Miss Teen S.C. steps up in CharlestonThe Post and Courier
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Grace Beahm Sales Director Jeffrey Ciullo checks the fit of Miss Teen South Carolina Caitlin Upton's dress. Upton was in Charleston on Tuesday modeling for Badgley Mischka at Saks Fifth Avenue. It has been a month — 33 days, a lifetime, really — since the biggest boo-boo of young Caitlin Upton's life. It matters little now to Miss Teen South Carolina, made famous by her bewildered response to a question posed during the national pageant. Though, in truth, she owes her blessings to her mighty blunder. She is sitting Tuesday on a small couch in a side room at Saks Fifth Avenue on King Street, dressed in a white top, slim-fit dark jeans and heels, her posture perfect. She and her family, who live in Lexington, often visit the Charleston area to see her aunt and uncle on Seabrook Island. This week, Upton's in town as a Saks model to help unveil the new Resort '08 line from Badgley Mischka. Celebrated designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka both will attend tonight's fashion show. Video
Rob Young talks to Caitlin Upton - Miss South Carolina Teen USA - as she models for Saks Fifth Avenue in downtown Charleston Watch » "The dresses are beautiful," says Upton, just completing her fitting. She found her fame innocently enough. Recent polls, she was told during the Miss Teen USA pageant, have shown that a fifth of Americans can't locate the U.S. on a map. Why is that? Essentially, it was the equivalent of another question, maybe unspoken but implied. To wit: "What's wrong with this country?" Upton stood on stage and provided an answer. The dilemma, so she personally believed, was many-fold. It involved "U.S. Americans," she said, specifically those without maps, and, uh, the educational system, such as, in South Africa, the Iraq, and everywhere. She hoped, she concluded, that our nation might be able to build a future for our children. She flubbed it. And everybody knew. The clip drew more than 16 million hits on YouTube. Late-night comics cut their jokes and Upton was the punchline. Unintentionally, and rather unpredictably, her misstep has turned into genius. Upton is pretty and blonde and 18, and she'd like everyone to understand, that in fact, she is not stupid. "I just want people to know that I live life to the fullest," she says. "I learned from my mistake, and I try to influence the lives of others in a positive way." She isn't nervous, at least it doesn't show. By now, she knows the protocol, the interviews, and the requests that accompany newfound fame. "I think it's fun," Upton says. "I like talking to people, and I like it when people can get to know me for who I really am." The real Caitlin Upton, or Caite (pronounced Katie) as she prefers, enjoys the outdoors and snowboarding, hiking and soccer. She is personable and outgoing and she loves "putting smiles on other people's faces." Her mother is a nurse practitioner, her father works as an engineer. She's their only child. They gave her some advice growing up, Upton says. Don't run. Don't cower. Acknowledge your screw-ups. So she did. The week after the pageant, she was on "The Today Show," swapping high-fives with Ann Curry and fist bumps with Matt Lauer. Later, she poked fun at herself at MTV's Video Music Awards: "I personally believe that Nevada Las Vegans don't have fun because some people out there don't have meat. And I believe they should." Clearly, it's working out for her. She recently agreed to endorse Dell, filming her first commercial for the computer company last weekend in Austin, Texas. And the coup de grace? Trump Model Management, an agency owned by Donald Trump, hired Upton as a model. Her far-flung duties might include assignments in Milan, Japan and Australia, where she could earn up to $25,000 per day. Next month, she'll move to New York. "I went to (Trump's) office," Upton recalls. "He said that I had to sign with him, and that he couldn't take no for an answer." She also finished third runner-up in the pageant. All told, she's had a good month. Sometimes, it doesn't even seem real, none of it does. She's watched the footage, heard the criticism. And she laughs. "Because I really don't think it's me," she says, "I think it's someone else." But her circumstances merit a question. Given the jokes, the endorsements and semi-celebrity, all of it improbable without her answer, would she do it again? "If I could have a do-over," she says, "I would probably either answer it the same way or just say, 'You know what, I have no idea what you just asked me because it was an unexpected question.' " Not that it matters now. Dreams, she figure, do come true. "I'm really happy," she says, "I'm on the go 24/7." Reach Rob Young at 937-5518 and ryoung@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 23 comment(s)
Posted by bhippey on September 26, 2007 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
She is the reason you should stay in school. Beauty pageants are dumb. Thank god I had a boy.
Posted by CHRISJIII on September 26, 2007 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So now it's fashionable to reward stupidity? No wonder S.C. is at the bottom of the heap in education. Being blonde and pretty is not a very good return on also being stupid.
Posted by MSC on September 26, 2007 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Her "butterflies" are now paying off for her.
Where else but in "U.S. America" could a third place finish get a woman modeling contracts and fame. Quick, can anyone name the woman who won?
Posted by kling on September 26, 2007 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Being in a beauty pageant obviously paid off for her!! Good for you Katie!!
Posted by southerngirl24 on September 26, 2007 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just a side remark to all those people talking about how stupid this young girl is. YOU get on stage in front of millions of viewers and answer questions. People get nervous and screw up...that's life. It doesn't make her stupid that she didn't hear all of the question, and mucked up her answer. Granted, it certainly showed how nervous she was, but my god...she's 18 years old, and probably wanted to start crying after the first few words escaped her lips. Give her a break. If you do a little reading on her, you'll learn that she's a bright young woman who does a lot of good. Tell me what charities you devote much time to, besides writing out a check and putting it in the mail. Besides...she must not be that stupid...because I couldn't tell you won. Also, if you are calling her stupid...why don't we compare your paycheck to hers.....yeah...she's reallllll stupid. I'd like to be that stupid.
Posted by billyjoejimbob on September 26, 2007 at 10:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
re re re ta rded.
Posted by bhippey on September 26, 2007 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You don't have to be bright to walk around on a stage in your bikini caked in make-up. She proves that. Donating to charities just so your name gets recognized, isn't really being a good person. Being a good person is donating because you feel you should, not because your publicist says it'll get your name in a few more papers.
Posted by CADguy on September 26, 2007 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All I have to say is I need to own a high profile retail clothing business that does custom fittings. Then again, it is best that I do not.
Regardless if she is dumber than a box of rocks, at least she is working.
Posted by CHRISJIII on September 26, 2007 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Southerngirl24 sounds like you could just be!!!!!! Take that to the bank!!!
Posted by southerngirl24 on September 26, 2007 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
First to bhippy....no you don't have to be bright to walk around on stage, and pageants aren't my cup of tea, but it damn sure doesn't mean your not smart if you do. I've known many brilliant young women who have done these types of pageants and have done great things...and the charities they worked with, they did it because they WANTED TO. I worked with a girl that comepeted in the Miss Teen SC USA, and that girl is such an incredible inspiration. She's done so many good things that she doesn't have to do...and people don't know all she has done. That's coming from personal experience with some of these pageant girls. Also, who are you to ASSUME that she is only donating time to be recognized. I think it makes you a bigger idiot than her if you really think you are so smart to know WHY she does what she does. You cannot read her thoughts and therefore should not make comments liket that. Also, just a little bit of knowledge...this girl is still a kid...No doubt when someone puts themselves in the position Lauren Upton did you have to be prepared for anything, but at the same time she is only 17 years old and obviously really didn’t understand the question.
More likely, she was so nervous in front of a live audience and a huge television audience that she really didn’t “hear” the question. She screwed up and will probably never live it down. Right now I just feel bad for the kid and I think of how painful it must be for her family to see this happen to her.
Just a little side note, again...perhaps she's not so stupid..but HUMAN...people have "blonde moments." Imagine yours and how you would feel if millions of people witnessed it.
Just some info from her bio: She has received “Star Student” awards in both Photoshop and Advertising Design. She holds a student government office as President of Skills USA. Her career goals include earning a four-year Graphic Design degree.
More power to her.
Posted by southerngirl24 on September 26, 2007 at 11:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
eyfigueroa:
You are right. There are plenty of idiots out there racking up the cash. I'm sorry, but I just feel BAD for this girl. I put myself in her shoes and am horrified. People are just creaming her over ONE MOMENT that happened to be in the public eye..when really...how much do you ACTUALLY KNOW about this girl...other than what she said in that interview. Let's not pass judgement.
To CHRISJIII--- Please explain to me how i am on my way to being stupid because I don't believe I have the right to pass judgement on those people I don't know.
Posted by stephaniem on September 26, 2007 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
that question was retarded anyways.
1/5 americans can't find our country on the map?
who did this kind of research?
I was in a couple pageants. They are harder to do because all your insecurities come to your mind while you look into the audience. I would rather do drama as I could keep my mouth working and be judge on material anyday.
Posted by MHA on September 26, 2007 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow... who cares either way? Nothing about this story has been real news from the start. A person screwed up on stage... so what. I'm sure that happens all the time. A pretty young girl has a job modeling... so what? It's not like that's a first either.
Some of you have WAY too much time on your hands to sit and obsess over this type of thing. Makes me wonder if you're the same people that are keeping Nancy Grace on TV by watching her stupid shows.
Posted by suec on September 26, 2007 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why all the hatred towards her?
It's not like she killed or even hurt anyone. It's good that she can laugh about it and turned a bad situation into a positive.
Most of the snide and mean remarks here sound like envy.
You hate her becuase she's pretty?
Posted by bhippey on September 26, 2007 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Southerngirl: I didn't say only stupid people are in a pageant, I just said you don't have to be smart. I'm sure there are plenty of smart people in beauty pageants. As long as you are good looking, you're in. The questions they ask are stupid. They are all current affairs crap. Ask them some math questions or history questions. Not what fashion they're into this season or why they think people can't find the U.S on a map. Ask them something that doesn't contain their opinions. Opinions are like a$$ holes......which brings me to this point. What people post in here are their OPINIONS on topics provided by the P&C. If you can't handle people saying what THEY THINK in here, maybe you should stop reading and responding to the posts. I also think it's funny that everyone says she didn't understand the question. I thought she was BRILLIANT. Hmmm.
Early: How do you know where we are in life? Are you a stalker like southerngirl and have a detailed profile and history of accomplishments on all of us??? And Self-Esteem has nothing to do with why some people post what they post. What's there to be jealous of? Beauty and what??? Beauty? Give her til she's 35 or 40, I'm sure that will change. It's hard to take a pretty girl seriously when she's doesn't seem very bright. A lot of us will judge her by the first impression on tv. Is that sad? Probably, but a lot of people do it.
Posted by southerngirl24 on September 26, 2007 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bhippy,
Have your opinion, I'm just stating mine. But don't make the assumption you know people's reasoning behind the things they do...like charity work. You implied the only reason she does it is because her publicist says it'll get her name in more papers....but I haven't seen the papers publicizing her, or any other pageant contestant's charity work. Don't flatter yourself into thinking you know the reasoning behind other peoples actions...only they do.
Hey, and what's wrong with a little spirited debate...what's the fun of having an opinion if you can't debate a little :-)
As far as this comment: "Are you a stalker like southerngirl and have a detailed profile and history of accomplishments on all of us???" Why the personal attack..don't think I attacked you personally. Think whatever you like...I just prefer to see the entire picture before passing judgement and stating opinions. Anyways, it was in an interview on Good Morning America...maybe you should keep up with that "current affairs crap" a little better. ;-)
Posted by bhippey on September 26, 2007 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You did, you called me an idiot. And that hurt my feelings. I cried on the inside after reading that. I'm not an idiot. Maybe I just misunderstood the question. Current events are stupid. The only reason I read this paper is to comment in the forums.
Posted by realman on September 26, 2007 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
why all the negativity surrounding this young woman? she flubbed up a question and it made national news and now no one seems to be able to get over it.
she is very attractive and she must be somewhat intelligent to make it as far as she has. just because, for whatever reason, she messed up on stage doesn't mean she deserves everybodies wrath.
Posted by southerngirl24 on September 26, 2007 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"I think it makes you a bigger idiot than her if you really think you are so smart to know WHY she does what she does." Technically I only called you an idiot if you think that you know why she does what she does (meaning her charity work...) IF you don't think that way...then I didn't call you an idiot at all...not that I'm being knit picky or anything.... ;-)
And I would suggest that perhaps not all current events are stupid...as some of them will have great impact on your life. Now, current events about Britney, Christina, Lindsay and PAris....that's a whole different ball game....
Posted by bhippey on September 26, 2007 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Blah.
Posted by CHRISJIII on September 26, 2007 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
eyfigueroa: I think that I'd better join you in those actions if that's all that it takes to make it in America. I guess all of that encouragement to get college degrees was all a bunch of whooie.
Posted by wonderdog on September 26, 2007 at 7:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think a lot of people are making a big deal out of her performance at the pageant because it really fit the stereotype of beauty pageant contestants, whether deserved or not.
Posted by ousteroune on September 29, 2007 at 2:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You think this is bad? You should read the nasty things posted on YouTube (mostly by Mexicans, but many by Americans) about Miss USA Rachel Smith after her heel caught in her gown and she tripped and fell at the Miss Universe pageant last May. "Stupid" was the last of it. As if the smartest of us has never tripped and fallen -- and she graduated magna cum laude from a prestigious college! For some reason, the American mainstream media never report the extra mental pressure she was under: she had been harassed by the racist Mexicans every time she showed her face in public for weeks because of her national origin (ie, she was one of us), and the pageant organizers had to call in extra security for fear the hostile mob would storm the stage. So it's no wonder she might have had a loss of focus when it was an act of courage just to go out on stage. But instead of calling the Mexicans on their boorish behavior, the media make her look like a fool, just because she was a pageant girl. She was out there representing us, and so many Americans stabbed her in the back.