You are TOO SHORT to win in the MISS USA pageant.

To the point: many would-be pageant contestants don't compete because somebody 'educated ' them on how they don't have a fair shot to win because the pageant is rigged for people that only look a certain type. Being 'too short', -whether in hair or height- is often the first barrier for a contestant that DQ's their chances...
Or does it ????
 

FACT #1
‘You have to have long straightened hair to win in pageants.’
(Sure about that?)
Janel Bishop Miss Teen USA 1991
Susie Castillo Miss USA 2003
 
FACT #2
‘…Well you at least have to have long hair to win.’
 (More foolishness.)
Heather Rene French Miss America 2000
Marissa Whitley Miss Teen USA 2001
Sydney Robertson Miss PA Teen USA 2014
 
FACT #3
‘ ok,ok… but you can’t dispute this: the one GOLDEN RULE FACT is you CAN’T compete on the BIG STAGE at a major pageant if you’re not 5’8 or taller.** Short people don’t win in the Miss USA system.'
(yeah…that’s the standard alright.)
 
2016
South Carolina Leah Lawson 5'6"
Utah Teale Murdock 5'5"

2015
North Carolina Julia Dalton 5' 5"
Kansas Alexis Railsback 5' 5"
Louisiana Candice Bennatt 5' 6"

2014
North Carolina Olivia Olvera 5'4"
Pennsylvania Valerie Gatto 5'5"
Wyoming Lexi Hill 5'4"
 
2013
Iowa Richelle Orr 5'3"
Mississippi Paromita Mitra 5'3"
Oregon Gabrielle Neilan 5'5"
**Source: Wikipedia

Takeaway: your height, whether in heels or your hair levels, doesn't DQ anything! Do your research and FIND the people who have bucked the odds before you!