This is where it gets interesting! On the other hand, the amount of publicity and money generated by the pageants was undeniable. It became a cost vs. The beauty pageant was open to the public and just as they hoped would be the case, the mainstream media was all over it. Hay later apologized for those comments stating, "Through hard work, education and thanks in large part to the sisterhood that I have come to know through pageants, I am proud to say that I am today a better person.