Absolutely. They are debutantes who spend their entire youths in preparation for this level of contest. All that singing, violin, piano, ballet and other training in the fine arts along with instruction in comportment and cultural values isn't cheap.
These Women aren't meant to simply represent the beauty of their nations but the cultural development as well which is why pictures are nice but we won't know who might possibly win out until the competition plays out. Fights are never decided at the "weigh-in" or as Chris Berman would remind us "That's why they play the games".
As far as judging and what constitutes beauty in a beauty contest goes.................... Sorry, but I find there to be nothing more ugly than a Young girl trying to blag her way through an onstage interview and believes we all love someone who wants to feed the poor, end war and hug a tree, or as they usualy say in these things 'world peace' (while standing infront or millions in a bikini). And so I find that physical beauty is pretty much all I have to go on when making a judgement in these things.