Originally published June 21, 2014
I’ve never been a big fan of beauty pageants. I’m still not entirely won over on them. There is one pageant in Philly, though, that has stood for something that helps young Latinas find their voices and in so, inspire a young generation. I’m speaking, of course, of Miss Puerto Rico Pennsylvania Pageant, and I’m saddened to learn from its director, Rey Velez of Muevete/Meuvelo fame, that this November could be its final coronation. My selfish reaction to hearing this news was a dramatic, “NOOOOOOOOO!” For someone who’s not a fan of these kinds of events, I’m moved by the impending doom of this one in particular because I’ve seen up close and personal its impact on young women, families, and their communities. Stay tuned for future posts about MPRPA, and feel free to share your experiences, hopes, and dreams of the pageant in comments below.
Update: I learned in the last year that this pageant has returned. It seems that between the time of the original post and last year, there had been several Miss Puerto Rico Pennsylvania queens crowned, though not through the conventional series of events and coronation ceremony. Most recently, the pageant has posted registration opportunities on its website and Facebook pages. Not sure whether developments halted due to the ongoing pandemic or for other reasons, though I’m trying to reach the pageant’s director Rey for clarification.