In Singapore, pageant contestants are not revered or respected in the same way, echoed Ms Tanisha Tan.
The 26-year-old social media agency founder has competed in three pageants and was crowned Miss Singapore International 2025.
The lack of recognition, she added, can also translate into financial strain, especially for contestants in smaller or lesser-known pageants.
Many, including herself, end up paying out of pocket for extra preparation – photoshoots, runway lessons, makeup tutorials – just to put their best foot forward, even if they know it may not always pay off.
Dr Navera suggested that Singapore’s “lukewarm treatment” of pageantry may partly stem from a deep-seated national pragmatism and greater emphasis on values like discipline, diligence, hard work and meritocracy.
