Beauty Pageants in the North

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Beauty Pageants in the North

The early 1970s brought Womens Rights issues to the north and beauty pageants started to lose their appeal. Women wanted to be recognized as equals to men. Skills and talent trumped beauty and men learned to accept the new standards.

In 1976, Smithers Winter Carnival contestants wore regular every-day clothing to show their solidarity with the Womens Movement.

In 1992, the Miss PNE contest changed their name to the PNE Young Ambassador Contest and permitted young men to compete. That move signalled the end of the Miss PNE pageants.

Queens from across BC in 1991

Organizers in Smithers closed their pageant in 1992 and the PNE pageant ended in 1993. Why did pageants disappear into the history books? Women changed. They were no longer content to be on display, and valued more for beauty than what they contribute to family, work and community.

Addie and Ernie Hann were chosen as Carnival Queen and King in 1963

TV and Internet have made our remote communities and households a part of a worldwide "village". Local events are not as important to build a sense of community. Families now feel like part of the community by watching the evening news. Good roads and air travel allow northerners to feel part of a greater northern region. Beauty pageants thrive in other parts of the world but are only a distant memory in northern BC.

(February 1, 2006)

To see more local history, visit the Bulkley Valley Museum in Smithers from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Saturday. Admission is by donation and new exhibits are added on a regular basis.






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