Beauty pageants have a prominent history in American culture, where they evolved from baby contests at state fairs to full-blown Miss America extravaganzas for millions of viewers to enjoy. With its evolution, pageantry in all its splendor has found a home in popular culture and inspired TV shows like "The Bachelor" and "Toddlers & Tiaras," movies like "Miss Congeniality" and "Drop Dead Gorgeous," and also the way social media influencers comport themselves. Host Dr. Melinda Lewis examines the history, trends, and cultural impact of beauty pageants with Dr. Hilary Levey Friedman, a Brown University sociology professor, the author of "Here She Is: The Complicated Reign of the Beauty Pageant in America," and the daughter of a former Miss America winner.

"Pop, the Question" is a production of Marketing & Media in Pennoni Honors College at Drexel University.

Recorded October 22, 2021 through virtual conferencing (Philadelphia, PA, USA).

Featured Guest: Hilary Levey Friedman, PhD (Sociologist, Brown University Professor, and Author of "Here She Is: The Complicated Reign of the Beauty Pageant in America")

Host and Producer: Melinda Lewis, PhD (Associate Director, Marketing & Media)

Dean: Paula Marantz Cohen, PhD (Dean, Pennoni Honors College)

Executive Producer: Erica Levi Zelinger (Director, Marketing & Media)

Producer: Brian Kantorek (Assistant Director, Marketing & Media)

Research and Script: Melinda Lewis, PhD

Audio Engineering and Editing: Brian Kantorek

Original Theme Music: Brian Kantorek

Production Assistance: Noah Levine

Graphic Design: Camille Velasquez

Logo Design: Michal Anderson

Additional Voiceover: Malia Lewis

The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily those of Drexel University or Pennoni Honors College.

Copyright © 2022 Drexel University

To learn more about Hilary Levey Friedman, visit www.hilaryleveyfriedman.com.