Chorus grows against hosting Miss World pageant in Hyderabad
Hyderabad: After facing political heat from the opposition parties BRS and BJP, the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government has now come under criticism from women’s organisations.
Several women’s organisations took out a rally to raise their voice against the 72nd Miss World beauty pageant scheduled to be held in Hyderabad from May 7 to May 31, 2025.
Under the banner of the ‘Miss World Opposition Platform’, leaders from women’s groups such as All India Mahila Samskritik Sanghatan (AIMSS), National Federation of Indian Women
(NFIW), student unions, youth organisations, cultural forums, and Dalit-Bahujan groups staged a massive protest in the city on Saturday.
Addressing the rally, Sandhya, a national leader of PWD (Progressive Women’s Democratic organisation), criticised the government for portraying the Miss World contest as a prestigious event for Telangana. She deemed the description was inappropriate and unwarranted.
While Mallu Lakshmi, state general secretary of AIDWA (All India Democratic Women’s Association), demanded the immediate cancellation of beauty pageants. She said the beauty contest is an attempt to demean women’s individuality.
Leaders from various organisations, including Vimalakka, Aruna Jyothi, Ashalatha, Anasuya, Jyothi, Hemalatha, Sridevi, and Bharati also participated in the protest.
Earlier, other well known and progressive women’s organisations including All India Coordination of POW-PMS-IJM had called for the cancellation of the beauty pageant. They said these events actually denigrate women’s dignity and modesty, making them a commercial commodity.
Meanwhile, Telangana officials announced that the contestants from the Miss World pageant will visit the Buddhist theme park Buddha Vanam near Nagarjunasagar Dam on May 12.
K Lakshmi, director of the State Gallery of Art visited the theme park to review the preparations. Later, she chaired a preparatory meeting with park authorities and representatives of the district administration.
