Why is this blog called PETITE MAOISTE?

self-portrait

The name for the blog comes from a nickname that someone I loved came up with many years ago, it has nothing whatsoever to do with my ethnicity (in fact I am half Puerto Rican and half Spanish) or my politics, but something to do with my fervor & fashion. The topics as I mention in About me, are things that amuse, interest, and sometimes disturb me, some of which have to do with my academentia. They often evolve from conversations with my close friends.

Miss Universe Fixed!?!

Guanabee is on my top list of favorite blogs, but they have outdone themselves today with their big Pageantry scoop, an interview with the choreographer/conceptual genius behind the staging. The big headline, The Donald allegedly sometimes does a pre-selection of the best looking women (wait! you mean looks are the ultimate criteria?) up to around 5 or 6 of the top 15. So THIS explains the proliferation of Eastern European ladies in the final 15 and 10 this year. I feel vindicated.

Below is the link to the article and a juicy quote about why us Latinas do so well in the pageant.

http://guanabee.com/2009/09/donald-trump-miss-universe-heidi-montag-show

Moving on, obviously we’re all about the Latinas who are competing in the Miss Universe pageant. What do you think, since you have a right up-close visual of it, what is their competitive advantage where they dominate the Universe?

Well, beauty is different in every culture of the world but when I think of “Miss Universe” I don’t typically think of blond hair and blue eyes. I don’t know why, even though that’s a look for Northern Europeans, that’s the look in Australia. When I think Miss Universe I think of a multi-ethnic look or more of an exotic Latin-inspired look. I also find that a lot of the Latin women just have a fire and a heat that you can’t teach, that’s a part of their culture. There’s just something that, I can’t put a name on it, but I find that a lot of the Latin contestants at this event have that extra oomph, that extra something, and they are not little girls. They are women.

Two Years!

I began writing this blog just over two years ago (first post was August 20, 2007) and I have really loved writing it, and thank all of you that read my random musings.

(Yet) Another Reason to Love Anderson Cooper

Here is yet more evidence that Anderson Cooper, like me, has the subjectivity of a camp loving gay man. Like me, his fave Real Housewife of Atlanta is NeNe, and like me, he was horrified by the nobody Heidy Montag's embarrassing Britney Spears wanna-be flubbed lipsynch and choreography performance at the Miss Universe Pageant. Sidebar: He watches Miss Universe. I rest my case, ladies and gentlemen. I eagerly await the arch Charles Nelson Reilly reference.

Alec Baldwin as Charles Nelson Reilly

Alec Baldwin imitating one of my childhood idols, Charles Nelson Reilly

I'll Be There

Toddlers & Tiaras

TLC has a reality TV show called "Toddlers and Tiaras." In it, you see young children, some months-old babies, perform in pageants, egged on by their frustrated, manic parents, dressed in age-inappropriate and extremely tacky outfits that cost thousands of dollars. Many of the parents apparently sacrifice their lives for this obsession that they claim the children are also keen on. The children however, seem to be operating under duress. Also, the families don't seem to be wealthy, so the costs incurred in competing seem to be an unwise expense. If this isn't a sign of Armaggedon, and of the decline of the US Empire (not that there's anything wrong with that, as Seinfeld would say), I don't know what is.

Young girl dressed up like a Eastern European hooker, didn't they learn from Joan Benet Ramsey? Hair pieces, spray painted tans, fake nails and lashes are all part of the grooming. The routines are quite sleazy in some cases, I just saw (and had to turn off) one episode where a little girl was dressed like a cop, complete with dangling cuffs on her bedazzled uniform, and threatened to "arrest" the rapt panel of judges. Another one in a bikini pointed her finger beckoning the adults, egged on by her mother who was mirroring her movements to make sure the little baby got the moves right.

Seriously, as those three or four of you that read this blog know, I have an extremely high tolerance, indeed affinity with, extremely campy cultural manifestations, often viewed by most as in vary poor taste. And I have a major fascination with "reality TV." But even I don't think I can stomach this stuff.

Two infants "performing" in a pageant

Here's the website for the program:

http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/toddlers-tiaras/toddlers-tiaras.html