After being crowned Miss America this weekend, Cassie Donegan’s first matter of business was to address a bunch of trolls who didn’t like her makeup. Several videos chronicling Donegan’s win were flooded with comments accusing her of needing “a new makeup artist,” claiming her foundation was the wrong shade and that her makeup made her look “older” than 28. Respectfully, who asked them?
@missamerica A few words from our new Miss America, @Cassie Donegan! ❤️ #missamerica #fyp #foryoupage
The wave of unsolicited opinions about Donegan’s makeup got big enough that People asked Donegan about it on Tuesday. “I’m just a normal person,” she told the magazine. “No, I don’t want to hear people ever say anything negative, especially about my appearance. But I also respect that the internet is a public space and that people have the right to their opinion to be able to share that, and no one’s going to be everyone’s favorite all of the time.”
Donegan had already survived a twisting path to her new title — she was crowned the runner-up at the state-level Miss New York pageant, but after her successor unexpectedly stepped down days later, she advanced to the Miss America competition and won the whole thing.
@thelaurennorris MISS AMERICA IS CASSIE, MISS NEW YORK!🥹🚕🗽 I am STILL SHAKING! Cassie finally got her crowning moment and cannot wait to watch her year of service💖 #pageantcrowning #missamerica #mao #missamericaorganization #pageantreaction @Miss America
“I’m just going to do my best to love everyone and care about everyone, because at the end of the day, if even just one person has felt touched in some way or seen or loved through me as Miss America, then I’ve done my job,” Donegan added in People. “And that’s the most important thing.”
Very politely put. To be clear, although Miss America is technically considered a beauty pageant, contestants are judged not only on appearance but on poise, onstage answers, awareness of cultural affairs, athleticism, and their charitable efforts. They train for months, sometimes years, to compete at the national level. That competition, by the way, takes place on a stage where makeup that’s visible under powerful lights is typically used. As Donegan noted in the onstage-question portion of the competition: “I think that no one has the right to tell you what you can do with your own body. This is your vessel, and you should be able to walk around proudly in it.” Amen, Miss America.
Click here to preview your posts with PRO themes ››
