Beauty Pageants: What's in them for Women?
Two beauty queens who say attitudes to pageants are changing
Gowns, glittery bikinis and a lot of hair spray: thousands of women around the world wear them on stage every year, hoping to win a beauty pageant. Many say these pageants are demeaning and outdated but others argue that beauty pageants can be life changing experiences that help contestants to go on to academic and professional success. Kim Chakanetsa brings together two beauty queens to find out what's in it for women?
Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers is an Anguillan-British barrister and former athlete who is the first black woman to represent Great Britain at a Miss Universe pageant. She says that since winning her title this year many women of colour have reached out to congratulate her for representing black female beauty. She says that she entered pageantry for self-development and hopes that future competitions will change their requirements to allow single mothers to compete.
Jamie Herrell is a Filipino-American business entrepreneur who won Miss Earth for the Philippines in 2014. Initially she thought pageants were degrading for women but entered to earn some extra money when her father became unwell. She says there are many different sides to pageantry and many different reasons why women compete. Since winning she has launched an eco flip-flop business to help tourism in the Philippines.
Producer: Sarah Kendal
Image: (L) Jamie Herrell Credit: Euguene Herrera
(R) Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers Credit: Kev Wise
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I'm a beauty queen - take me seriously!
Duration: 01:05
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How a barrister became a beauty queen
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- Mon 19 Nov 2018 03:32GMT成人快手 World Service Online, UK DAB/Freeview, Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa only
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- Mon 19 Nov 2018 11:32GMT成人快手 World Service except West and Central Africa
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- Mon 19 Nov 2018 23:32GMT成人快手 World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
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