Beauty
Queens: Smiles, Swimsuits and Sabotage, 3
June to 18 September 2004 Women's Library Whitechapel
Aldgate East London E1-
From the seaside holiday competitions of the 1940s to
the global phenomenon of Miss World, Beauty Queens:
Smiles, Swimsuits and Sabotage examined the history
of beauty contests in 20th century Britain from the
points of view of organisers and contestants, protestors
and audiences. Using original contest ephemera, costumes,
photography, film footage and oral history accounts,
Beauty Queens considered the rise and demise of the
beauty pageant in popular culture, and proved to be
a playful yet thought-provoking visual treat. Curated
by Alice Beard.
