Ex-Miss World, 24, slams equalities watchdog for dropping her bid to change the law after she was stripped of her title because she was divorced with a four-year-old son
- Veronika Didusenko crowned Miss Ukraine in 2018 but was stripped of her title
- This came four days later when it was revealed she was divorced and had a son
- She launched legal action at Miss World, claiming it breached the Equalities Act
- Commission said it does not think matter will ‘advance strategic priority aims’
- Miss Didusenko hit out at Equality and Human Rights Commission for not acting
A beauty queen who launched legal action against the Miss World contest after she was banned has slammed human rights watchdogs after they dropped her bid to change the law.
Veronika Didusenko, 24, was crowned Miss Ukraine in 2018 but was stripped of her title four days later after it was revealed she was divorced and had a four-year-old son.
She was also banned from entering the Miss World finals and replaced by another contestant.
Veronika Didusenko (pictured) was crowned Miss Ukraine in 2018 but was stripped of her title four days later after it was revealed she was divorced and had a four-year-old son
The model was also banned from entering the Miss World finals and replaced by another contestant
The model launched legal action against London-based Miss World claiming organisers were in breach of the Equalities Act 2010 and took her case to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
She asked them to force organisers to change their ‘outdated’ entry criteria to reflect the modern world and was seeking a judicial review.
But the Commission said it does not consider this matter will ‘advance their strategic priority aims’ and told her the case is ‘atypical’ and only affects a ‘very small number of women.’
The 24-year-old (left and right) launched legal action against London-based Miss World claiming organisers were in breach of the Equalities Act 2010 and took her case to the Equality and Human Rights Commission
Miss Didusenko, an international model who travels to jobs with her son Alex, now five, has hit out at the Equality and Human Rights Commission for not taking action.
She said: ‘I am disappointed by the Commission’s response. I want these rules to change so that all women who want to enter beauty pageants can do so.
‘In 2019 more than 900 million people watched the Miss World Final in 140 countries. In the same year there was a record number of applications – over 20,000 – to Miss England.
‘This disproves the Commission’s opinion that the pageant industry only involves a small number of women, and highlights their complete disregard for its global reach.’
Today sees the release of Keira Knightly’s new film Misbehaviour, which follows the events of the 1970 Miss World competition.
It saw Sally Alexander lead a feminist protest by the Women’s Liberation Movement at the Royal Albert Hall.
The 1970 Miss World Final was the first time a woman of colour won the coveted competition.
In the publicity surrounding the film’s release, Knightley said ‘The idea of beauty is still so narrow… probably as much as it was 50 years ago.’
Miss Didusenko said: ‘My view is that Miss World’s entry criteria and their defence of them represent sorely outdated views of a woman’s role and place in the family and wider society.
‘I am disappointed but I am also encouraged by the hundreds of people all around the world who have shown their support for my campaign.’
Miss World, which was created in 1951 by British entrepreneur Eric Morley and is the oldest and largest beauty pageant in the world, has always prohibited mothers or married women from entering.
The Commission said it does not consider this matter will ‘advance their strategic priority aims’ and told her the case is ‘atypical’ and only affects a ‘very small number of women’. Pictured: Didusenko as Miss Ukraine in 2018
Miss World chief executive Julia Morley who has run the contest since her husband’s death in 2000, said the rules exist to protect children’s welfare as winners have to embark on busy working schedules across the world.
But Miss Didusenko says: ‘I have been a mother and a model for five years and I have flown all around the world with Alex, taking him to fashion shows with me.
‘If a woman was a successful lawyer or an Olympic athlete or an actress is would be no different.
Miss Didusenko (right), an international model who travels to jobs with her son Alex, now five, has hit out at the Equality and Human Rights Commission for not taking action
‘It is possible to fulfil your role as a parent and a professional woman with a successful career.’
In recent years, other beauty pageants including Miss Great Britain have changed their rules to reflect the modern era.
The only two major contests to refuse entry to married women or mothers now are Miss Universe, formerly run by Donald Trump, and Miss World.