Beauty contests have been a staple of the entertainment industry for decades, and have been marketed as a way to celebrate the beauty, talent, and intelligence of women from all over the world. However, the reality of beauty contests is far from the glamorous and empowering image that they are often made out to be.   First and foremost, beauty contests are inherently based on physical appearance, which is a narrow and limiting standard to judge a person's worth. These contests often promote a very specific and unrealistic standard of beauty, which can be harmful to women's self-esteem and body