Mona Lisa, she sits in all her beauty, the image of man’s perfect woman. But who is she? Graceful, humble, and honest, she is still simply a woman. Sometimes she is angry, sometimes she is sad, and always she is never perfect. So why is it that women, in general, strive toward perfection? Why does society provide rules for which women should abide by? This question couldn’t be any clearer as one of the many copies of Mona Lisa throughout the world hangs in the headquarters of the Miss Teen America Pageant. The Pageant was to be held tomorrow night and as the committee reviewed their final decision for the contestants that would make it on live television it was hard to think that they were looking for the ever elusive Mona Lisa, a figure far from reality.
It was the night of the pageant and Betty Sue was as excited as she could be. She had worked hard, practiced her Q &A, perfected her talent of baton twirling, and was waxed and tanned for her bikini close-up. As a town favorite, Betty Sue was picked to win it all. She was the girl next door with all the grace and charm that was expected from the Miss Teen America Pageant. By the end of the night it was announced that this America’s Sweetheart had indeed been crowned the winning beauty queen of the night.
The days flew by quickly after that night. Betty Sue felt like she was in a dream. T.V. appearances here, radio shows there and everything in between. She was feeling run down and overworked, nothing like she had imagined winning would be. If it wasn’t for the runner-up, her best friend Lucy, she knew she would never make it. Lucy wasn’t quite as pretty as Betty Sue, but still had the talent and charisma that the Miss Teen America Pageant looked for. Despite being Betty Sue’s best friend, Lucy was jealous. She soon started to plot her revenge. One night when performing her usual tasks assisting the pageant winner Lucy couldn’t help but slip some white powder into Betty Sue’s drink. As soon as Betty Sue finished it she was out. Lucy proceeded to tie her up, put her in the trunk of her car and drive to a deserted bridge. She then tossed her over into the raging waters.
Days, Weeks, and Months went by without a trace of the beloved teen beauty queen. Lucy graciously stepped in as the reigning queen. She was perfect at being the loving best friend who wanted nothing more than to find her, help her, and do her best as queen in her absence. However, once the cameras turned off her true colors came out. It was all about Lucy. This has never changed. It has been years now and Lucy has gone on to win Miss Universe. She is a prominent role model for many young girls who want to grow up to be beauty queens. She is the Mona Lisa to America. But looking at her picture, with her shiny crown and satin sash, who is she? Is she a role model, a beauty queen, a murderer? No one really knows. No seems to care. It is as if as long as society and the media have someone to fill the void of the ideal persona that is portrayed it is not the person who is important, but what the person is. In this case all anyone was looking for was a beauty queen, no matter the cost.
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