# Reality Pageantry Revamped 2009 Miss America Contest Disappointed, Despite Hype By Bianca | Published 2009-01-26 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/miss-america-2009-winner References: [msnbc.msn](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6065619/) & [popwatch.ew](http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/01/miss-america-do.html) Miss America has been a huge TV show event which people have counted down to, planned parties around, and used as an excuse to ogle over the world’s most beautiful people for decades. In a reality show world, will this interest continue? Does Miss America have a place in today’s society? PopWatch called it “embarrassingly out-of-step with the times" after they tried to appeal to the ‘reality show’ generation with their own TV show, but they may have been onto something. Miss America *was* on the decline, but last year they revamped tradition, switched to reality, and ratings were up 52% after TLC introduced a four week reality series... but in 2009, viewership dropped dramatically by half a million viewers. "It’s time to look at Miss America for what it is — an event that is a symbol of a bygone era," said TV expert professor Steven Miller of Rutgers University. "In order to compete against more modern shows, it needs to have a complete makeover." To ogle beautiful women in swimsuits, TV viewers tune in to sizzling reality shows like Fear Factor or [scandalous dating shows](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tinder-5) like the Bachelor. Those really into sexy underwear mark their calendars for the annual [Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/give-gloss-campaign), an appealing display for both men and women. For those into poking fun at others, there are shows like *Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader*, and those who get a kick out of elimination based on beauty and talent can revel in shows like *America’s Next Top Model*. Is Miss America far too tame for what people are looking for today? Is a battle for a $50K scholarship what people want to see? As promising as it looked, the ratings dropped, and the 2009 Miss America pageant had a record low of 9.8 million people, down 500,000 viewers from 2008, according to MSNBC. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.5/10 - Popularity: 44% | Activity: 82% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Media](https://www.trendhunter.com/media) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Reality TV:** Exploring the potential of incorporating reality TV elements in traditional pageantry events to appeal to a wider audience. - **Modern Makeover:** Revamping traditional pageantry events to align with current societal trends and interests for increased viewership and engagement. - **Elimination-based Competitions:** Creating reality TV shows that focus on elimination-based competitions centered around beauty and talent. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Entertainment:** Utilizing reality TV formats and modern makeovers to revitalize traditional pageantry events in the entertainment industry. - **Fashion:** Exploring the potential of incorporating elements from Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and other fashion-related reality TV shows into pageantry events to attract a broader audience. - **Scholarships and Education:** Developing elimination-based reality TV shows focused on academic excellence and talent for scholarships and educational opportunities. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Spoof Cosmetics Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/americas-next-top-primer.md) - [Fan-Powered Reality Competitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pretzel-crust-island.md) - [Hilarious Judicial Beauty Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/judge-beauty-1.md) - [Faux Reality Drama Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/primer-donnas.md) - [Body-Inclusive Reality TV Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/roses-for-every-body.md) - [Reality TV Cosmetic Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/it-cosmetics-keep-it-real-campaign.md) - [Reality TV-Branded Snack Crackers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cheezit-reality-tv-collectors-cheddition.md) - [Nostalgic Beauty Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unseenbeauty-initiative.md) - [Social-First Direct Selling Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mary-kay-miss-conceptions.md)