If you’re a Star Trek fan attending the annual convention held in Atlanta every September, you might certainly know about a pageant that’s out of this world. The Miss Klingon Empire Beauty Pageant is an event held during the convention featuring all the best of Klingon women. Some traditions are preserved, such as the fact that the contestants will be judged in three categories, beauty, talent, and personality. Participants get to roar mating calls, scratch their males or throw around heavy objects. As Cpt. Kirk put it, worlds may change, galaxies disintegrate, but a woman always remains a woman.

Founded in 1972 by a physician, Ms. Wheelchair is a competition held to motivate people with disabilities, promote their achievements and make their voce heard. The event is not a pageant per se – judges look at the contestants’ accomplishments, communication skills, self-perception and projection. Personal and onstage interview and also speeches are held to determine the person that most deserves the crown. In the end, the title is given to the most articulate spokeswoman for people with disabilities. The winner will travel throughout her state to speak about their platform and other disability-related issues.

Probably one of the most artificial pageants on the list is the Miss Plastic Surgery held in China. The story started when an 18-year-old girl was cut out of the Miss Beijing Beauty contest because of the $13,250 spent on 11 cosmetic surgeries. This time, to prevent cheating, all contestants must present a doctor’s certificate that proves they had surgery done. There is also the prize for the biggest change, the best body, the best personality and the best media image, the latter being won by a 62-year-old woman, the oldest contestant, and by a transsexual.

Organized as a fundraiser for the Burlesque Hall of Fame, the Miss Exotic World Pageant held in Las Vegas features burlesque queens from the past and the present. It was first started in 1990 by Exotic World Museum curator Dixie Evans as a way to attract more people to the museum. It was successful enough to garner attention and become an annual event. Now, winning the pageant is considered one of the greatest achievements a burlesque performer can obtain.

What better way to judge to a woman than her armpits? For the people of Battle Mountain, Nevada, the symbol of human condition is the armpit. If anyone can dethrone the Armpit King, the Armpit Queen is the one that sooner or later will make her presence known. Dubbed by humorist Gene Weingarten “the armpit of America” for its “lack of character and charm,” this is an annual celebration for all things smelly. The event includes sweaty (not wet) T-shirt contests, throwing deodorants and an antiperspirant contest. And if you’re in the area, “Make Battle Mountain Your Next Pit Stop.”

photo credits: dragoncon, Wikimedia Commons