A beauty queen is taking legal action against the UK-based Miss World contest because she was banned from taking part for being a mother.
Veronika Didusenko, 24, was crowned Miss Ukraine in 2018 but was stripped of her title four days later after it was revealed she was divorced and had a son called Alex, now five. She was also banned from entering the Miss World finals.
Now she has launched legal action in London claiming organisers are in breach of the Equalities Act 2010 and has demanded they change their ‘outdated’ entry criteria to reflect the modern world.
Veronika Didusenko, 24, pictured above with her son Alex, five, has demanded they change their ‘outdated’ entry criteria to reflect the modern world
It comes two weeks before the Miss World finals take place in London.
The beauty queen, pictured above at Miss Ukraine, is taking legal action against the UK-based Miss World contest because she was banned from taking part for being a mother
Miss Didusenko has accused organisers of discrimination and leaving her ‘publicly humiliated’.
Miss World, which was created in 1951 by the UK’s Eric Morley, is the largest beauty pageant.
It has always banned mothers or married women with contestants from 118 nations having to sign to confirm they meet the rules.
International model Miss Didusenko admits wrongly declaring she fit the criteria but claims Miss Ukraine chiefs asked her take part because of her high profile.
She added: ‘It was really humiliating when I was disqualified. I couldn’t believe they would do such a thing in this day and age.’
Miss World chief executive Julia Morley has previously said the rules are there to protect children’s welfare.
The organisation was unavailable for comment last night.
Miss Didusenko has accused organisers of discrimination and leaving her ‘publicly humiliated’. She is pictured appearing to meditate, left, while exercising and working out, right
