These 20 seconds sum up the fundamental weirdness of this year's Miss America Pageant

These 20 seconds sum up the fundamental weirdness of this year's Miss America Pageant
(Image credit: YouTube)

The Miss America Pageant is a relic from an older time — a competition in which 35 percent of a woman's worth is still appraised by her appearance in a gown and a swimsuit. Last night's 94th annual Miss America Pageant saw New York's Kira Kazantsev take home the big prize — and if you missed the show, these 20 seconds will basically get you up to speed.

Here, Kazantsev sits on the stage and performs a cover of Pharrell's "Happy" while flipping a plastic cup, emulating a popular routine from the movie Pitch Perfect. A few people half-heartedly clap along in the background.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Scott Meslow

Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.