It's a smart business move.
Why pay these lazy BBers to sit around at home.
Let them earn money and support their hobby (BBing - Not a sport, A hobby) like every other hard working american.
If their is room or a desire for them to do a photoshoot after a beauty-pagent to satisfy the schmoe crowd. Pay them a few thousand bucks and they will surely take it.
Why would anyone pay a BBer >100k a year salary when they can pay them 1k for a photoshoot instead? Keep in mind many of these individuals are spending >20k in drugs for a 5k return (if they win) and a plastic trophy.