Beauty with a purpose

Celebrating 125 years of women’s suffrage at the recent Miss Taranaki pageant does seem incongruous, and this was the tenor of Helen Pickford’s critical letter. (TDN, Feb 23, ‘‘Not feminism at all’’.)

However, those who have followed Lois Finderup’s Miss Taranaki competitions over the years will know the theme is beauty with a purpose and the importance of community service.

Miss Taranaki is not a beauty pageant; rather it’s about developing self-confidence. It’s a personality competition and not a beauty pageant.

Moreover, the Miss Taranaki pageant has moved with the times, and it in no way demeans the dignity of women.

Interestingly, the Miss Taranaki competition raised $14,000 for the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust.

Contestants (and the audience) were also encouraged to enrol to vote.

To reinforce this key message a representative from the Electoral Commission was in attendance.

There were also actors in period costume acting out the NZ suffrage story.

As an aside, Kate Sheppard (the champion of the NZ suffrage movement) was an attractive, confident woman, who spoke well and knew how to lobby and market herself.

Bryan Vickery

New Plymouth