Former Miss Ireland Holly Carpenter, has weighed in on the Rose of Tralee debate – admitting she believes pageants empower women.
The 23-year-old who represented Ireland in Miss World in 2011, has hit back at critics who believe the contest is “out of date”.
“Some people have come out and said that the contest is out of date, sexist and has no place in 2015,” she said.
Empower: Holly has admitted she think beauty pageants empower women | VIPIRELAND.COM
“I’ve heard the same before about the Miss Ireland competition.
“I think these contests are a great way of empowering women. There are always going to be those who are negative about them,” she wrote her Sun on Sunday column.
With the Rose of Tralee kicking-off tonight, the AR model has revealed she thinks beauty queens set a good example.
: | VIPIRELAND.COM
“If women want to work hard in the gym and celebrate their bodies why shouldn’t we?” she admitted.
“Miss Ireland launched my career and opened so many doors for me. I also made so many lifelong friends.
“The women in the Rose of Tralee are smart, friendly, well mannered and they do a lot of charity work, like last year’s winner Maria Walsh,” she added.
“I think it sets a great example and the fact that all the women are beautiful is just an added bonus.”
