Understanding Miss Universe: More Than Just A Beauty Pageant – Interview with Chloe Feeney

By Chloe Jacob

The Gown spoke with Chloe Feeney – a 23-year-old QUB student and Miss Universe Ireland contestant the day prior to the Miss Universe Ireland competition.

Pageants: From Miss World to Miss Universe, the competitions are world renowned, with contestants becoming household names following their crowning. Attached to this awareness however often comes scrutiny and criticism. Pageants have long been a subject of discussion – must women be a certain sort of beautiful for their voices to matter? Well, from my experience in speaking with Chloe Feeney, despite any previous preconceived notions I may have held, I can firmly answer that Beauty Pageants such as Miss Universe extend far past their beauty elements.

We first began on a discussion of Chloe and her career ambitions. Chloe actively works as an actress – having worked in movies and tv shows alike. She balances her work alongside obtaining a drama degree in QUB – a massively time-consuming feat, and her pageant training. Many believe that pageants consist of simply standing and looking pretty – an idea that could not be further from the truth! In terms of the beauty aspects of this competition, women do all their own hair and makeup themselves. Pageant walks – although appearing to be simple – consist of weeks of training and perfecting. Similar can be said for public speaking and diligent interview training.

Chloe discussed her impression of the role of beauty in this platform; “[The Miss Universe competition] tells the story of so many women – it represents every woman, not just a few”. From Chloe’s experience, Miss Universe is not defined by a specific beauty standard. It uses its beauty elements as a platform for confident displays of intelligence. Chloe discussed her competitors describing them as “beautiful, passionate women of all different types – mummies, students, career women”. While often the summation of beauty pageants is portrayed through the walk, the hair, the makeup and the smile, a massive component of these pageants lies in community activism. Each contestant stands on that stage to represent a cause they feel is one worthy of awareness – a cause that can be uplifted through their presence and discussion. The winner of Miss Universe becomes a pillar of their respective community – working as a representative of their chosen charity across the country.

For Chloe, her cause lies near to her heart – a fact that is evident in her gracious and emotional discussion of the topic. Chloe represents DAWG Suicide Prevention; a Belfast founded outreach group that works with people in bad situations from addiction to suicidal ideation. Upon asking Chloe her reason for choosing this specific charity, she delved into a story of her past. Chloe lost her best friend and her uncle to suicide within two years of each other – a devastating experience for anybody – let alone somebody so young. She discusses the gaps within our mental health sector that lead to such tragic circumstances – particularly with her uncle; “They said they would book him in for an appointment for Monday – he didn’t make it to Monday”. Through her work with the charity, Chloe has seen the dedication of the DAWG team to ensuring that each and every person who calls the team receives assistance – no matter what time of day – describing how members of the team leave meetings to answer helpline calls. DAWG has assisted 400 people in resituating their lives through addiction and mental health issues in Belfast – a massive feat to achieve from a non-government funded organisation.

Chloe and I spoke about grief, and how Miss Universe has provided her with a platform to highlight issues to a public she could not reach without the competition: “Each woman on that stage felt their passion for their charity before competing. I know what I’m passionate about – let me tell you about it”. Chloe stands as a role model for so many young women and men who have experienced the devastation of losing a loved one in such a painful way, and has a clear message to her audience; “Don’t let grief define you – use it to fuel something you are passionate about”

From our conversation, it was crystal clear that anyone who believed Miss Universe stood only for beauty had simply missed the point entirely. Miss Universe is a culmination of beauty and intelligence – demonstrating these women’s versatility and skills. Everyone on stage stands for something greater than themselves – a form of activism just as powerful as any other.

The Gown wishes Chloe the best of luck!

Donations to DAWG suicide prevention can be made here:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5H5H7SHEXBT7L