AFTER years of women from my generation fighting for equality and respect from our male counterparts, I find it astounding that the process for choosing carnival queens and princesses is still rooted in sexism.

While I understand that this is a story the Guardian will be inclined to cover as supporters of the Redbridge Carnival (Guardian, August 14), the fact that the word ‘beautiful’ appears in the first sentence just illustrates what sort of a competition this is.

It is a popularity contest, and not one based on the merits of personality, intelligence or integrity, but one where beauty is literally skin deep.

Are we so far stuck into the system of Americanisation that we find it acceptable to reward our young women for parading around in skimpy dresses on catwalks and podiums with cash prizes and photoshoots?

What’s next, a swim-suit competition?

While I do not wish to criticise the girls who have won the titles, who no doubt have many more redeemable features than just their looks, I think Redbridge could have glanced beneath the surface and awarded these positions to some unlikely community princesses who perhaps deserve our admiration for different reasons.

I am truly amazed that even in this modern day and age people’s perception of beauty is just skin deep and not the inner beauty that shines through from educated women who give up their time to help the needy.

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