Can beauty pageants be a way to build self-esteem? Talk to proponents and participants, and they'll likely say absolutely. Julianne Hough is one. The Miss USA 2016 host and creative producersays that is the reason she got involved.
"Something I’m very passionate about is young women and confidence, and self esteem, and really celebrating all the qualities a woman is today," she told us over the phone while  prepping for Sunday's big show. She knows those things have not always been associated with pageants.
"I get that cringe-worthy negative connotation, a competition to see who is the most beautiful."
Though today our understanding of beauty is more than skin deep.
"I wanted to be able to give my input as far as what is going to inspire young women to be healthy, to be active, to love themselves, to be compassionate and kind to others," Hough says.
There is still that controversial bathing suit competition, the one that, taken at face value, sends shivers down many feminists' spines. And Hough gets why, though she sees both sides.
"There’s def some work I think still to be done, that’s where we’ve been talking with the producers. In the next few years we may grow from that, but let’s see where this year goes."
They've talked about different ideas for that aspect of the competition, but "there is the whole thing of being confident in the fact you worked hard to get that body and you go to the gym and you eat healthy and do certain things. It’s not different if you are going to the beach."
For now there's more focus on the entire package, which includes what the women stand for and how they present it. Contestants are expected to have a platform that they feel passionate about and support causes they believe in.
Olivia Jordan, Miss USA 2015, has been an advocate for Children of the Night, an organization that is dedicated to ending childhood  prostitution in the United States. Lobbying on Capitol Hill, campaigning and fundraising are all part of the gig.
There's also an aspect of female bonding that comes with the system Hough says, a far cry from the depiction in Drop Dead Gorgeous.
"I’ve been on a competition show and what ends up happening, you create bonds and friendships. Even though you are competing together you get this built in community of amazing women."
Along with Ashley Graham, this year's backstage host, Hough will be corralling that community of 52 women, one from every state and the District of Columbia, as well as the winner of the nationwide search and fan vote for #FindingMiss52, Alexandra Miller.
The show airs live on FOX on Sunday at 7 p.m.  ET.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/06/03/julianne-hough-miss-usa-host-we-may-move-away-swimsuits-beauty-pageants/85323308/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatoday-lifetopstories