Miss South Africa stands firmly by pageant rules
Miss South Africa entries are open and people have not taken kindly to the application rules, calling them primitive and not inclusive of all South African women.
Listen as KZN and Jane share their views about the topic in the podcast below:
The search for the new Miss South Africa is well on its way. Now in its 60th year, this is a tradition that is here to stay, as young hopefuls clammer for a chance to be crowned.
Read: Beauty pageants: Do they serve a purpose in today's society?
60 years in and the rules have not changed to a large degree but this year, people are not impressed with the stringent measures that will be put in place.
Gosh, when I was younger I remember watching Miss SA on television was a big deal. I was always aware of how thin and petite the girls were. It stood out for me as I was the girl who grew up with body issues (show me one that hasn't). I wonder if this type of search doesn't perpetuate the whole cycle of low self-esteem and never feeling like you match up?
Read: Woman with Down syndrome makes history at USA beauty pageant
As a whole, I am not a fan of pageants but appreciate the work that goes into them to look like that. I mean, look that Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters. She has gone on to become Miss Universe but is doing such amazing work over and above that. These rules, however, seem a little outdated. What does your love life have to do with it? Children? Tattoos?
Taking to the pageant's official Twitter page on Monday, Miss SA announced that entries for the beauty competition were officially open and listed a set of rules to adhere to in order to apply for the pageant.
Watch: The crowning of Miss SA 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters
Some of the rules included:
- Not be married and never have had a marriage annulled
- Not engaged
- Never have been pregnant
- Never have given birth
- Not currently pregnant
According to Times Live, the list was circulated on social media and people were not impressed. Young women shared it on their own timelines and slammed the organisation for being 'primitive' and questioned how the pageant aimed to empower women by dictating how beauty is defined.
The Miss SA organisation has stood by its rules saying that they adhere to international pageant regulations.
For me I wonder, in a world that is rich with diversity, wouldn't you love to see a curvy woman carry our flag? A woman that other women could identify with?
What do you think?
This is actually the criteria for Miss SA. In 2018. Seriously.
— Petty LaBelle* 🐼 (@PearlPillay) February 26, 2018
Tatoos? Demon!
Divorce? Demon!
Babies? DEMON!
Also note how they say nothing about weight but let someone bigger than a size 30 even think about entering...
Ugh. Why do we still do this? pic.twitter.com/wrPenL7KU9
Miss SA adheres to international pageant regulations. As national pageant winners are kept busy and away from family and children during their year of reign.
— Miss South Africa (@Official_MissSA) February 26, 2018
However, there is the @MrsSAPageant organisation who welcome moms and wives.