Plastic Beauty – The Truth about Beauty Pageant Cosmetic Surgery

Unbeknownst to the general public, cosmetic surgery is fairly common amongst beauty pageant contestants. In fact, one could say that the practice is even encouraged.

The topic of beauty pageant cosmetic surgery is controversial. On one side, people believe that contestants who have undergone surgery have an unfair advantage, while on the other side, people believe that it is acceptable for contestants to enhance their appearance as long as it doesn’t change their essence. In 1983, there was a controversy when the press revealed that Miss America Debra Maffett had undergone a nose enhancement and breast augmentation.

Ines Ligron, a French trainer for beauty pageant contestants in Japan, says that of the five finalists you see on stage at the Miss Universe pageant, most of them have had cosmetic surgery. Riyo Mori, the first Japanese Miss Universe since 1959, is Ligron’s protégé and has admitted to having lip injections, but otherwise her look is completely natural. Other beauty pageant contestants have not been so open about whether or not they have undergone cosmetic procedures. Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela told the Associated Press that asking her if she has had cosmetic surgery is like asking a woman her age.

Johanna Botta, who starred in the popular MTV show The Real World Austin, was supposed to represent Miss Peru USA at the Miss Peru Universe 2008 pageant but left the pageant because there was constant pressure for her to undergo plastic surgery on her nose and breasts. The sponsor of the pageant was a plastic surgeon and offered Botta free cosmetic surgery. Botta told the media that she doesn’t have anything against cosmetic surgery but doesn’t appreciate being pressured to do it.

Miss USA 2009 runnerup Carrie Prejean recently made the news because it was discovered that the Miss California pageant paid for her breast implants. According to Keith Lewis, co-director of the Miss California pageant, they do not encourage or endorse contestants to undergo cosmetic surgery. The pageant directors asked Prejean several questions about what she wished she could change about herself and what she was insecure about so she could take the national stage with confidence. According to reports, at the time, Prejean expressed interest in getting breast implants so the Miss California pageant organized and paid for the procedure.

Miss World 2005 Maria Julia Mantilla Garcia of Peru has admitted to having extensive cosmetic surgery including breast augmentation and nose enhancement. However, she considered suing her surgeon because he told the media that she was his product. According to Garcia, the surgeon lied when he told the Spanish daily newspaper El Mundo that he operated on her chin, ears, eyebrows, and lips.

Cosmetic Surgery in Society