THE CONTROVERSIAL CHILD beauty pageant has gone ahead today in County Monaghan, despite the original venue where the contest was to be held cancelling yesterday.
The ‘Toddlers and Tiaras’-style pageant was to take place today at the Bracken Court Hotel in Balbriggan in north county Dublin, with babies, toddlers and teens taking part in the beauty contest.
Politicians slam contest
Senator Jillian Van Turnhout and the Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald spoke out against the contest, stating that it was exploitative and encouraged the early sexualisation of girls.
However, the hotel cancelled the booking stating that the pageant “was not in keeping with the family ethos of the business”.
The hotel also stated that the organisers “went to great lengths to keep the venue secret” and had “taken the precaution of booking two reserve venues” for their event.
The Late Late Show
Last night, the contest organiser Annette Hill from Texas appeared on RTE’s The Late Late Show, defending her business.
Today, the Universal Royalty Beauty Pageant’s Facebook page asked parents of children who were registered for the event to call Ms Hill so they could be told where the new top secret location was.
Tweeting about the news that the competition had gone ahead, Senator Van Turnout said “Well done hotels for saying NO. Thank you…”. She said she was sorry to see the beauty pageant go ahead today.
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