Why seaside town’s new carnival queen could be... a boy

WHEN carnival season came around again in Whitstable, organisers couldn’t wait to find this year’s queen and two princesses.

Ever since 1897, the trio have been picked from the Kent seaside town’s teenage girls to pose on a float wearing sashes and tiaras.

So, organisers booked 18th century Whitstable Castle, and waited for a queue of excited applicants. But ... not a single contestant turned up.

After the embarrassing noshow on Sunday, the Whitstable Carnival Association are now inviting boys to apply for the first time in 121 years. Yesterday

Carol Simmons, 74, secretary of the association, said: I suppose we’d change the title to ‘carnival prince’ and have new sashes made, but I can’t imagine having a “carnival king”.’

She partly blamed lack of advertising, but added that numbers have dwindled from around 40 entrants in 1999 to a dozen last year.

However, there may be an element of a feminist backlash. Social media users branded the contest ‘archaic and sexist’.

Morag Warren wrote: ‘I wouldn’t want my daughter going for this... makes me a bit squeamish. A beauty parade for 13 to 16 year old girls?’

Three girl contestants have now put themselves forward for the roles.

The association is hoping that even more entrants, who must be local, turn up at next week’s selection event.

‘Makes me squeamish’