The Miss America pageant is in a crisis. Its outspoken owner, Donald Trump, casually referred to Mexicans who come to the U.S. as “killers and rapists” in a speech announcing he’s running for president, and the two major television networks who cover the event, NBC and Univision, cancelled their contract with him.
It’s a shame really. Contestants are routinely mocked for the dumb responses they’ve provided to softball questions over the years. Remember Miss Teen South Carolina, who couldn’t articulate why Americans can’t figure out maps?
But that’s nothing compared to some of the outbursts from Trump, who, it’s worth remembering, is polling second among Republican candidates. So in memoriam, we’ve put together a quiz. Can you tell whether a Miss USA contestant or Trump gave these monumentally terrible sound bytes?
Q. Each day, the Internet becomes a more powerful tool to touch people around the world. What kind of social media service are you best at, and why?
A. My Twitter has become so powerful that I can actually make my enemies tell the truth.
A) Miss Ohio, 2003
B) Miss California, 1962
C) Miss Nebraska, 1999
D) Donald Trump
Q. Americans these days are becoming more and more concerned with the ethical shopping. What’s one choice you make about how to spend your money, and why?
A. [People] who believe in tight border security, stopping illegal immigration, smart trade deals with other countries should boycott Macy’s.
A) Miss Arizona, 1994
B) Miss Alaska, 2001
C) Miss Utah, 2008
D) Donald Trump
Q. Do you have your own personal website, and if so, did you code it yourself?
A. I have so many websites. I have them all over the place. I hire people. They do a website. It costs me three dollars.
A) Miss New Hampshire, 2010
B) Miss Arkansas, 2002
C) Miss West Virginia, 2012
D) Donald Trump
Q. Now, [contestant], you’re heavily involved with Habitat for Humanity and building homes and structures for the less fortunate. What’s your dream project?
A. “I will build a great wall. And nobody builds walls better than me, believe me. And I’ll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words.”
A) Miss Washington, 1998
B) Miss Pennsylvania, 1983
C) Miss Oklahoma, 1976
D) Donald Trump
Q. With a population greater than any other country and a surging economy, China is poised to be a major world player. How can we do to work with China to see a brighter future for all?
A. I’m not saying they’re stupid. I like China… Their leaders are a lot smarter than our leaders. It’s like, take the New England Patriots and Tom Brady and have them play your high school football team.
A) Miss Minnesota, 2002
B) Miss Alabama, 2006
C) Miss Michigan, 2009
D) Donald Trump.
Q. Winners of the Miss USA pageant often go on to change the world. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A. I will be the greatest jobs president that God ever created.
A) Miss New Mexico, 1972
B) Miss Texas, 1989
C) Miss Wisconsin, 1994
D) Donald Trump
Photo via US Department of Education/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
