Mother Claims Discrimination in Miss America and Miss World Pageants

A New York woman, Danielle Hazel, 25, has filed a complaint against the Miss America and Miss World beauty pageants, alleging discrimination based on her motherhood. Hazel, a single mother of a six-year-old son, was disqualified from competing in the pageants due to their eligibility rules, which bar mothers from participating.

The rules state that a contestant must be unmarried, childless, not pregnant, and without a legally dependent person to be eligible. Hazel claims that these rules are rooted in the antiquated stereotype that women cannot be both mothers and beautiful, poised, passionate, talented, and philanthropic.

“We’re talking about a mother who’s still young and vibrant, and who is being denied the opportunity to participate in something that is supposed to be about beauty, talent, and being a positive influence on young people,” said Gloria Allred, Hazel’s legal representative.

Allred is a well-known lawyer in California who has taken on cases involving women’s rights. She has already sued another beauty pageant, Miss Universe, for similar reasons.

Hazel has been inspired by the countless women who have been a part of these pageants over the years, saying, “My dream of competing in those pageants is still on hold today because of their discriminatory entry requirements, which ban mothers from competing.”

The move comes amid ongoing controversy in the beauty pageant world. In May, the winners of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA relinquished their titles, citing mental health reasons, after an administrator of the pageant’s parent organization resigned, citing a toxic work environment.

Miss America, founded in 1921, is the oldest beauty pageant in the United States. Miss USA, founded in 1952, was owned by Donald Trump until 2015.

Hazel’s case is a timely reminder of the need for change in an industry that has long been criticized for its outdated views on beauty, talent, and what it means to be a woman. As the debate around body image, representation, and equality continues to unfold, it is clear that the pageant world is in dire need of a makeover – one that reflects the beauty, diversity, and strength of women like Hazel, who refuse to be held back by outdated stereotypes.