A first in the 94-year beauty pageant: Melisa Raouf competed without make-up
8A first in the 94-year beauty pageant: Melisa Raouf competed without make-up
Among the finalists of the beauty pageant to be held in England in October, there is a game-changing contestant. The finalist, Melisa Raouf, will appear on the podium without make-up. Rouf, a politics student, became the first person to enter the contest without make-up after 94 years.
A first in the 94-year history of beauty pageants in the UK. Among the finalists of the beauty pageant to be held in October, there is a game-changing contestant. The finalist, Melisa Raouf, will appear on the podium without make-up.
20-year-old Raouf participated in the semi-finals held in London without using any cosmetic products and qualified for the final on 17 October.
She said she made the decision in hopes of inspiring women to embrace their natural looks.
"OUR FAULTS MAKE US US"
Speaking to the Independent newspaper, Raouf said: "Many girls of all ages wear make-up because they feel pressured to do it. If a person is happy in their own skin, we shouldn't have to cover our faces with make-up. Our flaws make us who we are, and that's what makes each individual unique."
Raouf said that although she started wearing make-up at a young age, she decided to avoid the makeup tradition for the competition.
Within the scope of the same competition in 2019, a tour was organized in which the participants would compete without make-up.
"Since most contestants post photos with very heavy make-up, we introduced the Naked Face Top Model tour in 2019 and wanted to see the real person behind the make-up," said Angie Beasley, director of Miss England.
According to the organizers, Raouf plans to go to the national finals in October again without makeup. "We wish her the best of luck in Miss England, it's very brave of her to do this while everyone else is wearing makeup, but it sends an important message to young women," Beasley said.