Some of the most interesting aspects of this job are the places it takes me. A few that stick out are a trip to Norman Pioneer Library to meet civil rights activist Clara Luper; a late night visit to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City to talk with Nikki Peterson, who commutes multiple times a week between the city and Tulsa to be with her hospitalized husband and her young daughter; and most recently, a walk across campus to Meacham Auditorium in the Union to report on the Miss Hispanic OU pageant.

Crazily enough, the only other time I had been to a pageant before this semester was…well, never. And since February, I’ve been to two, the one previously mentioned and the Miss Black OU pageant.

While some are quick to call these “beauty pageants” (ahem, yours truly), I have found in the course of the past two months, that they are much more than that. While the young ladies in these pageants are often lovely, poised and the picture of what you might call a beauty queen, their participation in these pageants means so much more.

A chance not only at scholarship money but also the opportunity to represent their communities, these pageants do a service to OU and the Norman area. They help prospective leaders emerge and give a voice to the problems facing these ethnic minorities’ communities.

Watching both of these pageants, I came to the same realization that every contestant had already been aware of: Winning, and just participating, in these pageants allows them to inform others and address issues in their communities that might otherwise not be known.

The new Miss Hispanic OU 2009, sophomore Laura Garland, has chosen to promote the advancement of Hispanic students in the university environment. She wants to see more Hispanics participating and excelling in higher education, specifically at OU. With the number of Hispanic students in Oklahoma City schools increasing exponentially higher than all other minorities, her platform is one that the university should take into serious consideration to ensure that the future majority minority in the state is well represented at OU.

You see, in this whole blog, I felt no need to mention the evening gown portion or the talents of the young ladies in the competition. The idea behind the show is what is truly important and by selecting these new leaders from OU’s community, these scholarship pageants ensure that each minority has a voice at OU.

So, another great thing about this job? It’s helped me erase my misconceptions about “beauty pageants.” These pageants understand the clichéd saying, “Beauty is only skin deep,” and they work to ensure that behind those pretty faces are ideas and passions that have potential to affect change and inspire. That’s what’s truly beautiful about these pageants.

— Reneé Selanders, Diversity Beat Reporter

Read all of Reneé Selanders' stories here.