The controversial Miss LSE event will not be taking place this year.
When asked about the reasons for the cancellation, no one from the company responsible for its organisation, 121 Entertainment, was available for comment.
Last year the event sparked a national debate over beauty pageants and their place in society. This was after it was greeted by protests from students who claim beauty pageants of this kind represents misogynistic values.
LSESU Women’s officer Jessie Robinson welcomed news of the cancellation saying: “I’m sure that the success of previous feminist protests will have played a part in discouraging this event from recurring.”
“As women we are constantly bombarded with images of what we should look like. Women smiling down at us from Billboards, magazines, music videos, all brainwashing us with unachievable images of female ‘perfection’. This should not be perpetuated in a university environment where we expect to be judged on intelligence and hard work alone.”
Reigning Miss LSE Keelin Gavaghan was less happy. She said: “Its a shame because, most importantly, the event was run for charity. The event was a great night out for those that went and particpated, but they are holding a Miss University of London in February, where a girl from LSE will probably take part, and hopefully people will go and support the good cause.”
Those involved in organising Miss LSE are yet to disclose the amount of its proceeds that were donated to charity. The event was advertised as being in aid of Cancer Research UK. When asked about this issue nobody from 121 was available for comment.
Robinson added that “unfortunately the Miss University GB final will still be taking place in March, and we will need to continue campaigning against such pageants.”
Miss Uiversity GB is another beauty pageant which has charitable motivations. It has been organised by the Joshua Foundation, a charity which aims to “provide holidays and experiences for children and their families, where the child is diagnosed with terminal cancer”.
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