Late Monday night, a friend of mine sent me the following clip from the recent Miss Teen USA 2007 pageant. During the final question round, actress Aimee Teegarden (Friday Night Lights) asked Miss South Carolina (Caitlin Upton) why she thought that 1/5 of Americans couldn't locate the United States on a world map. Ms. Upton's response is interesting to say the least. I have watched the clip several times and it never fails to make me cringe. Is Miss South Carolina's incoherent answer due to nerves or just plain stupidity? You be the judge.
Three days and counting.
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10 comments:
Some nerves, mostly stupidity...DUH! What did South Africa and Asia have to do with Americans being too damn dumb to find their own country on a world map? Could it be because a lot of people in this nation don't have maps? (her words) Ms. South Carolina...YOU GO GIRL!
I agree with you Pjazzy. I watched the clip over and over to see if there was a way I could cut the young lady some slack. I sliced off a little and that was it!
That's the 1st time I ever heard the term "U.S. Americans". That had to be the longest 35 seconds of Miss SC's life! When the bell rang towards the end, it seemed like a show of mercy on the part of the judges.
She's getting exposure like you wouldn't believe. Over 3.5 million people have watched the clip on You Tube! Let's hope that she can eventually prove the latter part of the title of a Judge Judy book wrong (Beauty Fades, Dumb Is Forever). I doubt it, but anything is possible.
She was on Today this morning! She may be a dumb chick ... but she's the one getting the attention.
I could strangle her, making us Southern lovelies look dumb.
OH MY! As an intelligent, natural blond, I absolutely cringe as you did Malcolm, when blonds say STUPID stuff like this to make us blonds look awful! She obviously didn't know how to answer the question - perhaps the problem is education? Hers in particular!!! :O)
Perhaps she should donate some maps to those "U.S. Americans" and people in South Africa and Asia to save the world. I bet her mom and dad are soooo proud!
Hi Malcolm!
As a former Miss Illinois contestant myself, I 100% believe that it is nerves. I competed many moons ago (back in the days of Springsteen, Madonna, but way before Nirvana!) and Im sure some things are different but there was no worse part of the pageant than that on-the-spot interview question. The whole time I was just thinking something like please don't ask me something like what's the greatest thing that ever happened to the earth or something similar. I know I was so nervous at that point in the finals that I wasn't even sure that I heard the question.
There is an entire interview process prior to those questions and answers and if she was that dingy or that poor of a speaker, I don't think she would have made it that far. 1 vote for nerves for me!
I didn't watch this video so I can't comment (I can't turn my speakers on at the moment).
BUT I wanted to say thank you so much for your comments today on Gone But Not Forgetting and my other blog! I mentioned you in a post on "Writing from the Inside Out".
I will add the names you left me as soon as possible!!!!
Beth: I wouldn't be surprised if this lead to Ms. Upton getting additional TV work. She has the looks, so they can always smooth away any rough edges and turn her into a credible spokesmodel.
Angela: your comments had me cracking up. Maybe she can become a spokesperson for Rand McNally or MapQuest.
Jessica: Now this one of the things I love about blogging. Getting perspective from an unexpected angle. You made some excellent points, esp. in regards to the interview process. When a contestant on Jeopardy bombs, I have heard people accuse them of being stupid. I always tell them that potential contestants go through a lengthy process (playing a simulated game, interview, etc.). As a result, anyone who gets on Jeopardy is far from stupid. They just had at least one of two things happen to them (going up against opponents that were quicker on the buzzer or running into categories with which were not their strong suits).
Barbara: I hope you are able to check out the video clip soon. By the way, thanks for mentioning me on your blog.
Maybe she was just creeped out by that lecherous Mario Lopez leering at her and she was trying to answer quickly.
My husband sent me a link to this oh so hilarious clip the other day. OMG.....You just can't make this stuff up.
Beckeye: How ironic that Mario Lopez was the host because you can say that Miss South Carolina was perhaps "Saved By the Bell" as the chime rang signalling that her time was almost up. Maybe Mario was having a Kelly/Jesse flashback.
Mama PJ: That's one of the things I love about You Tube. I'll bet you more people saw this clip online than watched the actual telecast on NBC.
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