According to this report sexual assault, rape and bullying received some additional high profile attention.
Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez, a fourth-degree black belt in the Korean martial art of taekwondo, was crowned Miss USA 2014 on Sunday night.
The 24-year-old from Las Vegas beat out 50 other contestants from all the states and the District of Columbia for the title of 63rd Miss USA. First runner-up was Miss North Dakota Audra Mari.
Let's get a couple of things out of the way. Pageants, by their very existence, are eminently mockable. Google Caitlyn Upton's meandering response from the 2007 competition. And yes, The Donald owns the Miss Universe and Miss USA franchise, and his hair
looks like a certain caterpillar.
In a vibrant red floor-length fishtail gown, Miss Nevada talked about the importance of women being able to defend themselves when asked a question about the high rate of sexual assaults on college campuses. Judge Rumer Willis, the 25-year-old daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, said 19 percent of U.S. undergraduate women are victims of sexual assault and asked Sanchez why she thinks this is being swept under the rug and what should be done about it.
Sanchez said bringing awareness to the issue was important, as well as women taking it upon themselves to learn how to defend themselves.
In a bio voiceover taped earlier in the days leading up to the pageant, a similar situation was addressed:
The subject of sexual assault was also on the mind of Miss Pennsylvania Valerie Gatto. She made headlines this week when she said she was the product of rape. During a taped segment that aired when her name was called, Gatto said her mother was 19 when she was attacked leaving work in Pittsburgh and became pregnant.
Gatto said she is living proof "that your circumstances do not define your life."
A thought occurs to me that there is a potential downside to that frank statement. The 'no abortion exemption for rape and incest' crowd might seize upon that as an example of why their position is somehow reasonable. I truly hope they aren't so stupid.
Another contestant addressed the issue of bullying. It's unclear exactly when this was said.
First runner-up Mari said she overcame being bullied in high school by competing in ice hockey. The Fargo, N.D., native wore a green floor-length evening gown and in her final interview talked about the importance of getting an education and going to college.
This pageant was not mockable, based on the important awareness it just raised.