In 2019 model and mother Veronika Didusenko took legal action against the Miss World Organisation after it stripped her of the Miss Ukraine title she won in 2018 because she had a child. The rules state that you can not partake in the competition or in any Miss World franchise if you have children. Similarly, another popular pageant, Miss Universe, has the same rules, sating on its website, 'No, contestants may not be pregnant ... nor given birth to, or parented a child.'
Over two years later and disappointingly little has changed. The rules of Miss World, now in its 70th year, and other global beauty pageants continue to prevent mothers (and widows and divorcees) from entering their competitions.
Despite this, Didusenko is continuing to campaign against these rules which represent outdated views of women's roles, abilities and rights in a modern society, in hope that added pressure on Julia Morley (CEO Miss World) will prompt change.
Didusenko admitted that she was aware of the rule when filling out her application form but told Radio 1 Newsbeat, 'Why should a woman be excluded from entering, just because she's a mother? It doesn't make any sense. Being a mum doesn't have any implication on my ability to be professional or be a successful model or do my job.'
Didusenko described being stripped of her title as 'humiliating and insulting', saying, 'I felt so bad because it's not just my story, it's the story of thousands of women around the world.' The model is now fighting for change and is being represented by Ravi Naik, human rights lawyer of the year in 2018, who has said the entry policy is discriminatory, under the Equality Act 2010.
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