French law to ban under-16s from beauty contests

France’s senate has voted to ban beauty contests for children under 16 in a bid to protect girls from being sexualised too early.
France's Senate voted to ban beauty pageants for children under 16. Picture: APFrance's Senate voted to ban beauty pageants for children under 16. Picture: AP
France's Senate voted to ban beauty pageants for children under 16. Picture: AP

The new law makes it a criminal offence to judge children under 16 on their physical appearance in so-called beauty pageants, which originated in the United States but have gained popularity in some western European nations.

Anyone organising competitions with underage children will now face two years in jail and a £25,000 fine under the Equality Law passed by France’s upper house late on Tuesday.

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The law also includes new rules on unequal pay, domestic violence and incentives for ­fathers to take paternity leave.

Right-wing senator Chantal Jouanno, who proposed the beauty contest amendment, said: “The phenomenon of over-sexualisation of very young children is a real concern for society.

“We are seeing a generation that, from a very early age, not through education, but by ­default, accepts inequality between the sexes. The result is that children are being psychologically damaged, making them more vulnerable to serious problems such as anorexia.

“The banalisation of pornography has become so commonplace that we are not even aware of it anymore, far less are shocked by it and it is very shocking.”

The amendment’s language is brief but sweeping: “Organising beauty competitions for children under 16 is banned.” It does not specify what kind of competitions would be covered, including whether it would extend to online photography competitions or “bonny baby” contests.

A further amendment to the law proposing better regulation of child fashion models was rejected by the senate.

The beauty contest amendment was opposed by Socialist senator Virginie Kles, who presented the gender equality bill, as well as the women’s rights minister, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, both of whom judged the penalties too harsh.

But the senate approved the measure by 197-146 votes and the legislation must go to the lower house of parliament for further debate and another vote – but is expected to pass.

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Michel Le Parmentier, who said he had been organising “mini-Miss” contests in France since 1989, yesterday said he was disappointed the draft law involved a ban. He said that he has been in discussions with senators about regulating such contests but was not expecting such sweeping language.

Some beauty contests make an effort to desexualise the competitions. One recent event in the Paris region specifically banned make-up, a swimwear section, high heels or anything inappropriate for the child’s age.

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