Sixteen women, who earlier took part in beauty contests, turned up at Rivierenhof Castle in Deurne (Antwerp Province) last Saturday for a special event. They were all there for a photoshoot to draw attention to malpractices surrounding beauty contests across Belgium. Photos of the women will feature in a new calendar. Profits from the sale will go to VRT’s end-of-year fundraiser “The Warmest Week”.
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Inappropriate sexual behaviour at Belgian beauty contests castigated
Colin Clapson
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Flore Pensaert was one of the organisers of the event that she hopes will draw attention to inappropriate sexual behaviour and financial malpractices surrounding beauty pageants.
Flore took part in a Miss Belgium contest but was kicked out of the competition: “It happened because I also worked as an artistic nude model. Apparently, the organisers felt that was inappropriate. Strange, because one of the Miss Belgium photographers was discredited after pressuring candidates to pose for nude pictures”.
Flore also condemns the financial pressure being put on candidates. “Contracts often include clauses stating participants are not allowed to say anything negative to the press. If you do, you risk a 5,000-euro fine. It means participants can’t stand up for one another”.
Flore Pensaert argues that contest organisers need to make a greater effort to create a safe environment: “Each contest should have a confidential adviser to whom all forms of abuse can be reported”.
During the photoshoot the women donned sashes proclaiming them “Miss Behave”, “Miss Intelligence” and “Miss Communication”.