Clinton Vs. Beauty Pageant: Teenagers Say It’s No Contest
SHREVEPORT, La. — Some teenagers and parents were angry at President Clinton not for his White House transgressions, but for temporarily knocking the Miss Teen USA pageant off the air.
Clinton’s address to the nation forced CBS to cancel its live coverage of the annual show Monday night in favor of a tape-delayed version the next day.
Audience members said Clinton should have checked the TV schedule before going through with a speech that would preempt the beauty pageant.
“That’s stupid,” said Bridget Blandino, 18. “Why would he interrupt them? You’d be mad if it was your daughter up there on the stage. He wouldn’t have done that if Chelsea Clinton was up there.”
Vanessa Minnillo, 17, of Charleston, S.C., won the title. She will receive more than $150,000 in cash and prizes, including scholarship money, jewelry, clothes, a trophy and cosmetics.
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