pageants. Or in any other garment, for that matter.

Miss World is still a ratings-winner around the world but political correctness, the battle for sexual equality and strident feminism has long since seen this live TV event disappear from UK screens.

Some argue these events were, and are, still demeaning to women, yet you never heard the contestants complain.

In fact, if the stories were to be believed, the young women concerned were way too busy getting their claws into one another to take any notice of outside criticism.

Hairspray at 20 paces and all that. They wanted to win.

And with the substantial rewards on offer, who could have blamed them?
Unfortunately, it seems these tales were somewhat exaggerated and rather than squaring up with heated tongs, everyone got on really well.

At least that is what a bunch of former catwalk models from Calderdale say. And to prove it they meet up every year with all their old friends. They include the Spink twins, Zoe and Gay, who were national stars 30 years ago.

"There was no bitchiness or jealousy. We were just like one big family," says Zoe.

Which is interesting and fires a huge hole in the argument they were being manipulated.

Demeaning?

Listening to their comments, it does not seem they suffered for their art, as we might have once been led to believe.

Should beauty contests make a return to TV? Vote now in our poll on the right.