The Miss Manchester beauty pageant has a rich and bright history, deeply intertwined with the cultural identity of the city. First held several decades ago, this prestigious event has become one of the city’s most anticipated annual events in the 2020s. For many ladies, the pageant has become a real celebration of elegance and unity, a place where you can demonstrate your talents and beauty. Learn more at manchesterka.
The first beauty pageant in the world and Manchester
The historical origins of beauty contests go back centuries. One of the first such competitions was held in the Belgian resort town of Spa in 1888. Then, out of 350 candidates, only 21 girls were selected for the pageant. The girls had to send their photographic portraits. Jury members were only aristocratic men. They judged the girls on their behaviour, forms and more. In the 21st century, such judgement is considered unacceptable because it is based mainly on appearance. This contributes to the establishment of beauty standards that distort reality and lead to dissatisfaction and lack of self-confidence in people who do not meet them. They also support gender stereotypes and superficial ideas about beauty.
The Miss Manchester beauty pageant isn’t so old. In particular, it was first held in Manchester in 2004. The new-format event was created to glorify the women of the city.
Beauty contests have become popular all over the world primarily as an entertainment platform. The organisers of the Manchester beauty pageant were inspired by the huge success of similar events in other cities. Therefore, they decided to create an event to highlight the best qualities of the city and also give young aspiring girls the opportunity to show themselves in various areas of Manchester city life.
Peculiarities of the Manchester’s pageant
Although the world’s first beauty contest was held in Spa, in the USA, the first annual pageant was organised in 1926. This country established the traditional and well-known competition format, including
- interviews with participants
- fashion show
- photo session for the press
- final staging in bathing suits
- and coronation.
Initially, Manchester’s event was held according to this scheme, but later as the Miss Manchester pageant developed and grew, it adapted to changing social norms and cultural values. What started as a simple beauty pageant has evolved into a multi-faceted event that celebrates not only physical beauty but also intelligence, achievements, talents, skills and involvement in the life of the city and country.
Contestants vying for the title of Miss Manchester go through a rigorous selection process that includes interviews, talent demonstrations and showcases of completed projects, including charity and more. The judges of the contest evaluate the participants according to many criteria besides appearance, such as self-realisation, charisma, public speaking and charitable activities.
The organisers position Miss Manchester not only as a beauty pageant but also as an embodiment of the values and image of the city. After all, the winner becomes the title holder and the face of Manchester. She glorifies its diversity, culture and other areas of life both locally and globally.
Beauty pageant winners and critics
Throughout its history, the Miss Manchester pageant has shown the world many outstanding winners who have achieved success in a variety of fields, from medicine and acting to business and philanthropy. These women used the platform to make a positive impact on the city, championing their ideas and inspiring others to follow their dreams.
Over the years, the Miss Manchester beauty pageant has become a beloved tradition. This is a real celebration of the beauty, talent and cohesion of the city’s residents. It gives birth to new stars that shape the economic, social, cultural, political, medical and other spheres of city life. However, despite its popularity and success, the contest was repeatedly criticised by its audience and participants.
Many Manchester residents continue to criticise the pageant for promoting and perpetuating gender stereotypes and exploiting female contestants. They even positioned it as a distraction from more serious issues facing the city.
In addition, many contestants refused to participate in the swimsuit competition. Many of them are holders of doctoral degrees and such an appearance in front of the public was unacceptable for them. In 2010, one of these contestants was Katrina Hodge, who refused to take part in the swimsuit competition and proposed to replace it with a sports one.
Nevertheless, the organisers of the Miss Manchester beauty pageant are keen to find the right role model and a shining representative of Manchester on the world stage.