A 25-year-old woman is challenging the longstanding rules of beauty pageants that exclude mothers from competing. Danielle Hazel of New York expressed her objection to these rules during a speech at Central Park’s Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument. She shared her dream of participating in pageants, only to discover that she was ineligible due to being a mother.
Hazel, who has a six-year-old son named Zion, revealed that when she explained the rules to him, he immediately deemed them “stupid.” Her attorney, Gloria Allred, filed a discrimination complaint with New York City’s Commission on Human Rights. The complaint argues that these requirements unjustly prevent mothers from accessing important business and cultural opportunities based solely on their parental status.
Allred stated that the eligibility requirements discriminate against women who are parents and perpetuate an outdated stereotype that women cannot be both mothers and beautiful, poised, talented, and philanthropic individuals.
In response to the complaint, Stuart Moskovitz—an attorney for Miss America—clarified that there is no ban against mothers in the organization. He explained that the only restriction applies to potential contestants with legal dependents because their responsibility towards their children must take precedence over participating in the contest.
Moskovitz emphasized that Miss America differs from other beauty pageants as physical attractiveness is not even one of the categories scored by judges. Instead, characteristics such as poise, talent, intelligence, and personality are valued.
The national director of Miss World America clarified that she follows rules set by United Kingdom officials within the organization. According to eligibility requirements posted on Miss America’s website and obtained by The New York Post for Miss World America contestants must be unmarried females without children or pregnancy between 17-26 years old (as of November this year).
While some beauty pageant organizations have eliminated similar restrictions allowing more diverse participation—such as Miss USA lifting its restrictions on married and pregnant contestants starting in 2023—Miss America and Miss World have yet to make such changes.
