Who Really Has The Right To Define Beauty?

As a little girl blossoming into a teen to a young woman and a few years beyond, I knew everything there was to know about beauty pageants. I favored Miss America over Miss USA primarily for the creative aspects. The beautiful gowns, extraordinary singing voices, baton twirling, tap dancing, and piano playing caught my eye in the beginning. As I got older, my perspectives grew with me. I began to listen to the responses of the women. I began to look at how they interacted with one another. I began to see how many non-White women joined the ranks of what America deemed "beautiful."

When will there be a collective movement strong enough to break the cycle of skin-deep beauty? When will humanity stop the superficial behavior and begin having decent, respectful discovery discussions? Suppose I have one million dollars. I bet I could double it in no time because not many people would authentically attempt to initiate, much less participate in such discussions. Why? Because we and I know it's a select few, love and I mean love to judge, demean, ridicule, and bully. Why? Because we and again a select few, are missing vital components in our lives. What are those, Tracy? I'll tell you—your self-discovery. You're authentic self. Love. Respect. Compassion. Decency. Not many are courageous enough to 1. Debunk misguided education (home to the world); 2. Admit there is misguidedness in the world; 3. Research for themselves – not through social media and believing all hype – on what is true and beautiful in this world; 4. Live each day intentionally to de-program the garbage ingested up to the point of breakthrough discovery.

There is no viable reason why this beautiful young lady felt the need to live up to societal norms. The hate she received from those who obviously have contempt for themselves is beyond horrific. My oldest daughter just turned 30 three days ago. I cannot fathom how Chelsie's loved ones feel right now.

What is wrong with you people?! You people = those persons with hate in their minds, body, and spirits. You people = those persons lacking the courage to love themselves the best way possible and not spew their pain on someone else. You people = those who love love love the hype because…well, you fill in the blank. I am beyond troubled and, well, pissed that this young lady's life is over and for what!!! Because she doesn't look like you! Who made you the standard! No one, indeed.

Are you mad because she had a rock-hard body that, by the way, she attained on her own through hard work? Are you angry because you don't have her beautiful hair texture? Are you mad because you didn't have the courage or dreams to get the higher education she attained AND go to a college like Wake Forest? Or are you angry because, more than likely, she could snuff you in the 100-yard dash? Or are you mad because she is/was a combination of strength, beauty, good health, determination, commitment, endurance, stamina, intelligence, and hard work? Which is it? In the end, you know YOU CAN be all these things with a little self-…oops maybe a lot of self-reflection and hard work ethic while treating people with compassion.

We should not be reading this!

"After a year like 2020, you would think we'd learned that growing old is a treasure and maturity is a gift not everyone gets to enjoy." Kryst wrote.

She asked, "How do I shake society's unwavering norms when I'm facing the relentless tick of time?"

"But my five-foot-six frame won with six-pack abs, earned after years of competing in Division I Track and Field, and a head of natural curls in a time when generations of Black women have been taught that being 'too Black' would cost them wins in the boardroom and on pageant stages," she said.

Kryst said her "challenge of the status quo certainly caught the attention" of internet trolls.

"I can't tell you how many times I have deleted comments on my social media pages that had vomit emojis and insults telling me I wasn't pretty enough to be Miss USA or that my muscular build was actually a 'man body,'" she said.

In conclusion, I ask again; Who Has the Right to Define Beauty? Not You!

My deepest condolences are to those who knew, respected, loved and admired Chelsie.

Cheslie,

Take your wings, baby, and fly. Fly free. Fly happy. As a mother of three beautiful daughters, office daughters, carpool daughters, and hopefully daughter-in-law, I am deeply sorry. My heart breaks, and tears continually flow down my face for the pain you endured trying to make your mark on this undeserving world.