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23rd May 2017
04:46pm BST
Whether we are calling it a pageant or not, the fact remains that (bar a swimsuit section) it's a parade of lovely girls in ball gowns. Are they bright and intelligent women pursuing careers, PhDs, or otherwise saving the planet through selfless charity work? Yes. Are they still being 'escorted', objectified, and asked to 'give us a twirl' 1950s style? Yes.
The Rose of Tralee might claim modernity and shout girl power but their discriminatory and outdated eligibility criteria says otherwise. Apparently lovely girls ain't that lovely once they start staring down the barrel of 30, and you definitely wouldn't want any old married ladies or risqué divorcees hanging around. God only knows what they'd be up to down the back of the tent.
I have my suspicions that there may be further discreet 'screening' of Roses, for any unwanted skeletons that may be lurking in their sash closets, but that might be a case for another day.
Maria Walsh, our first openly gay Rose of Tralee, was certainly a welcome breath of fresh air in what had become a very stale marquee, but what of our other pageant 'minorities'? They've only been letting single mums in since 2008, so we won't hold our breath for anything as forward-thinking as a trans Rose.
On the plus side (but rarely the plus-size), many who have been crowned with the winner's tiara have gone on to much bigger and brighter things, using the competition as a worthy platform from which to promote themselves and their various interests - charitable and otherwise.
We must also note that none of these multi-talented and intelligent women are being forced to enter. I will even end by admitting to some jealousy on my part, after all doesn't every woman secretly dream about wearing beautiful dresses, having their hair and makeup done, and waving at people from an open-top bus?
Excuse me while I go doctor my birth certificate and hide some wedding photos...Explore more on these topics:
