A New York woman, Danielle Hazel, is challenging the rules of Miss America and Miss World that disqualify mothers from their beauty pageants. Hazel, who had a son when she was 19, was devastated to learn she was not eligible due to the rules.
Her lawyer, Gloria Allred, has filed a complaint with the city’s Commission on Human Rights, seeking an end to the discriminatory practices of excluding mothers from the “important business and cultural opportunity”. She called the rule an “antiquated stereotype” and argued that mothers can be “beautiful, poised, passionate, talented and philanthropic,” too.
Allred previously had success challenging a similar rule for a California mother denied eligibility to compete in the Miss California pageant, which was part of the Miss Universe and Miss USA organizations.
The discrimination complaint filed by Andrea Quiroga with the California Civil Rights Department prompted Miss Universe to eliminate its 70-year-old rule, which was imposed worldwide through its affiliated organizations.
Veronika Didusenko, who was crowned Miss Ukraine 2018 but had the title stripped when the Miss World organization learned she had a child, is also challenging the rules. She lost her legal challenge in Ukraine but is seeking relief from the European Court of Human Rights. She appeared alongside Hazel and Allred at the New York Commission in solidarity.
Spokespersons for the Miss America and Miss World pageant organizations did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
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