Belgium's "Miss Homeless" Contest

by Shannon Moriarty · 2009-10-14 15:13:00 UTC
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I'm not a fan of pageants. But I'm especially not a fan of Belgium's "Miss Homeless" beauty competition.

Although the event organizers claim the event judged women on their "inner strength and determination to get themselves out of their old life and on a new path," I find that hard to believe. This superficial stunt seems to be a big charade.

The "winner" of this competition gets her own apartment for one year, rent-free. As for the rest of the contestants? Tough luck - it's back to the streets. Talk about the absolute cruelest form of mockery.

I looked and looked for some kind of meaning or lesson or deeper understanding of where this idea possibly could have originated. I searched for some positive angles, why this might be a empowering experience for participants. But, beside the obvious benefits for the winner (about which I'm still luke-warm), I'm coming up empty.

That said, this pageant - ridiculous though it may be - is not nearly as cruel as some of the other things we've seen happening to those without a home right here in the United States. Whether it's dismantling a tent city, sit-lie ordinances in city centers, or feeding restrictions, cruelty towards the homeless abounds on this side of the pond.

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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