BEAUTY CONTESTS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1930, Page 3

BEAUTY CONTESTS

{ United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.]

LONDON, February 9

Every capital in Europe has provided this week its own story of the storm and stress associated with the selection of tin* most beautjifful girl. There was a fanfare of trumpets, multitudes clamouring to inspect the beauties. There are stories of dissent and disappointment. At least one serious riot took place in Athens and finally a tragedy in Poland when a rejected competitor ran from a hall and shot herself dead. Thousands clamoured round the beauties in Paris where the final of judging for Miss Europe took place. The girls are being followed through the .streets wherever they go. All this clamour was caused by the competition. Many ask what effect such publicity will have on the girls. Perhaps the strongest case against its continance was made out by the famous artist C. R. W. Nevinson, who declares the beauty in woman causes her sufficient trouble. Though he does not suppose any woman would sacrifice it. Tt seems unnecessary, however, to thrust the competition on suffering womanhood in tin* form of an international contest.

The present one in Europe was attended by a tragedy, and an English beauty was imprisoned for theft. A’so ror-onfily an Australinn beauty committed suicide. It is important to' remember we do not hear, the other effects of such public rivalry, which must open the doors to a great deal 'bat is unpleasant and undesirable. Any woman, who dares to fa on a' mad scramble of public life, must he equipped with a needle sharp lira in, ruthless opportunism and a rhinooceros hide. Re once know a great theatric* I agent who was in the habit of letting every girl, applying for a job, to marry no matter how badly, rather than n take job no matter how good. Hundreds of girls afterwards thanked him. Tt is a fact that , the aftermath has peculiarly baleful effects both on the winners and the loser’s personal lives) dissillnsionment too often driving them to seek death.