Beauty contest
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.
Contemporary Examples
The Huffington Post featuring a video of the swimsuit competition from a beauty contest from the 1980s.
Piling on Palin, Hating on Hillary Caroline Heldman November 29, 2008
Most politicians would be satisfied with finishing second to Rand Paul in beauty contest notoriously dominated by libertarians.
Ted Cruz Is The Star Of CPAC Ben Jacobs March 7, 2014
Rick Santorum’s impressive victory in the nonbinding Missouri “beauty contest” began an ugly night for Romney.
Daily Beast Contributors on Rick Santorum’s Minnesota, Missouri, and Colorado Wins February 7, 2012
Historical Examples
She made us promise not to tell it right after the beauty contest.
Marjorie Dean, College Sophomore Pauline Lester
Certainly none of them would have taken a prize in a beauty contest.
The Young Treasure Hunter Frank V. Webster
The beauty contest was an awful damper to them, especially Miss Weyman.
Marjorie Dean, College Sophomore Pauline Lester
The others began chorusing their congratulations at once, looking no more convincing than the runners-up in any beauty contest.
Pagan Passions Gordon Randall Garrett
Well, if this is a beauty contest, I hope the judges wont be partial.
Marjorie Dean College Freshman Pauline Lester
She never will forgive that moon-eyed Miss Dean for putting it over her at the beauty contest.
Marjorie Dean College Freshman Pauline Lester
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, etc: the referendum might turn into a party political beauty contest
noun phrase
A canvass or occasion that reveals preference, without the force of an election: the mini-convention billed as a beauty contest for those seeking the presidential nomination/ Today’s primary is considered a beauty contest because no delegates to the convention will actually be chosen (1960s+)
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beauty is only skin deep Physical beauty is superficial and is not as important as a person’s intellectual, emotional, and spiritual qualities. External attractiveness has no relation to goodness or essential quality. This maxim was first stated by Sir Thomas Overbury in his poem “A Wife” (1613): “All the carnall beauty of my wife is […]
- Beauty mark
beauty spot (defs 1, 2). Historical Examples It was not unattractive—my father used to call it her beauty mark. The Ambassador Samuel Kimball Merwin What were you doing, putting on a beauty mark, or looking to see if you needed a shave? The Winning Touchdown Lester Chadwick At other times he appeared assisting her at […]
- Beauty pageant
noun beauty contest Examples My sister and I played “beauty pageant” on the post office steps on Sundays. Word Origin 1911 Contemporary Examples Yeager, herself a statuesque blond model and 30-time beauty pageant winner, was just as comfortable in front of the camera. The Queen of the Playboy Centerfolds Nina Strochlic May 30, 2014 One […]
- Beauty parlor
an establishment for the hairdressing, manicuring, or other cosmetic treatment of women. Contemporary Examples The amenities include a fitness room, a sauna, a beauty parlor, and a karaoke setup. Inside the ‘Surprisingly Great’ North Korean Hacker Hotel Michael Daly December 19, 2014 Earlier that month, Haughton drove to the suburban-Milwaukee beauty parlor where his wife […]
- Beauty salon
an establishment for the hairdressing, manicuring, or other cosmetic treatment of women. Contemporary Examples A beauty salon stocked with black hair care products will be built for Michelle and the two girls. 10 Ways Obama Will Update the White House Sinbad November 5, 2008 Instead, the cash was for a hair removal machine for a […]