BEAUTY PAGENT ROW TURNS UGLY
‘WE DO NOT FEEL THIS REPRESENTS OUR VALUES’
BEAUTY pageant organisers have been told they are no longer welcome to host Miss Newcastle at the Civic Centre after contestants – many of them teenagers – were dressed as Playboy Bunnies.
Critics branded the event “sexist” and “antiquated” as Newcastle City Council said the event does not “represent the values” of the authority.
Miss Newcastle in its current form celebrated its 10th anniversary at the Civic Centre on June 2.
The event – which has raised thousands of pounds for charity – saw 20 girls aged between 16 and 23 compete for the crown and guarantee qualification for Miss England.
Organisers Tyne Tees Models chose a Hollywood theme but Playboy Bunny outfits, combined with a swimsuit round, drew criticism.
Bosses say they had already made their decision to hand over the pageant’s reins after this year’s event and new organisers had already said they would not be returning to the publicly-owned building.
Councillor Kim McGuinness, cabinet member for culture, communities and sport, said: “I feel more passionately about the advancement of women and girls than almost anything else and this makes me very uncomfortable. It was sexist back when it was relevant, now it is positively antiquated.
“I would never ever criticise anyone that takes part in an event like this, they’ve all got such wonderful achievements and attributes outside of their appearance and I feel those are devalued when they are judged on how good they look in a swimsuit.
“We won’t be hosting it next year. It is not what we want to be supporting.”
Coun McGuinness said the council had thought “very carefully” before deciding against the long-running commercial arrangement.
“The women who take part are great representatives for the city and it is great that they have confidence but we should be giving them the opportunity to show more of their achievements than their bodies,” said the Lemington councillor.
“It is really old fashioned and it is not welcome.”
Director of Miss England, Angie Beasley, distanced herself from the event and said the organisation has no involvement in the local heats.
But she admitted she was “surprised” when she spotted images of Miss Newcastle contestants in Playboy Bunny outfits.
“It’s certainly not a round in the Miss England final,” she said.
“The girls are fully dressed in the Miss England final, we don’t have them walking around in next-to-nothing. That’s not what we do.”
Lesley Middlemiss Lister, managing director at Tyne Tees Models, said she takes seriously suggestions any models aren’t treated with the upmost respect.
She said: “I do often experience misconception relating to the event itself from time to time.
“I really don’t mind explaining that Miss Newcastle is a celebration of bright, confident, articulate, selfless, hard-working and ambitious young women that have together raised almost £100,000 for charity.”
Ms Middlemiss Lister said her team “could not re s i s t ” including a bunny reference in the Hollywood theme and added that the Playboy Bunny girls of the 1940s worked hard, learning over 143 brands of liquor and mastering poses.
A Newcastle City Council spokesperson said: “We pride ourselves on our commitment to fairness and equality across all our communities, and Civic Centre has played host to several events that support these values and priorities, aimed at safeguarding and providing support to the most vulnerable in our city.
“Following last year’s Miss Newcastle event at Civic Centre, we met with the organisers to agree what behaviours were acceptable for any future events. New measures were put in place by the organisers in order to meet the terms of their contract for the 2017 event, which were all adhered to.
“However, after seeing photographs that emerged from the event and the costumes worn, we do not feel this represents the values at the heart of our organisation.
“With this in mind, we would be unable to host any future events of this kind at Civic Centre. We understand the organiser will no longer be running the event.”
Miss Newcastle, won this year by 17-year-old Alisha Cowie, has propelled the careers of models including 2016 Love Island contestant Sophie Gradon.