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Beauty pageants are harmless, eh? Then why do so many young girls starve themselves to live up to a rediculous ideal that these pageants promote and celebrate? I don't think that one CAN ban them, but at the very least, throw some normal-sized people in there.
Kristen Nicolaisen, USA

Really, people. Some of you need to get a life. The Miss World (and Mr World) pageants emphasize beauty...SO WHAT? Really, if someone wants to forget about the horrors of life for a few hours and watch some pulchritude on the telly, then by God/Goddess/Whatever, let him/her! If ya don't like it-don't watch it. There's no law saying you have to. What about Chippendales? Oh, noooo...I don't hear the "feminists" bitching about them now, do you? Start enjoying life and quit fretting about every insignificant thing...you might live longer.
James Cloninger, USA

Beauty contests are outdated because it is in the eye of the beholder and the contests are meaningless. But to have 'em parade around in front of some stupid audience like cattle is not good. The whole issue differs from magazines like FHM and Maxim, because they target a different group of society. But a televised contest makes it seem more acceptable and legit, when in fact it ain't. Also, how can it be "Miss World" when only 86 out of 191 countries take part? I get the feeling that they try to emphasise beauty as white, or not too dark. It's all despicable, man!
Yoel Sano, UK

If you don't like beauty pageants - for whatever reason - don't watch them. I don't watch them because they are dull and formulaic. If they offend your politics, you probably don't have enough to worry about.
Thomas Threlkeld, USA

Beauty contests will be outmoded when you manage to eliminate the physical difference between men and women. If you don't like the female beauty contasts start male ones so that everyone can enjoy.
Richard T. Ketchum, USA

I think we should replace the word 'Beauty Contest' and change it to the 'Beauty and Intelligence Contest' because the looks are not important.
Adriana Driessen, Sarawak, Borneo

Miss World Pageant has got a class of it's own.
Julia Hoong, Malaysia

I'm in favour of beauty contests in order to annoy the people who oppose them, who are such self-righteous, bossy, humourless busybodies.
James Dennis, UK

Miss World is like the Eurovision Song Contest SAD but compulsive viewing. My wife loves both.
Peter HILTON, England

If the organisers want to catch up with modern times they should arrange a contest for men as well.
Steve, UK

Of course not, if over a billion people watch the contest clearly it is not outdated. The argument that it "exploits women" is absurd. The contestants willingly take part, enjoy it and hope it will provide lucrative careers in fashion or modeling. Feminists need to be reminded that feminists do not own the contestants' bodies and therefore don't need feminist permission to participate.
Similarly the argument that beauty contests ought to be banned because they emphasise physical beauty at the expense of other qualities is also absurd. You could say exactly the same about the Olympic Games; it too emphasises the power grace and co-ordination of the human body. Should they too be banned?
David Gordon, UK

Beauty contests can serve no real purpose in the fast moving modern world where women have started to drift away from their stereotypical portrayal as sex objects. In the new gender equation beauty contests can be no real reflection of either male or female beauty as more and more people find other yardsticks by which they can judge the personalities of others.
RKR, India

Beauty contests are outdated only because of the way they are conducted. Beauty is something very personal and it is a mixture of inner and outer factors. Even as an absolute external factor criteria is still very subjective. I wonder if the "Venus of Milo" would be voted Miss anything today. The restrictions of age make it also very non-democratic. If this tradition is to survive, it has to change. Otherwise it will remain offensive to many of us. The other major problem is that the promotion of external beauty (young, not handicapped women without wrinkles - who obviously don't enjoy life to the fullest) has created a generation that lives in relationships without debt but only physical admiration. May be that is why we have so many divorces today.
Constantine Alexander, USA

Miss World was fantastic, I seriously doubt that the participants were forced to take part, all seemed to be enjoying themselves, and we were entertained watching them, so why don't those opposed to it keep their opinions to themselves, and stop being such killjoys. I also think that Miss UK was awful.
Fran, UK

It is so out of date. I think that it is a superficial thing and it should not be so publicised either.
Hannah Robson, USA

Beauty is as much a valid basis for a competition as intelligence. Both beauty and intelligence are largely down to luck of birth, but both can be improved through hard work. So I feel it is wrong to consider one more meritorious than the other - and yet flaunting intelligence in public contests is never looked down on. This is a conspiracy of the intelligent against the beautiful; they champion IQ as somehow virtuous and denigrate beauty as shallow. This is hypocritical self-interest. I say let everyone shine whatever way they can: be it brains, brawn or beauty.
Mark Parker, UK

Why are the participants coming in semi-nude attire? Some people argue that their intelligence also being tested. How anyone can test the intelligence by asking one question. It's a fact beyond any doubt that beauty contests are nothing but an exibition of flesh. I wonder why womens lib. organisations are not protesting against this.
Karthikeyan, India

The history of beauty contests is as old as the history of humanbeings. This is a natural phenomenon, which cannot be stopped, even if official or formal contests will stopped.
Mushtaq Ahmed Memon, Japan

I don't think pageants are outdated.
Choi Man Kam, Singapore

What's wrong with a harmless couple of hours looking at beautiful babes on the telly? Most red-blooded guys do this while walking down the street, in the office or wherever and whenever they can get away with it. Lets make it twice a year.
Craig Sanderson, Hong Kong

These pageants objectify PEOPLE and are not only antiquated but should never have been allowed to take place to begin with. They are just another example of voyeurism.
Anne Gleason, USA

What is the point in holding a beauty contest when 99.9 percent of the women involved all have artificial parts in one way or the other. It is ridiculous.
Martin Assensoh, Canada

Sex sells, we are moving to a global market - a Miss World makes ($) sence.
A Roegener, Austria

Who are we exploting? Nobody. The girls know what they are getting into. They love it. Everyone is happy until the politically correct, moral fascists come and tell us we can't have what little enjoyment we are entitled to. Keep the contests.
Ross Parker, UK

Beaty contests are an insult to women.
M MacDonald, Canada

In this day and age if women find they want to enter these competitions, it is their choice and if there is a demand for it, so be it.
L Brown, Holland

How can they be outdated if people still watch them? Ian, I think you are overly consiencious to the point of ridiculousness. Why ban something that doesn't hurt anyone and many people enjoy?
Alex Stanway, UK

Beauty contests won't be outdated until there won't be people loving them. Personally I don't like to see women shown as if they were new cars but... I see that a lot of people love it. So ... let them have their fun.
Michele Rossi, Italy

It does appear a little outdated in these days of everyone seeking equality. However, what red blooded man does not like the sight of a beautiful woman. I would personally not watch Miss World.
Geoffrey Home, UK

In an age where even James Bond has a feminist boss, it is refreshing and essential to look at beautiful women, with inner and outer beauty. I am so tired of the feminist movement--it is anti-family, anti-male, and is run by frustrated, unattractive women which sane males wouldn't bother with...
Darren Taylor, Canada

Beaty contests are like so many other activities in that they are not really doing any harm so why can't they just carry on. If you don't like them then don't watch.
Brian Freeman, UK

It makes the women seem stupid.
Les Hewitt, Germany

Those who seek to destroy a woman's ability to take pride in her looks, her health and her personal achievement and maintenance of her body attempt to remove a very special and personal part of being female. Those who protest against the competition often fear comparison with themselves or seek to destroy a female strength and source of power. Most often these people would prefer to convert women into units who must compete with men, rather than see women as different to men, with different strengths and weaknesses, and celebrate in those differences.
Brad, UK

"Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder". Parading oneself in front of an audience showing off ones physical structure is itself a charecteristic of lower forms of the animal kingdom. Does this indicate that we as 'HUMANS' have not yet raised ourself from the animal instincts?
Suresh Kalatoor, Canada

These pageants require more to entertain the viewer.
Stewart L Halliday, Isle of Man

Outdated! it should be OUTLAWED!! Think about the term 'Beauty' Contest. Firstly, why is this one aspect of a person given so much importance? Institutionalising this attitude is criminal. Secondly, whose standards of beauty do these contests conform to anyway? When you look at Beauty contest winners from different parts of the world they all look like different coloured plastic dolls from the same mould but with that 'oriental' touch. A mould cast by that gigantic (predominantly) WESTERN money making machine called the 'beauty' industry. Need I say the 'R' word?
Aejaz Zahid, UK

Beauty contests are not outdated because it's simply human nature to look at beautiful people. In fact, when it comes to the level of Miss World or Miss Universe, pageants can promote cultural exchange. I sincerely believe not too many people have heard of many of the smaller countries represented at these contests. Besides, how many young people can have a genuine opportunity to travel and be a representative of his/her own country like the participants of Miss World do? I also find it ironic that swimsuits, now no longer presented in the Miss World telecast, is still included in the Mr World show. It's definitely time for critics to ditch their moral pretense and maybe, even to watch the show itself, before repeting their old and tiring arguments.
Carter Kwong, Canada

If you don't want to watch it, you don't have to. If you don't want to enter it, you aren't forced to. That way you can spend more time joining the rest of us in the 20th Century.
R J Harrison, uk

The Miss World competition was stunning. So frequently the media bombard us with horrific and ugly images, why deny us something so beautiful and essentially harmless?
Jason Davies, UK

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the participants to the Miss World. Winners or 'losers', they have come together to celebrate the world of beauty. There are no losers as each participant represent their country. The Miss World has become more wholesome with something for everyone. It has become the example of friends coming together. With the changes and updates in the contest rules and character, I am sure the Miss World contest would be a celebration of the beauties of the world and will continue to help peace in this world.
Dansoo Malaysia

I love looking at good looking Shelias. Out in the bush I haven't seen a woman in months. I once saw Miss World on a trip to the big city. It was the happiest day of my life.
Paul De Souza, Australia

We must be able to enjoy beauty!
Ingvald Baugstų, Norway

I think beauty contests are fun - not only for the men but for the whole family. It's a wonderful time to spend together in front of the TV to agree and disagree about the contestants - father, mother, daughters and sons. It's far better than watching violence all the time.
James Chin, Malaysia

Beauty contests have got to be one of the most ridiculous things around these days we need to rid of them and concentrate on better things.
Robyn, U.S.A

Certainly not. The beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Beauty contests for both men and women will take place for many years to come.
Rev. Rodney C. Simmonds, Austria

Beauty is the gift for human beings which cannot be ignored by jealous people.
Dong FEI, Australia

First, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the participants to the Miss World. Winners or 'losers', they have come together to celebrate the world of beauty. There are no losers as each participant represent their country. The Miss World has become more wholesome with something for everyone. It has become the example of friends coming together. With the changes and updates in the contest rules and character, I am sure the Miss World contest would be a celebration of the beauties of the world and will continue to help peace in this world.
Dansoo, Malaysia

They may have ditched the swim suits but at the end of the day its still a cattle market which re-inforces widely held beliefs that women are merely there to be ogled at. I value women, or men for that matter, on what they have done for humanity or society not on how they can walk the catwalk in a pair of jeans.
Barry Tregear, England

Why can't anyone just accept that people can be judged based on looks alone? We do it everyday in real life! As a woman who happily watches the pageants, I have no problem with it and don't understand why anyone else would. Give it a break!
HK, USA

It's just harmless fun.
Arjan Salomons, The Netherlands

I think beauty contests are outdated and obsolete. They only focus on exterior looks rather then what is a person inside. Its not important how you look but what you feel inside.
Hardesh, India

Beauty is not something that any lady should take for granted. It should be cherished and noticed. The down side to this view is being careful to preserve the dignity of the contestants and the contest.
Such shows today are quite pointless as there are so many fine looking ladies out there who, in my opinion, are much more attractive and desirable than most of the contestants in these competitions (no offence); but who will never join such a competition.
Paul Charters, UK

Beauty contests will never be outdated. Not as long as men like women. The idea that somehow a beauty contest demeans a woman is absurd. Beautiful women add a dimension to the lives of men that is extremely important. Of course, this presents a problem for those who are not beautiful to an extent in that they are limited to a degree in life because it is the beautiful people who seem to get all the lucky breaks. Statistics in the U.S. show that attractive female students even make better grades in many cases than unattractive women. And, that is not fair. But, then, men suffer from the same injustice too. We see it in job discrimination, rejection by women who are attractive, and even other opportunities. The ideal would be for people to be judged on the beauty of their hearts and souls but, that is not likely to ever happen. And, beauty contests will never be outdated anyway.
Dave Adams, USA

The tee-shirt and jeans Miss World certainly sounds like a gimmick, revived. Apparently someone or something needs the money. And, good question, just why isn't there a Mr. World? Perhaps too difficult to promote with all of the Mr. Universes and whatever now in abundance. Who really cares?
Joan Lisa, U.S.A.

Unfortunately, beauty pageants aren't outdated, though they should be considered so. The bottom line is that pageants teach men how to think of and treat women, as well as instruct women themselves. Eliminating the "swimsuit" competition hardly remedies the pageant's importance in teaching and reinforcing sexism and patriarchy for a new, "modern," generation.
Joseph Sunshine, U.S.A.

Cattle markets such as this are outdated misogynistic events where sexist men manipulate women for their own pleasure. It should be banned and it should be banned now.
Ian Smart, UK

The traditional kind of beauty pageant is so strange in a modern context that it could now be considered a traditional art form. This doesn't make it outdated, rather something that we should be careful to preserve, like morris dancing or squid jigging and such.
Barrie Martindale, Canada

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