| |
Diane Hare, British director of the Cinderella Scholarship Pageant, which is set to take place in January |
Contest is about ‘study’ – but some fear beauty pageant could turn ugly!
WINNERS of an American-style beauty pageant to be held in Swiss Cottage will be offered free private school tuition.
Children as young as three are expected to take part in the Cinderella Scholarship Pageant, the British arm of a 30-year-old American institution which claims it has given away more than $1.5million to its beauty queens.
There were warnings this week that the event encourages children to pay too much regard to their appearance.
The contest, planned for the 02 Centre, Finchley Road, in January has five categories of beauty queen, from Cinderella Tot, for ages three to six, all the way up to Cinderella Woman, for 18 to 26-year-olds.
Organisers revealed there will be a registration fee of £18, plus a further £195 cost to take part – but winners will be given the chance to study at a private school for a term, or take part in extracurricular activities, such as music or dance lessons.
They will also be sent on a trip to Las Vegas to compete in the Cinderella pageant world final next August.
British director Diane Hare, a West Hampstead mother-of-two whose daughters have been nominated as pageant “ambassadors”, insisted anyone could win it and that all sizes and races would be included.
“It helps if you’re good-looking, but if you’ve got the talent then of course you will win,” said Ms Hare, of West Heath Road.
“Why not? We’re rewarding people with talent. They don’t have to be good-looking. What’s the criteria of good-looking? We say beauty is from within. This is not a typical beauty pageant. This is about a person wanting to study.”
She added: “There are also going to be beautiful people on the outside, but I believe for Cinderella the beauty is from within.
“It’s a great programme and it will do well for contestants. It will build their self-esteem and they will make friends.”
Official judging criteria, however, shows prizes will also be handed out for “prettiest hair”, “best smile”, and “best casual wear” to winners from each age division.
Other categories, which Ms Hare’s daughter has won in contests abroad, include “Miss Photogenic”.
Camden’s Conservative leader Councillor Andrew Marshall said: “I’m kind of disturbed. I think children should be children. They gradually grow up and realise that looks are a part of life, but I don’t think it’s particularly helpful to push it on them as children.”
Frognal and Fitzjohn’s ward councillor Dawn Somper said: “There’s something really unpleasant about it. I don’t like the idea of them paying for dance lessons or schools.
“It’s terribly American. Children can be very nasty – particularly little girls. I can see a lot of nastiness in the classroom over it.”
Managers at the O2 Centre said they have agreed to rent out their hall, which can hold up to 300 people, to Ms Hare in January although the booking hasn’t been confirmed. |
 |
| |
|
|
