Being Miss America Behind the Rhinestone Curtain (Audible Audio Edition) Kate Shindle Kathleen Godwin University Press Audiobooks Books
Download As PDF : Being Miss America Behind the Rhinestone Curtain (Audible Audio Edition) Kate Shindle Kathleen Godwin University Press Audiobooks Books
In Being Miss America, Kate Shindle interweaves an engrossing, witty memoir of her year as Miss America 1998 with a fascinating and insightful history of the pageant. She explores what it means to take on the mantle of America's "ideal", especially considering the evolution of the American female identity since the pageant's inception. Shindle profiles winners and organization leaders and recounts important moments in the pageant's story, with a special focus on Miss America's iconoclasts, including Bess Myerson (1945), the only Jewish Miss America; Yolande Betbeze (1951), who crusaded against the pageant's pinup image; and Kaye Lani Rae Rafko (1987), a working-class woman from Michigan who wanted to merge her famous title with her work as an oncology nurse. Shindle's own account of her work as an AIDS activist - and finding ways to circumvent the "gown and crown" stereotypes of Miss America in order to talk honestly with high school students about safer sex - illuminates both the challenges and the opportunities that keep young women competing to become Miss America.
Being Miss America Behind the Rhinestone Curtain (Audible Audio Edition) Kate Shindle Kathleen Godwin University Press Audiobooks Books
Although I've been a Miss America addict and actually have tapes of some of my favorite Miss America pageants and have watched them over and over, I wondered whether Kate Shindle's book would be disappointing. I'd heard that it centered more on the organization itself and how it is run as opposed to the personal details about the pageant and the contestants I am curious about. When the price of the book came down, I said that it was time to see what Kate Shindle has to say--my curiosity got the better of me. I am pleasantly surprised. The book has a little of everything--the history of the pageant, details about some of the women who have won the title (although only the ones who made a significant difference through their platforms/activism), how Kate Shindle handled her platform (AIDS), how chat rooms and message boards were a downer, how an eating disorder stressed her out, and corruption within the organization, a turnover of CEO's, and how she tried as a member of the Miss America board, to fight for the rights of the young women involved in the pageant. Big story!I'm a person who has more interest in individuals than in organizations. At my age (69) I'm inured to political corruption of all kinds. I was there for Watergate so MissAmericagate doesn't surprise me! I was just so interested to read some of the personal stories. There were a handful of details about some of the activist Miss Americas which were new to me. Much of it I knew already. But I didn't know about Kate Shindle and how her reign went until now, and I am really impressed with the honest way in which Kate tells us about how she went into the schools and spoke with the children about "safer sex" (despite her own lack of experience in this area), the critical things that were said about her on the Internet, and the way diet and exercise became an obsession. I admire and respect her very much and thank her for writing such a complete and honest story. I was commenting on one of the reviews--the reviewer admitted that she would have liked a juicier story! And I agreed. We'd like to read about how they all end up looking so perfect--the butt glue, among other things! I remember hearing that one of the contestants who became Miss America jogged with saran wrap on her legs. Stories like this would have lightened the mood a bit. It's a very serious book. I don't think I laughed at all. But it's a good book and very honest, sincere, and thorough. Thanks, Kate Shindle!
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Being Miss America Behind the Rhinestone Curtain (Audible Audio Edition) Kate Shindle Kathleen Godwin University Press Audiobooks Books Reviews
Well written and dead on as only someone who's been inside the Miss America system could know. It was extremely validating to read that many of the experiences and/or observations I made during my tenure as Miss Rhode Island 1994 were not unique to me. Kate is so right when she points out that nobody wants to be the one to tear down the institution of Miss America. Anyone that speaks out is vilified and I am even more proud of my MIss America sister than I was the night she won. I loved her onstage and I liked 'getting to know her' more through her book.
Thank you Kate for your candid account. Your experience isn't your own. You speak the truth for many of us.
I hope this opens the eyes of the people that can save our beloved Miss America.
Two Thumbs up
I remember when Kate Shindle won Miss America. Clearly, she was talented (in fact won a Preliminary Talent Award), very fit in her swimsuit, and elegant in her white evening gown that wasn't loaded down with tons of beads (which is all-too-common in the pageant). Watching the pageant on TV doesn't, however, provide much insight into the competing women's intellect and personality. Of course, hearing that Kate was a student at Northwestern University -- one of the top universities in the world -- was a tip-off that she would rank among other "brainy" Miss Americas, such as Gretchen Carlson (1989), Marjorie Vincent (1991), Erika Harold (2003), etc. After reading a few chapters of this book, it came as no surprise when Kate said (page 6) "Later, pageant officials will tell me that the final ballot wasn't even close, and the point spread between me and the rest of the top five was the biggest in recent memory. Later, I will find out that my interview -- the first competition of the week -- was strong enough to carry me through the rest of the proceedings . . ." I'm sure she floored the judges in her interview with her wit and intellect. Her book is incredibly well-written; in fact, I checked to see if she had an editor (I didn't see one). Her humor, candor, and thoroughness is impressive. I especially enjoyed the chapters (in italics) where she was speaking about her own experiences.
Chapter Nine was my favorite chapter, and I'm going to request that my intelligent and talented daughter in college read this chapter over her Christmas break. Chapter Nine describes how Kate decided upon HIV/AIDS awareness as her Miss America platform and how she used her platform to change people's perceptions of the Miss America Pageant. For anyone who finds comfort in the age-old, tired-out Miss America stereotype cliches, I dare you to read this chapter. Nothing irritates people with the Miss America Pageant more than when people refer to it as a "beauty pageant" as opposed to a "scholarship pageant." Read a few chapters of this book, and you'll see why Miss Americas deserve respect.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it word-for-word. I found a couple a minor items that could be edited in the second edition on page 78, Phyllis George's year should be 1971 (not 1974) and on page 79, the Space Shuttle Challenger was destroyed in 1986 (rather than 1984). Because I don't know how else to share this with the author, possibly she will see it here!
Please read this book if you want to be entertained and gain hope in today's youth.
Julie Foran LaPlant
Libertyville, Illinois
As one of those shallow armchair critics who thought "Her?" with a raised eyebrow when Ms. Shindle was crowned, I can honestly say now WOW WAS I WRONG!
Reading the incredibly articulate and passionate account of Kate's year of service, her expressive and impressive storytelling style, the direct and honest manner she uses to educate the reader, and her eloquent writing - this book was a great read from beginning to end.
The author does an impressive job with this book - both challenging the MAO and putting the group on notice. ((Really MAO staff? Treating your representatives (past and present), their parents, and your sponsors so poorly? It's a wonder they are still in business. I hope the MAO gets off its arrogant backside and fixes itself ... There's some good advice here.
Congratulations Ms. Shindle. You have shown great intelligence and altruistic drive to help this group identify its shortcomings in a very well written book.
Although I've been a Miss America addict and actually have tapes of some of my favorite Miss America pageants and have watched them over and over, I wondered whether Kate Shindle's book would be disappointing. I'd heard that it centered more on the organization itself and how it is run as opposed to the personal details about the pageant and the contestants I am curious about. When the price of the book came down, I said that it was time to see what Kate Shindle has to say--my curiosity got the better of me. I am pleasantly surprised. The book has a little of everything--the history of the pageant, details about some of the women who have won the title (although only the ones who made a significant difference through their platforms/activism), how Kate Shindle handled her platform (AIDS), how chat rooms and message boards were a downer, how an eating disorder stressed her out, and corruption within the organization, a turnover of CEO's, and how she tried as a member of the Miss America board, to fight for the rights of the young women involved in the pageant. Big story!
I'm a person who has more interest in individuals than in organizations. At my age (69) I'm inured to political corruption of all kinds. I was there for Watergate so MissAmericagate doesn't surprise me! I was just so interested to read some of the personal stories. There were a handful of details about some of the activist Miss Americas which were new to me. Much of it I knew already. But I didn't know about Kate Shindle and how her reign went until now, and I am really impressed with the honest way in which Kate tells us about how she went into the schools and spoke with the children about "safer sex" (despite her own lack of experience in this area), the critical things that were said about her on the Internet, and the way diet and exercise became an obsession. I admire and respect her very much and thank her for writing such a complete and honest story. I was commenting on one of the reviews--the reviewer admitted that she would have liked a juicier story! And I agreed. We'd like to read about how they all end up looking so perfect--the butt glue, among other things! I remember hearing that one of the contestants who became Miss America jogged with saran wrap on her legs. Stories like this would have lightened the mood a bit. It's a very serious book. I don't think I laughed at all. But it's a good book and very honest, sincere, and thorough. Thanks, Kate Shindle!
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