I can’t believe Miss Congeniality, a movie from 2001, tackles internalised sexism, women’s self-defence and rape (”did you report him? “no, that stuff happens all the time.” “no, no it doesn’t!”) and shows the story of a tough, independent woman learning that she can still be all of that, and so can other women, while still being beautiful and sexy
also, competing women supporting each other??
“which one of these… is… the lipstick…”
*huge group of women freak out and converge on her to help her prepare*
HER WHOLE FINAL PERFORMANCE IS LITERALLY JUST TEACHING WOMEN HOW TO DEFEND THEMSELVES FROM ASSAILANTS
AND I FORGOT ABOUT CALIFORNIA SHOUTING TO THE CROWD ABOUT “I WANNA LET ALL THE LESBIANS KNOW, IF I CAN MAKE IT TO THE TOP 10, SO CAN YOU”
“I realised that these women are smart, terrific people, who just want to make a difference in the world.”
“For me, this experience has been one of the most rewarding, and liberating experiences of my life.”
Also, and everyone forgets this, Cheryl, the “dumb blonde” (really she was just sheltered and naïve) who won the pageant? She’s majoring in nuclear physics. Odds are she was the most scientifically intelligent of the bunch.
