Miss England bosses ditch swimwear round for good – just weeks after touting its return
MISS England bosses have ditched the contest’s swimwear round for good — two weeks after touting its return.
The beauty pageant had been looking to reintroduce the controversial parade for the first time since 2009.
And organiser Angie Beasley had vowed she would “refuse to bow to the woke brigade” over it.
It had existed as an optional choice, with contestants submitting beachwear-themed pics rather than wearing cozzies on stage.
But amid divided views among contestants and in media debates, Angie said the round has been dropped completely.
She said the competition was “no longer a bathing beauty parade” but instead “celebrates women achievers”.
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Angie said contestants’ views were mixed. She added: “I know some contestants will be disappointed in this outcome, but we can’t please everyone.”
She continued: “The focus needs to be on other factors such as the Beauty with a Purpose round, which recognises the ethos of the contestants and raises lots of funds for charities.”
Reigning Miss London Anjali Sinha, 23, a scientist from Middlesex, said the swimwear round “empowers women to be confident in their own skin”.
But Hannah Jowle, from Blackpool, one of this year's semi-finalists, said: “Confident women don’t feel the need to show off their bodies.”
