American teen with blonde hair and blue eyes: Miss World 2010 is crowned
The Sydney Herald reports on the crowning of Miss World 2010 in Saturday night’s pageant in southern China.
18 year old Alexandria Mills from the US state of Kentucky beat 100 other hopefuls to win the crown, and wept as last years’ winner ” led her to a diamond-shaped throne marking the pageant’s 60th anniversary.”
In second place was Emma Wareus from Botswana, with Venezuela’s Adriana Vasini placed third.
The Miss World pageant has proven controversial for many years, provoking endless debate amongst feminists and media commentators in general: An outdated procession of objectification? Harmless fun? An excellent opportunity for women to get involved with charity work?
The angle of the article draws attention to the fact that the winner this year conforms to stereotypical Western ideals of beauty.
This should surely provoke the more burning question: How many people would really feel more comfortable with crowning a winner of a contest in which women compete to be considered the most beautiful, if that winner wasn’t blonde haired and blue eyed?
Personally, I am more bothered about the fact that 60 years on this competition still draws global viewing figures of one billion.
I hear you sister.