Beauty contest

Beauty contests, whether it's Miss Universe or Miss Teen International or worse still, child beauty contests, are demeaning to women and have no place in today's world. Adult society should send a message that says, " Don't judge people based on looks; it is what you're like as a person that really counts. Since Jennifer Hawkins was crowned Miss Universe, interest in beauty contests in Australia has increased dramatically. Her win has also sparked a debate about whether beauty contests are harmless reminders of old-fashioned values or a throwback to the days when women were respected mostly for how good they looked. In the past few decades, Australia has taken real steps towards treating women with dignity and respect. Young women are being brought up knowing that they can do anything. Almost all of the people who win beauty contests are far too thin, reinforcing the message that thin equals beautiful. This ignores the fact that men and women come in all sizes and shapes. In a country where up to 60% of young women are on a diet at any one time, and 70% of school girls say they want to lose weight, such messages are troubling.