beauty contest

noun

1. a competition in which the entrants, usually women, are judged as to physical beauty and sometimes personality and talent, with the winners awarded prizes or titles.
2. Informal. any contest, election, etc., that is decided on the basis of popularity.

beauty contest

noun

1. a competition in which the participants, usually women, are judged on their attractiveness, with a prize, and often a title, awarded to the winner
2. informal.
   any contest decided on the basis of superficial attractiveness, popularity, etc

   the referendum might turn into a party political beauty contest

Word History and Origins

Origin of beauty contest¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

At the age of 27, Logan gained notoriety as the co-founder, along with Baltimore’s Divine, of the Alternative Miss World contest, an inclusive beauty contest open to transvestites, the old and the young, men and women.

From Washington Blade

You enter a beauty contest and the judges like your fastball, so you got to have it.

From Washington Post

The separate components were assembled by pageant producers to create the final show, marking the first time that the 67-year-old beauty contest has been produced virtually.

From Ozy

Impressing editors with stories she wrote on her own time, she was assigned to cover beauty contests and dog shows.

From Washington Post

Most politicians would be satisfied with finishing second to Rand Paul in beauty contest notoriously dominated by libertarians.

From The Daily Beast

Affleck could also be a formidable adversary for Brown in the beefcake department—an actual campaign beauty contest.

From The Daily Beast

Rick Santorum's impressive victory in the nonbinding Missouri "beauty contest" began an ugly night for Romney.

From The Daily Beast

When she won a local beauty contest and was asked to participate in one in Moscow, he refused to let her go.

From The Daily Beast

Eric Pape on a provocative beauty contest meant to boost business.

From The Daily Beast

The others began chorusing their congratulations at once, looking no more convincing than the runners-up in any beauty contest.

From Project Gutenberg

How she wished that she had never allowed herself to be dragged into that foolish beauty contest.

From Project Gutenberg

She never will forgive that moon-eyed Miss Dean for putting it over her at the Beauty contest.

From Project Gutenberg

Well, if this is a beauty contest, I hope the judges wont be partial.

From Project Gutenberg

The Beauty contest was an awful damper to them, especially Miss Weyman.

From Project Gutenberg