Poor Miss Teen USA 2007 - South Carolina. You’ve probably seen the clip. If not, go watch it. It only runs 48 seconds (of your life that you will never get back).

Clearly, she either misheard or misunderstood the question. But whatever she thinks she heard, her rambling is totally incoherent. So, I don’t understand why the video is titled “Miss Teen USA 2007 - South Carolina answers a question” because she DOESN’T answer anything. There is a question (a rather embarrassing question for those of us in the U.S. education business) and then she talks. Politicians frequently do the same thing in moderated debates [anyone remember Barbara Walters in the 1980 U.S. Presidential debate?] and press conferences. But just because you talk after a question is asked, doesn’t mean you are answering the question.

I’m quite certain that being on a stage in front of all those people is terribly disconcerting. I would never want to do it. (Not that I’m at any risk of being asked.) But she chose to be there. And should have practiced. Not just shimmying into a swimsuit and evening gown. In heels.

On an only tangentially related note, I want to add that I do not watch beauty pageants. Sure, I’m a red-blooded hetero American male. And I’m not saying I’m above watching things that are totally inane just because there are pretty girls in it. I frequently do. Maybe I could tolerate watching a pageant with the sound off, listening to music instead. Perhaps “You Can Leave Your Hat On”….