However, in more recent times, smart and/or talented women (in sports, for example, thanks to Title IX) have many other routes to scholarships.

All that said, I do applaud this young woman for her honest answer re birth control -- and thank heavens that these judges asked better questions than in past.  I have a tape of the 1959 Miss America contest (the first one televised, I think), and every question by Bert Parks, blecch, blecch, began with "when you are married" or "when you have children."  

Perhaps you haven't thought this all the way through. For example, others have soundly criticized the Miss America Pageant for its  history of racist conduct. Now, if the Donald made a racially insensitive comment about a contestant, I doubt that you would go any easier on him because "beauty pageants are, by definition, profoundly racist and moronic anyway".

Here's a little pageant background regarding race/ethnicity, LINK, PBS:

The pageant's long history of excluding women of color dates from its beginnings [1921]...the notorious rule number seven of the Miss America rule book, says: "contestants must be of good health and of the white race." As late as 1940, all contestants were required to file a formal biological data sheet... In 1941 a Native American [competed], there would not be another for 30 years. [A Puerto Rican and an Asian contestant competed in 1948.] The first Jewish Miss America won in 1945, the only one ever to be crowned [stats 2001]...The first African Americans to appear in the Miss America Pageant came onstage as 'slaves' for a musical number in 1923. It was not until 1970 that a black woman won a state title and made it to Atlantic City as a contestant. In 1984 Vanessa Williams became the first black Miss America...her reign ended mid-year amidst scandal.

I have little problem with women showing off their power, through their beauty, sexuality, athleticism, intelligence, and competitive instincts. There is nothiong victorian about my sensibilities

Halima Nasr El-Shenawi is a masters journalism student at American University in Cairo. She also wears a veil, and she wasn't impressed with Fakih's title.

"I feel that there are other important things people should consider rather than crowning and praising her, people who actually have done something beneficial to the society than being beautiful," she said.

''What she is doing is against Islamic habits and tradition, but I cannot judge her," El-Shenawi said. "I believe each person will be individually judged and as we know there are a lot of freedom going on in the world and her doing this is not surprising.''

And obviously you are not paying attention, being smart is one of many traits values by our society, and as I see it, many more men are represented (objectified as you would have it) as being dumb than women in our society.

I applaud Rima Fakih for her accomplishment, she is already starting to be a role model that would make me proud were my daughter to emulate her.