Why beauty contests should not be encouraged

Nuala Holloway

"We need a sea change in culture and attitude in our society. Misogyny is unacceptable, and it needs to be eliminated from society."

The words of Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, in the Dáil on the aftermath of the tragic death of Ashling Murphy recently. Misogyny is defined as a hatred of women. It is a form of sexism used to keep women at a lower social status than men, thus maintaining the societal roles of patriarchy.

Beauty contests are part of this misogyny. I know this to be true. Having won the Miss Westmeath title I went on to represent Ireland at the Miss International Beauty Pageant in Okinawa, Japan in 1975. As far as I’m aware, I’m the only Westmeath native to become a Miss Ireland. Times were very different then, there were not the same opportunities for young women. I wanted to go to university with the intention of qualifying as a teacher but my parents didn’t give me that opportunity. They were not interested in educating their daughters. They were more interested in acquiring land for their sons.

Having completed my Leaving Cert, I took a clerical job in Cork and studied art at Crawford College by night. One day I was walking down the South Mall in the city when the well-known photographer, Ted McCarthy approached me. He suggested that I should do some modelling. At his suggestion, I joined the local model agency. The owner, Ena Russell, put me forward for Miss Westmeath. I was not so enamoured with the idea but I just thought, well, it may lead to a more interesting job than my current work.

Before the contest for Miss Ireland in Jury’s Hotel, Dublin I was photographed in several locations, which I often found tiring and boring. Still, I looked forward to travelling to Japan and acting as an ambassador for my country. Over the ten days, both in Tokyo and Okinawa, I felt I was quickly becoming a spectacle, I felt almost like a clown in a circus as the media crowded in on us. The girls came from all over the world vying with each other for attention.

Some came with their own personal assistants to do hair and make–up, unlike me who had to borrow some dresses and slap on some Max Factor before walking out. To this day, I remember our arrival at Tokyo International airport. The pavements outside were full of reporters and the rolling of cameras resembled a scene from a James Bond Movie. I even thought the Pope of Rome was due to arrive. I didn’t think a bevy of beauties and unknowns like us deserved such attention.

I couldn’t help thinking how one’s personal worth is tied into your looks and the narrow definition of what it is to be beautiful. And the media, mostly men ogling and throwing political questions at us of which many of us had no training and the fear of saying something that might become a punch line for months or even years to come.

I was asked by the Dutch media, ‘Miss Ireland, why are you holding our Dutch Industrialist, Tiede Herrema captive?’ This was big news in October 1975. Herrema was being held captive by the Provisional IRA in demand for the release of three of their members.

As we lined up for the media shoots at the different locations I couldn’t help thinking that we were like cattle at Moate Mart. A further requirement for the competition was only non–married young women could participate in the competition. This clearly indicates how patriarchy defines purity and virginity as good. In other words, we were single and available for male consumption. It influences how we feel about ourselves and it gives men and boys ideas on how to view and treat women.

For those who argue that beauty contests provide a platform to build a career and showcase talent, I say ‘nonsense’. You don’t need a beauty contest to do this. The prizes in whatever guise they may come are simply sugar-coating for the misogyny. All are historical hangovers of a patriarchal era. Nothing has changed with these contests from the time of their inception over seventy years ago. Women are presented as visual fodder for the male gaze.

After this contest, I went on to do some photographic modelling, TV commercials and acting for a few years. Indeed, many times I felt frustrated and belittled with this work, it didn’t require brainpower. However, I managed to put enough money together to go to university and complete an Arts degree. I’m now a secondary school teacher of Irish, English and Mandarin.

My young female students sometimes ask me questions about my experience as Miss Ireland, and I sympathetically discourage them away from the topic. Their young minds are already way too skewed in favour of being pretty, and not even just pretty, but being pretty in a particular way. There has never been an overweight ‘Miss’. If you don’t measure up to the required hourglass figure of 34, 24, 36 inches you are not considered for the competition. This leads girls who are average size to strive for the thin ideal. How often have we either experienced or read about the scourge of anorexia among young girls? This type of behaviour limits people’s potential to be unique individuals and to work with others to achieve goals and ambitions.

The people running these contests are for the most part men. Yes, they may give to charity but there is no doubt they are making big money for themselves. Many are openly sexist and are generally reprehensible people, as in Donald Trump who ran the Miss Universe contest. He was recorded in an interview where he showed his vulgarity towards women with the remark, ‘Grab’em by the pu**y’.

I speak not as a hard-line feminist but as a woman who wants balance between the genders. Let’s forget about beauty contests, Miss Westmeath, Miss Ireland and all other ‘Misses’. We need to concentrate on a society where women are respected, can walk with pride for how they look without fear of getting harassed, raped or murdered on a walkway in broad daylight.