beauty contest

American  

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.

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beauty contest British  

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

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Etymology

Origin of beauty contest

First recorded in 1895–1900

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

beauty contest

It’s a hell of a thing when the S5 loses a beauty contest to the Toyota Crown.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026

Born in Tunisia to Sicilian parents in April 1938, Cardinale won a beauty contest at 16 that saw her declared "the most beautiful Italian woman in Tunis".

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2025

Westminster has long faced protests from animal rights activists who view the competition as a deplorable canine beauty contest fueling faddish puppy buying and reckless breeding.

From Seattle Times ● May 10, 2024

A beauty contest to select Miss Grand Central Air Terminal 1947 in Glendale wound up with only 10 contestants.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2023

Tonight, as in a beauty contest, the boys of Permian would come before the crowd one by one so they could be checked out and introduced.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

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