Miss Indiana (aka Mekayla Diehl) was a participant in this year's Miss USA pageant. Unfortunately, she didn't end up winning the competition (Miss Nevada won). In fact, she didn't even break the Top 10, but she did almost break Twitter.As soon as Mekayla stepped out onto the stage, Twitter totally flipped. Everyone was so thrilled to see a woman out there with some curves.
The crazy thing is that she wouldn't even be considered big, plus-sized or any of those other terms, by NORMAL standards, but in the world of beauty pageants, modeling, etc. "normal" unfortunately takes on a slightly different meaning when you're talking about bodies.
In fact, one Twitter user was quick to point out that the mere fact that she is being called "curvy" is slightly crazy in and of itself. "Miss Indiana is considered curvy? Seriously? Guess the rest of us are fata**es," she wrote.
"Miss Indiana is classified as "thick", but people still can't figure out why 9-year-olds have eating disorders," another pointed out.
We can't disagree with them there, but we do appreciate the fact that someone who isn't stick thin is still up there being celebrated - and maybe this is just the first step to an acceptance of more "normal" body types.
Here are some of the other reactions people shared on Twitter:
The fact that Miss Indiana is not a complete twig makes me really happy!
- Kadee McKoin (@k_mck12) June 9, 2014
I really wanted Miss Indiana to make it to the top 10. She was the only girl up there who had a relatively normal body. #MissUSA2014
- Abby Snyder (@NotTooShabby12) June 9, 2014
Glad that miss Indiana made it to the swimsuit section because she's the only one with a real woman's body
- Jamie Sutcliffe (@jamie_sutcliffe) June 9, 2014
So nice to see a natural body in the Miss USA pageant. Go Miss Indiana! #curvy #relatable #lovewhoyouare
- Megan Schaan (@MeganSchaan) June 9, 2014
Miss Indiana should have won! She's beautiful n curvy we'll educated, when will things change? Being thin like a stick isn't healthy.
- Angela Martinez (@AngieMGarzon) June 9, 2014
What do you guys think? Sound off in the comments below.