Honoured to be crowned Miss UK at finals this weekend. Roll on September for the internationals ❤️
pic.twitter.com/mkPqRrGwJk
— ♛Zeezus♛ (@Zo13y) June 12, 2017
Last October we brought you the story of how 20-year-old Miss Iceland Arna Ýr Jónsdóttir was told she should “stop eating” by the founder of the Miss Grand International Pageant. Awesomely, her reaction to the organizers of the event was to tell them to get bent and dropped out of the competition.
Welp, it’s happened again, only this time, Miss UK 2017 Zoiey Smale decided to hell with the whole thing and just up and gave her crown back.
Less than a month till I represent GB in the world finals
#london2017 pic.twitter.com/GPueV99PZc
— ♛Zeezus♛ (@Zo13y) August 6, 2017
Reports The Telegraph…
Zoiey Smale, 28, from Nottinghamshire, was named Miss UK after winning the UK round of the Miss United Continents contest in June this year.
But, as she prepared for the final round of the competition in Ecuador, Miss Smale said the organisers told her she needed to “lose as much weight as possible” to stand a chance.
The mother-of-one was left gobsmacked after speaking to the competition’s national director who said she was passing on feedback from the international director.
All Miss Smale could say was “pardon?”, before hanging up the phone.
Two weeks later she dropped out of the competition. Oh, she’s a size 10, by the way.
Here’s a little of what she shared about her decision on Facebook…
After being asked to lose weight and go on a diet plan for an international competition, I have withdrawn. Some of you may think this is cowardly, however I don’t think it is the right to have my face representing a pageant ethos I do not believe in. I will be handing back my crown and wish the new title holder the very best of luck.
I love me and will not change for anyone. My body has carried me through my 20+ years of being on this earth, allowed me to have a career I am very proud of, carry a child and the best thing of all, my body has never given up on me. I have had some really amazing experiences through being in the pageant industry and made some lifelong friends and memories. However I don’t believe anyone should be able to manipulate you and dull your sparkle.
If a pageant doesn’t want to utilise my capabilities because I am a size 10 then it’s their loss.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Smale remarked, “I’m not big at all I’m just bang on average,” she said. “I just think to be told to lose as much weight as possible for a competition, why would people say that?”
Why indeed?