Move against beauty contest fails

Press, 31 August 1984, Page 5

Move against beauty contest fails

An attempt to have the Canterbury Promotion Council withdraw its support for the “Miss Asia and Pacific Quest" failed at a council meeting on Wednesday. Mrs Judy Waters said there were links between beauty contests and nervosa. She wanted an earlier executive committee decision to support the quest to be overturned. "By aiming to achieve excessive loss of weight, such illnesses as anorexia are reaching almost epidemic heights,” she said. Other council members referred to women’s rights, rape, and assault for not supporting beauty contests. Miss Heather Melville said many of the arguments against beauty contests

were “red herrings.’’ She said people should have the freedom to enter, watch, or be associated with beauty contests.

The executive officer of the Canterbury Promotion Council. Mr Bruce Dunstan, told the meeting that the “Miss Asia and Pacific Quest” would be held in Christchurch in November with or without the council’s support. "We have offered to advise on and arrange suitable filming locations and activities in Canterbury. We have not offered any financial assistance,” he said. The contest would be in the “best interests” of Canterbury and help promote a selection of sights and activities to the rest of the world, Mr Dunstan said.