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I don't think Miss Universe is the "standard..."
The women who participate are into the whole thing. From what I've seen it seems very superficial, they are trying to get more preparing for success rather than the success itself, but whatever floats their boat. Whether anybody wants to watch it or not a separate matter, but at the end of the day it's just one of countless ways to waste time. >

Life is pointless. Checkmate >

I've competed for my country (about 10 years ago) and honestly, it was just easy money as far as I was concerned (like you have to pay for everything but if you win or do well, you'll make money from modelling afterwards). 
I didn't care about modelling, nobody cared about my personality or likes/dislikes.
It's 100% about looks and it looks kind of old fashioned now. >

I... sort of agree, but for different reasons.
Yes, it's mostly about looks. No one's denying it. But thing about looks is, beauty is subjective. "In the eye of the beholder" and what-not. I've seen plenty of girls every day, who are more beautiful to me, even with no make up, than all those models. 
And no one's setting standards. Whole point is, that that's supposed to be the best out there. Not standard. And no one forces the women to participate. They want it themselves. Who are you to decide what's "pointless" for them? >

such a brave opinion om reddit, whats next - taking holiday at work should not be frowned upon? >

I know two former “pageant” girls. One is a partner at her law firm. The other is a highly paid lobbyist. I think the contestants learn competitiveness doing pageants that very few other things offered to girls teaches. Obviously I have no stats on this, but I’d bet the average high performer in beauty pageants is far more successful in their career than average. 
As for the pageants themselves…. Everyone in the pageant is usually typically beautiful. The competition is about “what else ya got.” >

I can back this up. I was a successful pageant girl and now I'm in a senior position at a startup company. 
A lot of the girls I knew have been successful in different ways. Some set up their own businesses for example, but some also married rich sports or businessmen.
Regardless of anybody's thoughts on the latter, not many pageant girls end up poor.
For me, I think the commonality between my different successes has been that I always jump on opportunities. For me, that's been pageants, business and a few other things. For some of the other girls, that's obviously wealthy men 😂 >

Pageant contestants give me influencer vibes so naturally I hate them >

Hmm idk, like if it wasn’t for Miss Asia pageant I can’t imagine other chances for women like Sit Ying Yi to gain attention and now her job as celebrity, so at least they create opportunities? >

Well, beauty contests shouldn't be about math, or they'd have to change the name I guess. 
Are they stupid, embarrassing and objectifying? Sure.
At the same time, I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to make a decent living, using whatever they're best at, or are passionate about, be it art, pizzas or even tiktok videos. 
You only live once and if you have great looks and looks are important to you and are also convinced that NASA is a type of pasta, there's no shame in taking advantage of your looks.
The issue aren't those using superficiality for success, that's actually brilliant, and good for them. 
The issue is that it actually works to the extents it does, that is rather saddening. >

Personally, as a woman, I am not into it and of course it is superficial, but modeling and pageantry takes a certain type of skill, and training. You have to walk a certain way, hold your face a certain way, knowing your angles and holding a pose is way more difficult than people think it is. It takes practice and training, you need to have charisma, and follow a strict diet to look how they do, invest hours of your time into your appearance and body and even personality to fit a standard, they can't over work or under work. It is superficial, but there is nothing wrong with that, a lot of contests are superficial especially bodybuilding, but people appreciate the work because they are strong. The bottom line is, It takes dedication and hard work to assess your body and make it look a certain way. I do agree that it's superficial but most of them have to put in the time and effort to be good at what they do. I don't know anyone who says that it empowers women. As for setting high standards, most people understand that it's superficial, and not real life.