PAGEANTRY: Joy Behar (above) of “The View” will judge Miss America next month.
The irony isn’t lost on Joy Behar.
“I realize it is out of character for me to be judging Miss America,” the famously feminist “View” host admits. “But maybe it will make the show more modern or bring it up to date.”
The struggling pageant, which has lost more than 28 million viewers since its heyday in 1988, returns to network TV next month for the first time in four years.
“I will be looking for the girl with the cellulite,” Behar told The Post.
“This is a complete departure for me. But I have a permission slip from Gloria Steinem.”
Q: So the less skinny girls will have a better chance this year? I do always find the odd girls prettier. But I don’t think I am going to judge anybody on their beauty as much as their intelligence and their talents.
Q: Have you ever judged anything before? No. Maybe on a cruise once. And it was a talent contest. It is nothing I ever aspired to. But it is something completely different from what I do.
And I get to spend a week in Las Vegas. That is one of the draws. I like to play the blackjack and craps.
Q: Should the girls be worried about what you might say? I don’t even know what I am going to say. The thing with me is I say what I really think.
I don’t like to be cruel or mean, which is why “American Idol” would be hard for me because people are really putting their hearts and souls out there. You really don’t want to be mean, but there are things you can say that are truthful that are not mean.
Q: Did the show approach you? Yes, they asked. The other thing is I am bringing my HLN show along to broadcast from Vegas. That will give “The Joy Behar Show” a little bit of a twist.
Q: Were you ever in a pageant or contest when you were younger? Just spelling bees. But I never made it to the finals. I remember the exact word that got me in junior high school. “W-h-e-y” as in curds and whey. You see, these are my tragic stories.
Q: The public will have a chance to vote for one finalist this year. Are you concerned about another tea party conspiracy? It is possible. That is what’s going on in the country right now. Is Bristol Palin one of the contestants? Or maybe Piper?
The Palins are the only ones that provoke that kind of response — unless you count Christine O’Donnell.
Q: What celebrity would you choose to be Miss America? Angelina Jolie. She is probably over the hill for this particular contest, but, to me, she seems to me to be the one who is closest. She really wants peace in the world. And she really tries to do something about it.
You know how they all say “I really want to have world peace?” She really puts her money where her mouth is. Plus she is exceptionally beautiful. I think she is probably smart.
Q: With all the years of Miss America hopefuls wishing for world peace, how come we don’t have world peace yet? If the American Congress can’t even figure out a good tax cut policy, how do you expect one girl in a bathing suit to do anything?