NEW YORK — A New York woman is challenging the long-standing rules of Miss America And Mrs World who disqualify mothers from their beauty pageants.
Danielle Hazel said Monday she always dreamed of competing in the competition but was devastated to learn she was no longer eligible after having a son at age 19.
“When I told Zion, who is now 6, about these rules, his immediate reaction was, ‘These rules are stupid,'” she said, speaking at the Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument in New York City’s Central Park. “His sense of justice at just 6 years old tells him that this is unjust and it doesn’t make sense.”
Hazel’s lawyer, Gloria Allredsaid a complaint sent to the city’s Human Rights Commission on Monday, calling for an end to the requirements because they exclude mothers from an “important business and cultural opportunity” solely because of their status as parents.
“As we stated in Danielle’s complaint, this exclusion is demeaning to Danielle because it is based on the outdated stereotype that women cannot be mothers and be beautiful, balanced, passionate, talented and philanthropic at the same time,” Allred said.
Spokespeople for the Miss America and Miss World pageant organizations did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment Monday. A spokesman for the Human Rights Commission said the agency does not comment on ongoing investigations.
Allred noted that she previously successfully challenged a similar rule for a California mother who was barred from competing in the Miss California pageant, which is part of the Miss Universe and Miss USA organizations.
Andrea Quiroga’s complaint of discrimination filed with the California Civil Rights Department prompted Miss Universe to rescind the 70-year-old rule, which was enforced by its member organizations worldwide, Allred said.
“Being pregnant or a parent is not a crime and should not exclude an individual from employment or professional opportunities,” Allred said. “An individual’s status as a parent should not carry stigma, and no one should feel shamed, humiliated, or degraded because they have become a parent.”
The two women were joined on Monday by Veronika Didusenkowho was crowned Miss Ukraine 2018, but was stripped of the title when the Miss World organization found out she had a child.
Didusenko, who has since founded an organization campaigning to end the ban on beauty pageants for mothers, said she lost her legal challenge in Ukraine but is now seeking damages from the European Court of Human Rights.
___
Follow Philip Marcelo on twitter.com/philmarcelo.