Beauty pageant will return after rethink
A popular Black Country beauty pageant which was scrapped after nearly 50 years is set to be resurrected, organisers announced today.
A popular Black Country beauty pageant which was scrapped after nearly 50 years is set to be resurrected, organisers announced today.
The Tipton Carnival Queen title was ditched this year, bringing the curtain down on half a century of glitz and glamour.
But organisers have revealed the reaction to pulling the plug on the 47-year-old contest has led to a change of heart, with the search for the town's queen set to be revived next year.
This year is being treated as a "cooling off period." Karen Simms, concessions officer for Tipton Community Association, said it was not the case that the pageant was stopped because of "catfights" or a lack of interest, but she said there were disagreements which prompted the contest to be stopped.
"The queen should be back next year," she said.
"There were reasons why we didn't do it this year.
"It wasn't lack of interest, it was decided due to differences that have come up in the last couple of years.
"There were disagreements with some of the girls but that's just down to women being women.
"When someone's not picked they've been disappointed but we have independent judges for that reason.
"The last couple of years there have been a few comments made by some of the contestants disappointed not to be chosen so it was decided this year we would leave it for a cooling off period and let people realise when they've got something good and it can inspire a lot of people to do something good.
"We've had a lot of positive feedback as well and people are wanting it to happen now.
"It's brought a lot of interest back and we are also looking at reinstating a page boy. The last one was in 1996. We are trying to bring the community together and work hard to keep the community spirit," she added.
The competitions for younger girls have continued this year, with the Rosebud, for nine to 11-year-olds, and Sweetpea, for five to eight-year-olds, auditions held last Sunday. Elizabeth Harris, aged nine, was chosen as the Tipton Rosebud. Destiny Taylor, seven, was named as Sweetpea.
