Airman Kelly George, Miss Arkansas, competes in Miss USA pageant

[CommunityEditor]

[i]Kelly George, deputy chief of public affairs for the 314th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., is the newly crowned Miss Arkansas. Along with other state winners, she competes in the Miss USA pageant on March 23.

Follow her journey to the Miss USA crown --

Story: http://www.airforcetimes.com/offduty...george_070321/

Kelly's Blog: http://www.kellygeorge.info/journal.htm

What are your thoughts on an active duty airman participating in this pageant? What if she becomes Miss USA... how do the potential duties of Miss USA and her current responsibilities as a deputy chief of public affairs mesh?

[DAVIDLAWLOR]

I see nothing wrong in 2nd Lt Kelly George competing in the Miss USA contest. She was picked to represent Arkansas, and the fact that she is an officer of the US Armed Service can only enhance the image of the Military as a whole.
We see people that are in Sports programs compete, so why not a pageant which have been a part of the American woman's dream to become Miss USA and to lead to competition in the Miss World contest against the most beautiul as well as educated that we have ever seen. Lt George deserves her chance and I for one hopes that others agree with me.
David Lawlor/Air Force Retired/E8

[dourdan]

I am an A1C and a avid pageant fan and long time board lurker, but seeing even a few people vote that being in a pagean tis the same as playboy made me want to make an account.



Miss USA is about being a rolemodel (yes we all know about Miss USA 2006's little drinking problem, but at the time of her crowing, she was chosen because she was smart and physically fit.)

If Kelly George can win, she will show the world how smart, beautiful and fit the airforce makes women, and possibly inspire more women to enlist.

[BHARAI]

I completely disagree; it is not about being smart. The smartest woman we have in the USA DO NOT compete for miss USA and some of them are very physically fit, but would never pass the scrutiny of a pageant.

It's all about selling sex in the form of bikini contests and boosting ratings so they can charge more for commercials. This is really no different than what Playboy does; they sell a sexy image to boost the value of their advertising dollar.

There are many people who find pageants to be just as demeaning as Playboy. Just like the people that participate in both feel very empowered and self confident.

[JOHNJEFF22]

I met SSgt Manhart at a signing expo outside Lackland AFB gate, and I have to say that she is just as professional as a pageant contestant. I really do see a double-standard between pageant participation and magazine modeling. Everybody has a different view on what's right and wrong for the Air Force. One thing to consider as well, is Michelle Manhart never modeled in uniform. I bet if she was a officer like Kelly George, she would be getting glamorized and permissive TDY's for a year, and not reduction in grade, plus discharge.

[OKLACNW]

Would it be OK if this was PlayBoy? No, this is really no diffrerent than posing for Playboy magazine.

[OGOREKG]

The Playboy comparison aside, the real issue is that Lt George recieved permission to compete prior to doing it. Any Airmen seeking employment outside of the USAF needs to get prior approval from their chain of command. While I'm not sure how being in a beauty pageant advances the recruitment, retention, or public image of the Air Force, it's not the same as posing for a pornographic photo shoot for cash without clearing it with the boss first.

[dourdan]

Originally Posted by OGOREKG

The Playboy comparison aside, the real issue is that Lt George recieved permission to compete prior to doing it. Any Airmen seeking employment outside of the USAF needs to get prior approval from their chain of command. While I'm not sure how being in a beauty pageant advances the recruitment, retention, or public image of the Air Force, it's not the same as posing for a pornographic photo shoot for cash without clearing it with the boss first.

i think that's a good compromise on the issue, because although i still think there is a diffewrence between posing NUDE and wearing swimwear, it all boils down to the airforce giving her permission.


but i guess none of this matters because she diden't win or even place in the top 15... so no 1 year of tdy for her anyway.

[BHARAI]

Originally Posted by OGOREKG

The Playboy comparison aside, the real issue is that Lt George recieved permission to compete prior to doing it. Any Airmen seeking employment outside of the USAF needs to get prior approval from their chain of command. While I'm not sure how being in a beauty pageant advances the recruitment, retention, or public image of the Air Force, it's not the same as posing for a pornographic photo shoot for cash without clearing it with the boss first.

The negative image is the reason they put behind letting her go, not the after hours employment.

[Maybeejm]

Originally Posted by DAVIDLAWLOR

I see nothing wrong in 2nd Lt Kelly George competing in the Miss USA contest. She was picked to represent Arkansas, and the fact that she is an officer of the US Armed Service can only enhance the image of the Military as a whole.
We see people that are in Sports programs compete, so why not a pageant which have been a part of the American woman's dream to become Miss USA and to lead to competition in the Miss World contest against the most beautiul as well as educated that we have ever seen. Lt George deserves her chance and I for one hopes that others agree with me.
David Lawlor/Air Force Retired/E8

I completely agree. Things like this give good images to the military, as long as she stays out of trouble this can only be good.