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No Contest: Time For Swimsuits To Go

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 26, 2008

Few events in our community are endearing in their quaint traditions as the Florida Strawberry Festival, and the crowning of its queen and court in a scholarship pageant is one of its high points.

It's an old-fashioned competition to pick a panel of young women who serve as ambassadors for Plant City. But even the most closely held traditions need a little updating from time to time.

That's why the organizers of the nearly 80-year-old pageant were right to ditch the swimsuit competition and raise academic requirements for contestants. Even the Miss America pageant has struggled to make itself relevant in a modern era. It's good to see Plant City is one step ahead.

Beauty and poise still count in the Strawberry Festival pageant, as does public speaking ability. But what counts more now is what's in these young ladies' heads, not how well they fill out a swimsuit.

Contestants have only themselves to blame for the demise of the swimsuit competition. They pushed the envelope with skimpy suits, causing organizers last year to limit their choices to four modest styles. It prompted conversation about whether a swimsuit competition should happen at all.

It is a scholarship pageant, so raising the academic requirements from a 2.75 GPA to 3.0 average makes a lot of sense. Plant City ought to have high standards for those who represent the community.

Plant City's strawberry queen and court will still exude the fresh-picked beauty they always have.

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