Miss England wannabes share bare-faced selfies as the pageant launches a make-up free round

BARE FACED BEAUTY 

Lydia Hawken

25 Jun 2019, 14:59 Updated: 25 Jun 2019, 15:27

LAYERS of cakey foundation, lashings of mascara and orange fake tan - that's the image that jumps to mind when most of us think of beauty pageants. Right?

Well this all might be about to become a thing of the past as Miss England has launched it's first-ever make-up free round in its efforts to promote body positivity.

Miss England finalist Bhasha Mukherjee, 22, showing off her no make-up selfie Credit: Mercury Press

Bhasha in full makeup for the pageant Credit: Mercury Press

The new initiative for 2019 means applications have to submit a photo of themselves without filters, make-up or editing.

Organisers decided to introduce the round to encourage young women to celebrate their natural beauty after being shocked by the number of applicants using fillers.

According to a poll released by WhatClinic.com in 2017, 42 per cent of web traffic to lip augmentation pages were from visitors aged 18-24, and around 90 per cent of procedures making up the £3.6 billion cosmetics surgery industry in the UK are beauty treatments such as Botox and dermal fillers.

Miss England is currently in the heats stage, with 54 contestants competing in a series of challenges to progress to the finals.

Miss England finalist Bethany Cammack showing off her no make-up selfie Credit: Mercury Press

Bethany in full make up Credit: Mercury Press

However, the winner of the 'Bare Face Top Model' round will be fast-tracked to the final 20 contestants - where one will be crowned Miss England and go on to compete in Miss World.

Discussing the pioneering move, pageant director Angie Beasley said: "Recently we have been shocked to see Miss England contestants as young as 19 undergoing lip filler treatments and even Botox, and so many entering with full faces of thick make-up covering their natural beauty.

"We tell the girls they don't need fillers, fake eyelashes and tattooed brows to enter our contest, but it just shows what a damaging effect social media images can have on young women's self-esteem and mental health."

With over 20,000 young women applying for the competition this year, Angie concluded: "It is really important for us to promote real beauty and body positivity."

Natoya Rimmer showing off her no make-up selfieCredit: Mercury Press

Current Miss England Alisha Cowie posing with no make up on Credit: Mercury Press

Current Miss England winner Alisha Cowie, from Newcastle, regularly posts make-up free selfies on social media - and argues it's important to promote a realistic body image online.

She added: "On social media, we have influencers and role models which set an unrealistic standard which I believe results in mental health issues.

"Going after the portrayed perfect flawless look is so difficult and unrealistic so the 'Bare Face Top Model' round is so important to embrace natural beauty.

"When I go to model castings I have to go barefaced so I do believe this round will do the girls a world of good."

Lucy Krogdahl, 19, says Miss England has 'given her the confidence to go bare faced'Credit: Mercury Press

The teen in full makeup ahead of the Miss England final Credit: Mercury Press

What's more, Miss England finalists have already been sharing their make-up free images online and thanked the pageant for helping them bear all.

Lucy Krogdhal, 19, wrote: "Thank you Miss England for giving me the confidence to go bare faced."

Fellow finalist Pratishtha Raut told her 1,641 Instagram followers: "Everyone has their own insecurities, some come to love their imperfections, some hide it with makeup while some turn to surgery and fillers.

"I myself have always been insecure about my dark circles since an early age. Today I would like to share my BARE FACE with everyone and let people know that 'imperfection is perfection to a beautiful perspective'."

Miss England finalist Pratishtha Raut says she was always 'insecure about dark circles from an early age' Credit: Mercury Press

Pratishtha Raut on the catwalk in full make up Credit: Mercury Press

Along with working closely with Miss England winner Alisha, UK charity PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide supports the pageant's make-up free round.

Sophie Knowles, HOPELINEUK Manager at PAPYRUS, said: "It is positive that the Miss England organisers are introducing a ‘no make-up round’ in support of healthy body image.

"There is a lot of pressure on young people today to live up to an idealistic standard of beauty.

"It’s important to remember that the images we see on social media are not always representative of real life appearances.

"On HOPELINEUK many young people who experience thoughts of suicide, share how their negative body image impacts on their mental health and self-esteem."

The Miss England final is set to be held in Newcastle between July 31 and August 1, with the winner given a luxury holiday to Mauritius and a place in Miss World, which has a top prize of £78,500.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/9370350/miss-england-launches-make-up-free-round/