Sign up to our free newsletter for the top North Wales stories sent straight to your e-mail Sign up now! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Miss Wales finalists have hit back at criticism that the competition sends out a negative message to women.

They were responding to claims made by the Women's Equality Network Wales that the contest could make women who didn't make it to the finals feel as though they were less worthy of celebration.

But contestants disagreed. As part of the finals, they took part in 'empowerment sessions' that saw them walk over broken glass in their bare feet, and break wooden blocks with their bare hands.

Olivia Hewlett, a Miss Wales 2019 finalist, said: “Some of the girls had some negative comments made about them prior and it was quite empowering and made us feel ready to face the final.”

Miss Hewlett added: "When I walked into the pageant I was really shy and I underestimated myself a lot

(Image: Mari Wyn Lloyd)

"When we were fund raising someone said something negative to me and without the pageant I never would have had the confidence to educate them on pageants."

Jermaine Harris, who ran the sessions, said: "Walking over the glass teaches mindfulness and reminds you to stay present in the moment, and (breaking the wooden board with their hands) is a visual representation of breaking that negative belief.

"The girls wrote a negative self belief on the board - it could be something like I’m not good enough.

(Image: BPM)

"Then they engage in a high energy activity similar to the New Zealand Haka before they physically break the negative belief."

He added: "The girls work very hard and what made me enthusiastic was hearing how they felt inspired to face their exams or go for a job interview because they felt more confident."

Earlier this month the competition was criticised by the Women's Equality Network.

(Image: Jermaine Harris)

Sarah Sweeney, of the Women's Equality Network (WEN) Wales was reported as saying that the Miss Wales pageant is "outdated", saying it promotes "dual discrimination" and that it "sends out negative messages to women and girls all over Wales".

Catherine Fookes, the director of the organisation, told North Wales Live: "It sends negative messages to women who fall outside the criteria, that they are somehow less worthy of celebration.

"Why can’t women of any age enter? And why can’t women who have had a child to enter?

"We think there are better ways to celebrate women and their achievements."

Miss Wales organiser Paula Abbandonatto said she is delighted the girls found it a positive and enlightening experience.

She added: "I hope people will trust the first hand experience and honest opinion of the girls involved over a third party who hasn’t experienced it."