beauty contest

noun

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.
Informal. any contest, election, etc., that is decided on the basis of popularity.

Origin of beauty contest

First recorded in 1895–1900

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for beauty contest

Historical Examples of beauty contest

Her brains were not marceled for a beauty-contest with her rival.
We Can't Have Everything
Rupert Hughes

British Dictionary definitions for beauty contest

beauty contest

noun

a competition in which the participants, usually women, are judged on their attractiveness, with a prize, and often a title, awarded to the winner
informal any contest decided on the basis of superficial attractiveness, popularity, etcthe referendum might turn into a party political beauty contest

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012