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Miss Virginia: Pretty Ugly
You may have heard a couple weeks back when Nikki Poteet, our 2011 Miss Virginia, got caught up in some unwanted drama after reportedly throwing a drunken temper tantrum complete with homophobic slurs.
It actually made the local news and has been reported on by Think Progress. Folks are calling for her crown. What do I think? We are not “pageant people” so I went surfing for information in an effort to present a thoughtful answer.
Reportedly there are many duties that come with the Miss Virginia title, but the main ones include traveling around the state and nation promoting the Miss Virginia Pageant and their personal platform. The rules, regulations and standards look light to me. It would seem that almost any never-married female, meeting residency requirements and willing to claim good health and moral character can sign up to be judged. That last sentence is pretty subjective.
The pageant folks have said it’s all here-say and since she is friends with the gay person in their office no action will be taken. Are they right? Are they wrong? How do you know?
I know the police were called out to the house by the roommate subjected to the slurs and a report was filed. I don’t know any more beyond that but strongly suspect there will be no court as a result of the complaint. Is that enough to toss her on her arse? What if the slurs were anti-Semitic? Directed towards black people? Would it be different? I don’t think so.
If I get in a fight with a roommate (drunk or not) and call them a n***** I might get my butt kicked but likely won’t face any legal action.
I think she should lose her crown simply because those actions do not show good moral character however, I also realize you don’t typically lose your job for being an asshat in your personal life…Look at Bill Clinton. He was a good President but I will NEVER condone cheating on your partner or spouse. I asked my son…He called it out as bullying. He expressed that bullying is dangerous and hurts people and is illegal. He thinks whether you use the F-word or the N-word the scars are the same and bullying should never be tolerated.
So at our house we do think in theory she should lose her crown but realize that is unrealistic. Perhaps our energy will be better directed educating folks on diversity and equality and highlighting folks that demonstrate those values.
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Miss Virginia’s Alleged Homophobic Rant
According to Richmond resident Derek Powell, things got messy with his roommate over the weekend – the current reigning Miss Virginia Nikki Poteet.
November 3, 2011
One Comment
There were witnesses present, and they actually did her a favor by not pressing charges (examples of assault, battery, and property damage were reported in the article). I’ve met this girl and have seen her in action in several bars/clubs in Richmond. I can tell you that contrary to her statement to the press, the bad behavior in the original story is ENTIRELY “consistent with her character”. Education? So she can read and pass tests, but does little to display or utilize any intelligence supposedly gained after her sleaze-filled romp through VCU. A friend of mine works in her department at Dominion. She told me that her co-workers were rolling in the aisles after reading Poteet’s press statement that she was an “educated and hard-working woman”. She says Poteet routinely arrives to work late, dressed like a call-girl with heavy make-up, and appearing worn and hungover from the night before…then spends hours away from her desk socializing, an hour or more gone for lunch, and at least two hours texting, Facebooking, playing games, or talking on her cell phone. Do the math…she puts in about 12 hours a week of real work and her management (all men….duh) does nothing about it. The worst and perhaps saddest display of Poteet’s character is frequently on display in downtown clubs. She dresses and behaves like a total prostitute, throws down heavy drinks, throws herself on random men, and has her bar buddies snap trashy, indecent pictures of her that she posts on her own Facebook page. In her defense, the only reason this story and all the others are news is because she was a public figure (that was supposed behave like role model and hold herself to a higher standard). Unfortunately, if you get the spotlight for the good, you’re gonna get it for the bad. And as many people commented on the original story last November who know or knew her, she was already pretty bad for years before her Miss Virginia title. The first comment posted above…education? A gay guy trying to get famous? No truth? Sorry, but I’m guessing that empty-headed post is from none other than our very own tarnished tiara herself.