It may be the first of many such offerings, since these contests are widespread and have a vast following, and have never gotten a very serious treatment in the mass media. Fortunately, the tone of the book is not too academic. Many ordinary people with an interest in the subject will find it fascinating, though it's not for readers whose tastes run strictly to light entertainment. And the issues that are discussed include religion, politics, sexuality and ethnic identity. Of course, the downside of diversity is unevenness.
Some writers are better than others, and some subjects are more interesting than others.
In a couple of the essays, I occasionally lost track of what the writer was trying to say. But that may be because they were talking about cultures foreign to my own. If you have a friend who is scornful of your interest in beauty contests, recommend this book. When Charlotte Lopez was crowned Miss Teen USA 1993, she made waves far outside the pageant world. Her moving story of growing up in foster care shattered the stereotype of beauty queens as plastic personalities from perfect homes.