, 2024. BBC. Nick Marsh.

“The rise of the AI beauty pageant and its complicated quest for the ‘perfect’ woman.” June 27, 2024. CNN. Issy Ronald.

“What Really Happened Inside Miss USA?” June 13, 2024. The New York Times. Madison Malone Kircher and Callie Holtermann.

“The Uncanny Rise of the World’s First AI Beauty Pageant.” June 3, 2024. Wired. Marah Eakin.

“The Miss USA Meltdown: winners expose darkness at heart of pageant.” May 19, 2024. The Times. Josie Ensor.

“‘Such a hot mess’: turmoil inside the world of US beauty pageants.” May 19, 2024. The Guardian. Edward Helmore.

“Miss USA Resignations Embroil Organization in ‘Toxic’ Workplace Allegations.” May 10, 2024. Yahoo/Huffington Post. Paige Skinner.

“Miss USA, Miss Teen USA resignations: A reminder of beauty pageants’ controversial history.” May 8, 2024. USA Today. Jeanine Santucci.

“Was Miss Universe’s first pageant under trans ownership a revolutionary night? Fans are mixed.” November 26, 2023. LGBTQ Nation. Rebecca L. Root.

“L.A. used to be awash in beauty pageants. Where did they go?” October 25, 2023. Los Angeles Times. Patt Morrison.

The New York Times Presents: How to Fix a Pageant. September 29, 2023. FX, Season 3, Episode 1. (Sneak peek clip of documentary here)

“FX’s How to Fix a Pageant Makes the Case for Saving Pageantry.” September 28, 2023. Primetimer. Amber Dowling.

“Bullies, body shaming, bathing suits: Miss America winners’ living nightmares.” July 8, 2023. NY Post. Jeanette Settembre.

“Road to Miss Arkansas long for some hopefuls.” June 7, 2023. Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Ainsley Platt.

“As NYC is the center of the world, Miss Universe is learning to be a New Yorker.” April 28, 2023. Gothamist. Kerry Shaw.

“Hannah Brown and Kenya Moore Proved Beauty Queens Are Tough On ‘Special Forces.’” March 2, 2023. BuzzFeed. Paige Skinner.

“Controversy rocks Miss USA after contestants say pageant was rigged.” October 27, 2022. The Washington Post. Maham Javaid.

“On the Future of Beauty Pageants..” June 21, 2022. The Saturday Evening Post. Cable Neuhaus.

“The Beauty of Pageants.” February 11, 2022. Pop, the Question Podcast. Malia Lewis.

"Miss America turns 100 this week. Does anybody care?” December 14, 2021. Yahoo. Beth Greenfield.

“Celebrate 100 Years of Miss America by checking out these books.” September 9, 2021. The Press of Atlantic City. Mark Melhorn.

One Click Podcast: The Girl in the Photo. July 15, 2021. C13 Originals.

“‘Black girl magic at its finest’: Juneteenth pageants let women, girls be unapologetically black.” June 19, 2021. USA Today. N’dea Yancey-Bragg.

“Beauty Pageants and Feminism.” May 20, 2021. Episode 1661 of 51%. Jackie Orchard.

Episode 144 of the en(gender)ed Podcast talking about Here She Is. April 15, 2021.

“St. Louis Jewish Book Festival holds Spring Popup starting this Sunday.” April 13, 2021. Show Me St. Louis. KSDK.

“In the Know with Ray Hartmann.” April 6, 2021. KTRS 550 AM (St. Louis).

“Celebrate Women’s History Month with These Rhody Reads.” March 2, 2021. Hey Rhody. Hugh Minor.

“Brown Sociologist’s Newest Book Explores Beauty Pageants & Feminism in America.” February 25, 2021. Providence Monthly. Megan Schmit.

“Check Out These New Books with Rhode Island Connections.” February 16, 2021. Rhode Island Monthly. Jamie Coelho.

“The Real Impact of ‘Toddlers & Tiaras’: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.” January 21, 2021. The Tamron Hall Show (live).

“Q&A with Hilary Levey Friedman.” December 8, 2020. The Conversation: New York State Writers Institute.”

“Considering Beauty Pageants (with Hilary Levey Friedman).” December 2, 2020. Pantsuit Politics, The Nuanced Life podcast.

“Hilary Levey Friedman *09 Studies the Sociology of Beauty Pageants.” December 2020. Princeton Alumni Weekly. Julia M. Klein.

“The Sociology of Beauty Pageants.” November 23, 2020. Dr. Diane Hamilton’s Take the Lead Podcast/Radio Show..

“Amazing Women RI.” November 15, 2020.Syndicated radio. Deb Ruggiero.

“Interview with Here She Is Author Hilary Levey Friedman.” November 2020. A Girl and Her Book Reviews

“What It Means to Hold the Miss USA Pageant During the Pandemic.” November 10, 2020. Beacon Broadside. Christian Coleman.

“Episode 429. Here She Is: Discussing Beauty Pageants and History with Dr. Hilary Levey Friedman.” October 30, 2020. Smart Podcast, Trashy Books.

“Q&A with Hilary Levey Friedman".” October 24, 2020. Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb.

“Q&A: Levey Friedman on why beauty pageants are more complicated than you think.” October 21, 2020. The Public’s Radio (Rhode Island Public Radio). Ian Donnis.

“Hilary Levey Friedman Interview- Here She Is.” October 10, 2020. Jean Book Nerd.

“Author Hilary Levey Friedman: How the Evolution of Beauty Pageants Reflects Women’s History.” September 30, 2020. Authority Magazine.

“Hilary Levey Friedman: Beauty Pageants and Feminism.” September 30, 2020. Empowering Women in Midlife. Hélène Stelian.

“Author Interview: Hilary Levey Friedman.” September 28, 2020. Hasty Book List. Ashley Hasty.

“The Damage Report with John Iadarola.” September 16, 2020. The Young Turks. [segment begins around the 1:06 mark]

For Real, Book Riot Podcast, Episode 66, “Books You Can Watch.” September 15, 2020. Kim Ukura.

“With 100th anniversary approaching, uncertainty surrounds Miss America.” September 12, 2020. The Press of Atlantic City. Mark Melhorn.

“Brains Born from Beauty, an Interview with Professor Hilary Levey Friedman.” September 9, 2020. P.S. I’m Blogging. Payton Smith.

“The Evolution of Feminism and Beauty Pageants.” September 8, 2020. WJR (links to both longer FB live stream and shorter radio package). Marie Osborne.

“Interview with MAOTeen 2016 Allie Nault and Author Hilary Levey Friedman.” September 3, 2020. The Pageant Podcast. Hosted by Jason Robinson.

“Tiaras and feminism.” September 2, 2020. The Three Tomatoes Happy Hour Podcast. Hosted by Kim Selby.

“The Big Indie Books of Fall 2020.” August 28, 2020. Publisher’s Weekly. Judith Rosen. (Page 22 in August 31 print issue)

“This Brown University sociologist just wrote the definitive book on beauty pageant culture— and it’s awesome.” August 28, 2020. The Boston Globe. Dan McGowan.

The Tom Sumner Program. August 28, 2020. WFOV Flint, Michigan.

“A Thing of Beauty.” August 28, 2020. The Backpack Show.

“BitchReads: 15 Books Feminists Should Read in August.” August 25, 2020. Bitch. Evette Dionne.

“Pageantry Culture is Everywhere.” August 25, 2020. Q&A with Beacon Broadside.

“Is it times to start taking beauty pageants seriously?” August 25, 2020. The Forward. Julia M. Klein.

Q&A with Authors Answer. August 25, 2020.

“The Lifestyles” on Talk Radio Europe about Here She Is. August 24, 2020.

“Book Notes.” August 20-26, 2020. Page 23. The Hippo. Jennifer Graham.

“The biggest controversies from 100 years of the Miss America Pageant.” August 22, 2020. New York Post. Kirsten Fleming.

“INSIDE STORY: Sociologist Hilary Levey Friedman explores feminism and beauty pageants.” August 8, 2020. The Providence Journal. G. Wayne Miller.

“The Reign of Beauty Pageants in America with Hilary Levey Friedman.” Air dates August 3-9, 2020. PBS. “Story in the Public Square.”

“Using Beauty Pageants to Trace the Arc of Feminism- Professor Levey Friedman on New Book LIVE.” April 8, 2020. GoLocalProv.

“Tuhannet amerikkalaisäidit toivovat, että lasten kauneuskilpailut kasvattavat heidän tyttärestään tähden. Kohtalona voi kuitenkin olla vararikko.” April 4, 2020. Ilta-Sanomat. Mikko Marttinen. (Finland’s largest newspaper, in Finnish, on American child beauty pageants)

“Inside the groundbreaking black dynasty shaking up the pageant world.” March 7, 2020. New York Post. Kirsten Fleming.

Dan Yorke State of Mind. March 5, 2020. WPRI (Live to tape).

“Reinventing Miss America.” February 16, 2020. The Documentary. BBC.

“Black Women Reign at Beauty Pageants.” December 10, 2019. The New York Times. Laura Holson.

“Michigan Beauty Queen Ousted Over ‘Offensive’ Twitter Posts, Officials Say.” July 21, 2019. The New York Times. Neil Vigdor.

“Virginia Tech Alumna Takes Science to Pageant Stage.” July 15, 2019. The Roanake Star. Jenny Kincaid Boone.

“Miss America, Miss Teen USA and Miss USA Are All Black Women for the First Time.” May 5, 2019. The New York Times. Mihir Zaveri.

“Swimsuits are gone from Miss America, but the relationship was always complicated.” September 9, 2018. The Washington Post. Diane Bernard.

The Warren Pierce Show. September 9, 2018. WJR (Detroit).

“No swimsuits, lots of drama; Debating the merits of Miss America’s new era.” September 8, 2018. The Star Tribune. Neal Justin.

"As swimsuit season ends, pursuit of the 'bikini body' endures." August 30, 2018. The Washington Post. Natalia Petrzela.

“How Miss America’s Swimsuits Are Really About Politics, Not Gender.” August 20, 2018. Morning Consult. Joanna Piacenza.

"Miss America says she is being bullied by pageant. 'My voice is not heard nor wanted.'" August 17, 2018. NJ.com Amy Kuperinsky.

"Why the Miss America beauty pageant is no longer the nation's sweetheart." August 11, 2018.The Telegraph. David Millward.  

"Miss America's Finances Uncertain as It Fights for Relevance." August 3, 2018. The Wall Street Journal. Valerie Bauerlein.

"Miss America, torn apart." July 28, 2018. Nj.com. Amy Kuperinsky.

The Warren Pierce Show. June 8, 2018. WJR (Detroit).

“Why the End of Miss America’s Swimsuit Competition Is a Big Deal, According to Pageant History Experts.” June 7, 2018. Time. Olivia Waxman.

“The Swimsuit Competition Used to Be the Only Way to Judge Miss America.” June 7, 2018. History.com. Maura Hohman.

“Changes at Miss America.” June 6, 2018. WiOD 630 (Miami).

“Miss America ends swimsuit competition.” June 5, 2018. NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt.

“Miss America eliminates swimsuit competition and won’t judge contestants on physical appearance.” June 5, 2018. The Washington Post. Emily Yayr.

“Miss America Ending Swimsuit Portion ‘Pivotal Moment’ in Pageant History, Says RI Expert.” June 5, 2018. GoLocalProv.

“Miss America drops swimsuit competition: Was the #MeToo movement the final nail in the coffin?” June 5, 2018. Nj.com. Amy Kuperinsky.

“Crowning Achievement.” February 8, 2018. The Providence Journal. Kris Craig.

“From Brown to the crown.” February 8, 2018. The Brown Daily Herald. Tess DeMeyer.

“Fmr. Miss RI, sociologist reflect on Oprah for president, Miss America Organization controversy on State of Mind.” January 9, 2018. Dan Yorke’s State of Mind (live to tape).  Fox Providence.

“Miss America controversy.” December 29, 2017. WHYY (live radio program).

“Miss America leadership steps down as controversy envelops the organization.” December 23, 2017. The Washington Post. Ellen McCarthy.

“Ex-Miss America winners worry pageant will end despite CEO Sam Haskell’s suspension.” December 23, 2017. New York Daily News. Nicole Bitette.

“Miss America Organization suspends CEO amid email scandal.” December 22, 2017. WHYY (and AP). Wayne Parry.

“Miss America Organization rocked by leaked emails and damning report on CEO’s behavior.” December 22, 2017. nj.com. Amy Kuperinsky.

“New Miss America found a mentor at Brown University.” September 11, 2017. The Providence Journal. G. Wayne Miller.

“Miss America 2018: Miss North Dakota, Cara Mund, wins pageant, makes history.” September 11, 2017. NJ.com. Amy Kuperinsky.

“Miss America 2018 Cara Mund and Brown Prof. Hilary Levey Friedman.” September 11, 2017. WPRO Radio. Steve Klamkin.

“Whose ‘ideal’ is Miss America? Why the pageant remains a modern relic.” September 8, 2017. NJ.com. Amy Kuperinksy.

“20 years After JonBenet’s Death, Taking Stock of Girls’ Beauty Pageants.” December 22, 2016. Andrea Dukakis (live recording on Colorado Public Radio show Colorado Matters).

“There He Is, Mr. Cabinet Secretary.” December 14, 2016. Susan Chira. The New York Times.

“A former pageant contestant on Alicia Machado and what we get wrong about beauty queens.” September 30, 2016. Laura Goode. Fusion.

“How the legacy of JonBenet Ramsey’s murder continues to play out in the booming child beauty pageant industry.” September 21, 2016. Sonya Bell. National Post.

“What’s the History of Child Beauty Pageants?” September 14, 2016. Gabrielle Moss. Bustle.

“Inside Britain’s Child Beauty Pageants.” September 14, 2016. Bex Day. Refinery29.

“What’s a nice lesbian like you doing at Miss America? Erin O’Flaherty’s historic quest.” September 9, 2016. Monica Hesse. The Washington Post.

WLIP AM 1050 Happenings Q&A with Frank and Kim Carmichael. January 25, 2016 on Miss Universe and Miss America.

“Inside $5bn Industry of Child Beauty Pageants.” December 30, 2015. Sky News.

“Are beauty pageant becoming more humane?” December 21, 2015. The Christian Science Monitor. Lisa Suhay.

“University course focuses on beauty pageants.” October 19, 2015. WPRO. Steve Klamkin.

Steve Klamkin and the WPRO Morning News on Brown course Beauty Pageant in American Society (with Miss America 1998 Kate Shindle). October 17, 2015.

WJR’s In the Mix Show. September 13, 2015 on Miss America and Vanessa Williams.

“Miss America damage control: Pageant beset by hazing, scholarship reports.” September 25, 2014. nj.com. Amy Kuperinsky.

HuffPost Live Appearance for Kira Kazantsev, Miss America 2015. September 17, 2014. (at 1:20 mark)

“Rival pageants seen as similar.” June 8, 2014. The Advocate. Emily Beck Cogburn.

“How to Avoid Pageant Bullying Online.” May 24, 2014. The Pageant Planet. Laura Pennington.

“Americans more multiethnic, yet heritage pageants abide.” March 14, 2014. The Arizona Republic. Megan Finnerty.

“How American pageants are turning politics into a beauty parade.” March 13, 3014. New Statesman. Nicky Woolf.

“Russia Moves to Ban Child Beauty Pageants: Why America Should Be Next.” February 22, 2014. Babble. Monica Bielanko.

“Child Pageants Are Coming to Quebec, and Quebecers Aren’t Happy About It.” October 11, 2013. Vice.com. Patrick Lejtenyi.

“Pageants get political: Is controversy key?” September 30, 2013. TODAY Style. Rebecca Ruiz.

WJR The Warren Pierce Show. September 29, 2013. On Playing to Win and beauty pageants.

“Les ‘mini-miss’ s’invitent en politique.” (on child beauty pageant petition to ban child pageants in Quebec) September 27, 2013. Le Devoir. Anabel Cossette Civitella.

“Child empowerment of sexualization? A potential French ban puts child beauty pageants in the spotlight.” September 26, 2013. The Stream on Aljazeera English.

“Could child beauty pageants be banned in the USA?” September 22, 2013. USA Today. Michelle Healy.

“The relevance of the Miss America Pageant.” September 15, 2013. Melissa-Harris Perry on MSNBC. (Part 2)

WJR The Warren Pierce Show. September 15, 2013 on Miss America.

“Miss America ‘Fat?’ The Ugly Side of Beauty Pageants.” September 13, 2013. Yahoo! Shine. Beth Greenfield.

“The Language of Honey Boo Boo.” July 17, 2013. The Hairpin. Kate Andrews.

HuffPost Live Appearance on “The Stars of TLC’s ‘Crown Chasers.’” July 9, 2013 (at 14:45  minute mark).

“Miss America 2014: A Miss New Jersey, by way of Arkansas.” July 6, 2013. The Star-Ledger. Amy Kuperinsky.

HuffPost Live Guest Appearance on “Making Over the Pageant Industry.” June 18, 2013.

“Erika Harold, Heather French Henry: Miss America grads aim for political office.” June 4, 2013. The Washington Post. Reliable Source.

“Zoe Saldana’s Weight Revealed on the Cover of Allure.” May 14, 2013. omg! Yahoo!. Raechal Leone Shewfelt.

NECN television appearance on what types of beauty treatments are acceptable for young kids (“Family Talk: Beautifying children.”). February 5, 2013.

Huffington Post Live Guest Appearance on “Life as a Pageant Star.” November 18, 2012.

“Toddlers and Tears: The sexualization of young girls.” November 17, 2012. The Deseret News. Mandy Morgan.

NECN television appearance on controversy over a South Carolina elementary school hosting a child beauty pageant (“Parents against pageants.”). October 4, 2012.

“Pageant Queens Are Turning Into Politicians, Powerful Women Don’t Talk Because They Won’t Be Liked (Huh?!), and More!” July 1, 2012. Glamour. Rebecca Santiago.

“Miss Representation: Want to Go Into Politics? Better be a Beauty Queen First.” June 26, 2012. Jezebel. Erin Gloria Ryan.

“Concours de mini-miss: Faut-il les interdire?” (“Child beauty pageants: Should they be banned?”) April 11, 2012. VSD. Pauline Grand d’Esnon.

“Miss Univers Canada- Un problème de taille.” April 3, 2012. Le Devoir. Catherine Lalonde. (Translation via Google Translate, “Miss Universe Canada- A big problem.”)

“Mini-miss, un concours bientôt censuré.” March 7, 2012. France-Amerique. Amaury Brelet. (Translation via Google Translate, “Mini-Miss, a contest soon censored?”)

“Child Beauty Pageants and Baby Parades.” September 19, 2011. Stuff Mom Never Told You on HowStuffWorks. (Podcast)

Word of Mouth (NHPR) on the Miss Massachusetts Pageant. June 21, 2011.

KCBS News (Bay area) on Botox Child Beauty Pageant Mom. May 13, 2011.

“A Miss America Who Took A Stand.” March 16, 2011. Jezebel.

“Living dolls: inside the world of child beauty pageants.” July 10, 2010. The Observer (UK). Elizabeth Day.

“Living Dolls: A Glimpse at Child Beauty Pageants.” December 2009. Raffia (The Netherlands). Autumn Arnold.

“Understanding the Beauty Queen Politician.” September 15, 2008. The Hill. Kris Kitto.

“Babeland!” July 22, 2007. The Washington Post Magazine. Tom Bartlett.

“Harsh Spotlight Back on Child Pageants.” August 17, 2006. New York Post. Andy Geller.

“Very Young Beauty Queens.” January-February 2001. Harvard Magazine. Craig Lambert.

“The whys and woes of beauty pageants.” June 8, 2000. Harvard Gazette. William J. Cromie.