In 2014, you might think that old school beauty pageants are on their way out. Once Miss World was a prime time TV staple - now I'd be surprised if anyone knows when or where it's happening this year (or has it already happened? Who knows?).
Yes, we have the Rose of Tralee, but it's like a sort of beauty pageant from a parallel universe which, as Patrick Freyne (who also happens to be my husband) wrote in the Irish Times last month, seems more about showcasing ideal daughters in law to the parents of Ireland than judging girls on their sexiness.
But there are still plenty of the traditional beauty pageants arrived, as we discovered when a press release arrived announcing self tanner Academie Bronz’Express's sponsorship of contestant Elaine O'Connor in this year's Miss Bikini Ireland Competition. Never heard of this competition? Well, as far as we can make out it really is about women being judged for how they look in a bikini. The winner will compete in the international finals in Mexico.
Elaine O'Connor clearly has more going for her than just her looks (and her tan) - she's a pharmacist who is studying to become a doctor. She says that she wants to compete to show that scientists can be glamorous too and states that “I’m as happy in the lab in my a white coat as I am in my bikini." According to the press release, "key talking points include Elaine’s top tanning and beauty tips, how patients react to a bikini babe pharmacist, and which nation she sees as her biggest competition if she makes it to Mexico." I'm not sure how patients KNOW she's a "bikini babe", unless she actually wears it to work. But there you go.
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Miss Bikini Ireland launchNow, I don't think pageants are evil and that all women who compete in them are gender traitors. If someone wants to step out in a bikini or a one piece or anything they like, then fair play to them. But I can't help finding the continued existence of these events kind of...depressing. Maybe if we lived in a world where women weren't judged on their looks and sex appeal even if they're politicians or doctors or business leaders, they wouldn't mean anything. But as it is, they just seem like an extreme example of what happens to all of us throughout our lives.
So what do you think? Are you surprised pageants like this are still around? Are they harmless fun or the patriarchy in action? And who actually attends the events anyway (seriously, if you know, do tell us because I genuinely have no idea)?
