Former Miss Philippines Eath Imelda Schweighart side with Gabriela Women’s Group in condemning Miss Universe beauty pageant in the country.
On Thursday, Schweighart took to Facebook and wrote on, “We were like meat waiting for our turn to strut our stuff just to surpass the segment.”
“I cannot deny the look in these girls faces backstage and the act we have to put out there on stage,” she continued. “It was the time where [I] realized it the most, when we went out for the audience and it was almost all men in a private setting show while we women felt so darn exploited like pigs being sold in the market.”
Schweighart also claimed that “some are using pageants as an opportunity to do prostitution.”
“Some [have] good intentions but the rest of what’s happening inside and the delivery of message the unconscious mind performs isn’t helping make this earth a better place. It becomes a selection of beautiful women,” Schweighart concluded.
Last week, Gabriela denounced the country’s hosting of the beauty pageant as a deceptive move to cover up repression of women.
The 65th Miss Universe will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on January 30.
Philippine candidate, Maxine Medina, will vie for the title, which is currently held by Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach