Battle of the beauty pageants
Wednesday 23rd September 2009, 2:30PM BST.
Elvio Pires is one of two claimants to the rights of the Miss Guernsey competition . (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0844907)
IT WILL be the battle of the beauty pageants this year as two rivals claim they hold the rights to the Miss Guernsey event and both plan to push ahead with the competition.
The contest has for the last three years been organised by Elvio Pires and held at the Carlton Plaza.
But when Mr Pires left the Carlton last week, he began looking for a new venue for the event.
‘When I met with the South Show committee in 2006, the competition was signed over to me,’ he said. ‘I have a letter with my name on it.’
But Carlton Plaza chairman John Carpenter said the event should stay there.
‘This is the traditional place to hold it,’ he said. ‘Mr Pires, myself and the team have held the show here in the past and this will continue. The Carlton will work to ensure it is a super event.’
While Mr Carpenter was unsure when the pageant would be held, Mr Pires said he had already booked St Pierre Park Hotel to hold the event on 20 November.
The two claims to the event have led to confusion.
South Show president Richard Breban said the committee would be looking into who owned the rights to the event, but there could be only one competition.
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Hang on a minute! I thought I was organising it this year?
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Who cares? its a load of rubbish anyway!
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We live in the 21st century and still there are some who think it acceptable for young girls to literally strip so grown men can perv at them, it shows how there is a lack of respect for women in the island and our local press lead the way for womens rights and respect and make this trash front page news…
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These pageants sell themselves as a celebration of female beauty, intelligence and emancipation; in reality they’re little more than a smokescreen to deceive naive young women into allowing themselves to be paraded in front of a bunch of leering men. I sincerely hope my daughter is never taken in by that nonsense!
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How can John Carpenter say its the traditional place to hold it, until recently it was held at the show ground in Blanche Pierre Lane.
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I see where you’re both coming from, Pete and Paul Le P, and I agree this is not front page news, but I do rejoice in the fact that these competitions can take place and that women here are free to decide for themselves whether to take part and show off their natural attributes.
And what a wonderful contrast to those awful, repressed, medieval societies like Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia et al where the female form is shunned and scorned and hidden behind grotesque garb like the burqa.
Long live Miss Guernsey!
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Martino – I will agree that, although I think their choices are often misguided and naive, we should at least be grateful that women here are free to choose. Nobody wants a return to the days where women were little more than slaves.
It is interesting though that you compare us to societies in Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, describing them as medieval. Although you’ve definitely got a point (their treatment of women is degrading) I actually think pageants like Miss Guernsey are also in principle a little on the medieval side – women showing off their “wares” to leering men. The only differences now being:
- the have the choice whether or not to participate
- they aren’t sold off as wives to the highest bidder afterwards!
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Thanks goodness women everywhere have Paul Le P and pete to protect them from their own naivety!
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The difference is, Paul, that the slightly exploitative beauty pageants like Miss Guernsey probably belong in the 20th century, while the truly medieval and misogynistic practices against women that are rife in Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan belong in the 15th century. You’d have to be a bit of a burqa to think otherwise…
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My wife tells me that in her day there was no lurid parading and no swimsuit stage. It is only in recent years that this has been added. It seems as if we have gone backwards.
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I’m certainly not suggesting that Miss Guernsey is comparable to the shameful treatment of women in those countries Martino – you’d have to be a bit of a burqa to think I was! ;-)
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Great
Confusion over venues, just what a load of airheads with pushy mums needs, we’ll have tarted up teens with angry mothers all over the island, tears, histrionics, I’m locking my doors that day.
I think this should be solved with a race around the world, the first one past big ben wins the right to hold the pageant. The queen herself shall declare the winner.
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TL – perhaps if Miss Guernsey focused completely on personality and character and not on curves and swimsuits it could actually be a really positive event? For example, if they rewarded points for voluntary service, cheerful demeanour, positive role modelling etc then winning the event could actually look good on a young lady’s CV.
That would also encourage ladies to take part who, although they’re never going to get a modelling contract, are nevertheless great examples of why the fairer sex should be held in such high esteem.
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@Paul Le Page
“if Miss Guernsey focused completely on personality and character and not on curves”
C’mon Paul, this totally discriminates against those ladies lacking in personality but who have awesome figures!
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Women in pants? In a line?
If you want to see that, my house Friday night after closing time.
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Who watches this stuff its surely one down from lap dancing?
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Having just had a look at the past winners…..
I,m not convinced there is a case for continuing with the pageant, at either venue.
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JL Seagull
Where’s your place then?
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Paul, I live in the ladies off North Beach.
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Why does Miss Guernsey have to be a woman?
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Holly – I don’t know many men who prefix their name with Miss! Besides, isn’t there a similar competition for men?
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Paul Le P – I have no idea whether there is a similar competition for men. Certainly I have never heard of it. It would be nice if there was.
I think it is typical Guernsey hypocrisy that we have to keep our clothes on in the sauna etc. at Beau Sejour but can pay to see young women sashaying about in bikinis up the road. So old-fashioned and for all the wrong reasons. Disappointing.
However I would be happy to see “Miss” Guernsey continue if men are able to enter too or have their own competition.
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Holly
“Mr Guernsey” is contested weekly at 3am Saturday morning at the Taxi Rank, there is no swimsuit round, that was replaced by the “most inventive use of expletives” round, which is closely followed by the “what are you looking at” standoff and then the “last man standing battle royale”.
First prize is getting your A&E fees paid.
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The Man
That is very good, I have seen it for myself.
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Why does this have to be a discussion about mis guided teenagers showing off their bodies.
Could it not be possible that some of these girls might simply want to represent their island and show that they do have personality.
I agree that it is not necessary to have the swimsuit round, as it does not affect the role of Miss Guernsey at all.
Why shouldn’t we give young women the opportunity to get out there and represent our island, its not all about their figures.
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Sam P
Its crucial for the role of Miss Guernsey that the figures stack up.
The old chestnut of one wanting world peace may sound all well and good on the night but in reality its a beauty contest.
A good winner needs to have many attributes and being easy on the eye is at the top of the list!
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This is hilarious.
Looking back on the past winners in the Press I’d suggest that the judges came straight from the beer tent and got a bit mixed up with a couple of the cattle classes.
Anyway who cares?
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Why not take it back to the South Show where it was originally.
It seems to me that it was moved away from there for financial reasons by others not concerned with the show.
Not that I am concerned if we have one or not.
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