The true story of Misbehaviour

The infamous 1970 Miss World competition gets the big-screen treatment this month in Misbehaviour. No idea what happened? Let us fill you in

Starring Keira Knightley and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, the film tells two stories: that of feminist activist Sally Alexander, who protested against the 1970 Miss World competition, and of Jennifer Hosten, the first-ever black woman to win the crown. Here’s how all the events really played out…

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Created in 1951 by British entrepreneur and TV host Eric Morley (Rhys Ifans), the Miss World beauty pageant started life as Miss World Festival Bikini Girl at the Festival Of Britain summer fair.

VIEWING PLEASURE

The BBC first broadcast Miss World in 1959. The show secured funding from big businesses and became an annual viewing event throughout the ’60s, reaching a peak of 24 million viewers in 1970.

FEMINIST FURY

As contestants were judged on their appearance while wearing gowns and swimwear, the pageant attracted a lot of controversy, and was publicly opposed by feminists for demeaning women.

Fair.

PLANS FOR PROTEST

Feminist activists the Women’s Liberation Movement decided to protest at 1970’s Miss World at London’s Royal Albert Hall, using the slogan “We’re not beautiful, we’re not ugly – we’re angry”.

FLOUR POWER

Protestors, including Sally Alexander (Keira Knightley) and Jo Robinson (Jessie Buckley), pelted Miss World host Bob Hope (Greg Kinnear) with flour, smoke and stink bombs and rotting fruit, calling the pageant a “cattle market”.

HISTORY IS MADE

Grenadian Jennifer Hosten (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) became the first black woman to be crowned Miss World. Hosten (right) later said that the contest offered her more opportunities to travel, study and work than she may otherwise have had access to.

THE END OF AN ERA

The BBC stopped broadcasting Miss World in 1980, and when Eric Morley died in 2000, his wife, Julia (Keeley Hawes), took over as CEO. Julia (right) added a charity element, Beauty With A Purpose, to the competition.

BRAINS & BEAUTY

The controversial pageant still exists (Priyanka Chopra, right, won in 2000), but contestants are now judged on their charitable work too, not just their looks.