The Miss Belgium beauty contest has taken an unexpected turn this year with 39 minors vying for the coveted crown which has led to a significant increase in the number of 16- and 17-year-olds participating.
Compared to previous years, the increase has sparked a debate about their chances of winning and the subsequent implications for young participants.
The surge of minors in Miss Belgium has raised eyebrows, prompting concerned parents and experts to question the wisdom of allowing teenagers to compete in such an environment. One anonymous parent, reflecting on their daughter's experience, disclosed to De Morgen that they had reservations about her age, ultimately learning that minors have little practical chance of securing the title.
Over the past quarter-century, no minor has ever clinched the Miss Belgium title, and critics argue that this information should have been transparently communicated by the organisation before entrants invest substantial sums of money and effort into their candidacies.
Conditions and liability
To participate in Miss Belgium, candidates must be at least 17 years old by 2024 and no older than 26, as stipulated in the official contract. However, this year's competition includes four 16-year-olds and 35 candidates who are 17 years old, making up nearly a fifth of the total participants, a significant surge compared to previous years.
The regional preliminary rounds of Miss Belgium are currently underway in Plopsaland De Panne, where candidates, including the underage ones, are required to don bikinis. While societal attitudes toward such displays have evolved, experts like Liesbet Stevens, Deputy Director of the Institute for Equality Between Women and Men, warn of potential risks, especially when these images circulate online.
Professor Michel Maus, from the VUB Law Faculty, has publicly raised concerns about the contracts participants sign. These complex agreements include financial penalties for non-compliance, with a hefty €5,000 compensation fee for speaking negatively about the organisation in the media. In an interview with De Morgen, Maus questioned whether minors fully comprehend the implications of such contracts and suggests parental involvement for legal protection.
The top three contestants from last year's edition. Credit: Belga / Kurt Desplenter
It has been revealed that underage candidates often sign these contracts without their parents' involvement, raising questions about the validity of these agreements. For minors to autonomously sign a contract, strict conditions must be met, including understanding the contract's consequences and obligations.
In the same De Morgen article, Liesbet Stevens further highlighted the vulnerability of minors in setting boundaries and making informed decisions, particularly in situations where they may face pressure. Recent reports have shed light on instances where Miss Belgium's in-house photographer approached ex-candidates to pose nude, emphasising the need for organisational support and protection.
Moreover, the increasing presence of minors in beauty pageants like Miss Belgium is being scrutinised for perpetuating a young ideal of beauty. As the trend of involving younger contestants continues, society is left questioning the implications of reinforcing the image of the eternally youthful woman as the epitome of beauty.
In response to the growing concerns, the organisation behind Miss Belgium, chaired by Darline Devos, is considering changes to their approach. Devos has suggested that in the future, parents of minors may have to co-sign the contracts. Despite the controversy, Devos maintains that minors are not entirely without a chance to win, pointing to Veronique De Kock, who won the title at the age of 17 in 1995.
As the debate around minors' participation in Miss Belgium intensifies, it raises broader questions about the ethical and legal responsibilities associated with involving young contestants in such high-stakes competitions. The beauty contest is at a crossroads, and the world is watching to see how it navigates these challenging waters.
