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The film is inspired by the feminist activists who invaded the pageant in 1970
By Naomi Gordon
Nov 22, 2018
Keira Knightley and Keeley Hawes have been cast in a retelling of the fascinating true story about a group of feminist activists who stormed the 1970 Miss World pageant in protest, in upcoming drama Misbehaviour.
The Miss World pageant was the most-watched show in the world at the time and, nearly 50 years ago at London's Royal Albert Hall, a global audience watched on as the Women's Liberal Movement invaded the stage and chased the patriarchy into the wings while dropping flour bombs and leaflets into the auditorium.
Miss World pageant 1970. Getty Images Leonard Burt
Misbehaviour follows these events and focuses on the women's movement - who argued that the competition was demeaning to women - achieving overnight infamy and challenging the restrictive Western ideals of beauty. When the show commenced after their chaotic stage invasion, Miss Grenada became the first black woman to be crowned Miss World, beating the favourite contestant and prompting more outrage from the audience.
Miss World Competition at the Royal Albert Hall, 20th November 1970.
Miss Grenada Jennifer Hosten is crowned Miss World in 1970
Getty Images Mirrorpix
Knightley and War & Peace actress Jessie Buckley will play members of the Women's Liberal Movement, while Bodyguard star Hawes will take on Miss World pageant executive Julia Morley (via The Daily Mail). Doctor Who's Gugu Mbatha-Raw will star as Miss Grenada.
After the protest, Morley updated the pageant shows so they were more reflective of the changing times. The businesswoman and former model took over the pageant from her husband, Miss World founder Eric Morley, following his death in 2000.
Since then, Morley has been using the pageants for philanthropic purposes, and introduced the ongoing charity campaign 'Beauty With A Purpose' which raises money in support of sick and disadvantaged children.
Julia Morley with Miss India’s Priyanka Chopra in 2000
Getty ImagesMichael Crabtree - PA Images
Reflecting on the protest in 1970, Morley previously told the Huffington Post: "During the Women's Lib protests, no one came to me to ask questions. From a woman's point of view, I found it rather confusing.
"Miss World empowers women - it gives them a voice," she added. "And not just the 130 contestants who get to network, learn, grow and have fun for the month-long contest and beyond. But women across the world who are represented."
Meanwhile, former member of the Women's Liberal Movement Sally Alexander who organised the demonstration recently spoke about their motivations for their protest.
"I don't know where the idea came from except Miss World - women being judged for their looks and their bodies. Alexander told the BBC's World Service. "We had no quarrel with the contestants, our argument was with why do you have to be beautiful and looked at like this before you get noticed as a woman."
She also added that host Bob Hope - who was chased off the stage by the protestors only to be dragged back onto it by Morley - was making shockingly sexist jokes as he presented it.
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