On Friday I attended an event to crown ” MISS FINE TUNED ENGLISH ” Â ( Fined Tuned English is the school I presently am associated with)
I grew up in the seventies, when women liberation was in full swing, and women were exerting their rights to be treated as equals, not just “pretty young things”
I learned, and I believe, that women are equal/ better/worse ( in some cases) than men, and that all people should be valued for what is inside their head, not for the face that is on their head.
Then I got into model photography where the looks of the lady was very important. Â I also learned that just having looks was enough to be a great model, and that a great make-up
 artist is sometimes more valuable ( to a photographer) then the model themselves.  ( I was lucky to have been taught about make-up by some of the best….)
Fast forward to my life in Ecuador. Â It is a different culture.
I was talking with my friend Daniel about his photo business and he said that he was getting a lot of “Queens” (reinas) in for photo sessions.
I asked him what a Queen was?. ( In Toronto a Queen has a completely different meaning… guys dressed as ladies….not something I had seen in Loja… )
A Queen is a winner of an election to be crowned Miss or Reina of something or other. Basically beauty pageants…. and the Ladies take the contests very very seriously.
I have been to three so far and they follow a similar pattern.
- They Start late ( this is Ecuador)
- There is usually a dance group as warm up.
- Then the contestants appear on stage in sexy clothes ( swimwear, or shorts)*
They do a dance routine  and then they introduce themselves individually.- Then there is a performer ( heart throb male… the audience is largely female)
- After this the contestants reappear in gowns…. and the gowns are amazing… and it is standard to be wearing 3 inch heels…with some wearing higher
- Then they do the sub categories ( most photogenic, most hits on facebook…etc)
- Finally the final 5…
- And then the ONE
*The Contest in Zamora was a bit different. Â Since the representative of the city can come from different Indigenous cultures the clothing for some was not very revealing and frankly, was more interesting and tantalizing.
What I was amazed about is the audience. Â This is a real contest, with each lady having her group of supporters. Â They have signs, whistles, noisemakers and they throw all kinds of confetti and sparkles as the contestants walk down the cat walk.
From a photographer point of view, I really like these events. Â I have created some great photos. Â As a Canadian Man I have trouble with the message this is sending..but this is not my country or my culture.
Images from the Event ( Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/glenn.specht/media_set?set=a.10151790273645674.1073741838.504670673&type=3
