Danielle Hazel Fights Miss America, Miss World Rules for Moms \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Danielle Hazel, a New York woman, is challenging the long-standing rules of Miss America and Miss World that disqualify mothers from competing. Hazel, who became a mother at 19, argues the rule is unjust and outdated. Her lawyer, Gloria Allred, filed a complaint with the New York City Commission on Human Rights, seeking to end the exclusion of mothers from these pageants.
“Mother Challenges Beauty Pageant Ban” Quick Look
- The challenge: Danielle Hazel fights Miss America and Miss World’s rules barring mothers from competing.
- Reason for exclusion: The pageants have rules preventing women with children from entering.
- Legal action: Hazel’s lawyer, Gloria Allred, filed a complaint with the NYC Commission on Human Rights.
- Precedent: Allred previously won a similar case with the Miss Universe organization, which led to a rule change.
- Advocates join: Former Miss Ukraine Veronika Didusenko supports Hazel, having lost her title for being a mother.
Danielle Hazel Deep Look
Danielle Hazel, a New York mother of a six-year-old son, is taking a stand against beauty pageant rules that disqualify mothers from competing. Hazel, who has long dreamed of entering Miss America and Miss World, discovered she was ineligible due to pageant rules prohibiting mothers from participating. On Monday, she announced her legal challenge to these exclusionary practices at a press conference held in front of the Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument in Central Park.
“When I told Zion, who is now 6 years old, about these rules, his immediate reaction was, ‘These rules are stupid,’” Hazel shared. She explained that her young son’s sense of fairness underscored the inherent injustice in these restrictions. Hazel had her son at 19, and although motherhood changed her life in many ways, she never imagined it would disqualify her from fulfilling her dream of competing in prestigious beauty pageants.
Legal Battle Against Pageant Rules
Accompanied by renowned women’s rights attorney Gloria Allred, Hazel filed a complaint with the New York City Commission on Human Rights, arguing that the pageants’ policies are discriminatory. According to the complaint, the exclusion of mothers from these competitions is not only unjust but also represents an outdated stereotype that women cannot be both mothers and embody the traits traditionally celebrated in beauty pageants—such as beauty, poise, and philanthropy.
“This exclusion is degrading to Danielle,” Allred said. “It is based upon the antiquated stereotype that women cannot be both mothers and be beautiful, poised, passionate, talented, and philanthropic.” Allred emphasized that the complaint seeks to end these requirements, which deny mothers the chance to participate in what she called an “important business and cultural opportunity.”
The pageant organizations Miss America and Miss World have not yet responded to inquiries about the case, and the New York City Commission on Human Rights declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.
A Broader Fight for Equality
Allred is no stranger to challenging beauty pageant rules. She previously won a similar case involving a California mother who was disqualified from competing in the Miss California pageant, which is affiliated with Miss Universe and Miss USA. That legal battle prompted the Miss Universe organization to eliminate a 70-year-old rule that had barred mothers from competing worldwide.
“Being pregnant or being a parent is not a crime and should not exclude an individual from employment or business opportunities,” Allred asserted during the press conference. She added that no individual should feel stigmatized or degraded for being a parent. The current challenge against Miss America and Miss World could lead to another milestone in the ongoing fight for gender equality and the right of mothers to pursue their aspirations.
Danielle Hazel Support from Fellow Advocates
Hazel’s fight is also receiving support from international advocates, including Veronika Didusenko, Miss Ukraine 2018. Didusenko had her title revoked after the Miss World organization discovered she was a mother. At the press conference, Didusenko shared her experience of being stripped of her title and her subsequent efforts to end the ban on mothers in beauty pageants.
Didusenko has since founded an organization advocating for the elimination of such rules in global beauty pageants. She revealed that her legal challenge in Ukraine was unsuccessful, but she has now taken her case to the European Court of Human Rights in pursuit of broader change. “I want to help create a world where motherhood and beauty can coexist, and where women don’t have to choose between having a family and pursuing their dreams,” Didusenko said.
The inclusion of Didusenko’s voice adds an international dimension to Hazel’s fight. Both women are challenging the idea that mothers are somehow less qualified to participate in the business and cultural opportunities offered by prestigious pageants. They argue that motherhood should not be a barrier to competing on the world stage.
The Path Forward
As Danielle Hazel and her legal team move forward with the complaint, they hope to inspire broader conversations about gender equality, motherhood, and women’s rights in all facets of life—including high-profile beauty competitions. While Hazel’s journey has only just begun, her fight could potentially influence a shift in longstanding rules that have historically excluded mothers from participating in the world of beauty pageants.
With the support of figures like Allred and Didusenko, Hazel’s challenge brings to light an ongoing issue of how motherhood is perceived in professional and cultural spaces. By standing up against these discriminatory rules, Hazel is advocating for a more inclusive future in which all women—regardless of their parental status—have the opportunity to pursue their ambitions.
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