"WHILE the Government cares about Singapore's branding, it does not see a need to regulate beauty pageants as it believes that the 'market discipline' imposed by sponsors will keep such events in check.
'An event that is badly run or whose prestige is affected will have difficulties securing sponsorship,' he said, citing the much-panned 'Merlion-inspired dress' worn by Miss Singapore Universe 2008, which received many brickbats, as an example.
'The negative feedback resulted in a number of sponsors withdrawing from the pageant,' he said in a written to Mr Baey, who had asked if greater supervision and regulation of local pageant organisers was necessary to protect Singapore's brand name.
The Minister also cited the recent controversy over this year's Miss Singapore World beauty winner Ris Low, who stepped down after news of her criminal conviction for fraud came to light and public criticism over her poor command of English in a TV interview. As a result, the pageant organiser, ERM World Marketing, also drew negative reactions from its sponsors as well.
'With the market discipline imposed by sponsors, there is no need for government to regulate such pageant,' said Mr Lim, adding: 'Events where there is international exposure can add or subtract from this branding. But how the world perceives us is not determined by a beauty contest representative. Instead international opinion is shaped over time, as a result of events of significance, by what we do as a country.'"http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_444339.html
'An event that is badly run or whose prestige is affected will have difficulties securing sponsorship,' he said, citing the much-panned 'Merlion-inspired dress' worn by Miss Singapore Universe 2008, which received many brickbats, as an example.
'The negative feedback resulted in a number of sponsors withdrawing from the pageant,' he said in a written to Mr Baey, who had asked if greater supervision and regulation of local pageant organisers was necessary to protect Singapore's brand name.
The Minister also cited the recent controversy over this year's Miss Singapore World beauty winner Ris Low, who stepped down after news of her criminal conviction for fraud came to light and public criticism over her poor command of English in a TV interview. As a result, the pageant organiser, ERM World Marketing, also drew negative reactions from its sponsors as well.
'With the market discipline imposed by sponsors, there is no need for government to regulate such pageant,' said Mr Lim, adding: 'Events where there is international exposure can add or subtract from this branding. But how the world perceives us is not determined by a beauty contest representative. Instead international opinion is shaped over time, as a result of events of significance, by what we do as a country.'"http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_444339.html
What a article!!! Wow! I truly agree with what Mr. Limm said! I do believe that if a woman is crowned and looses her title this looks bad on everyone. The producers, the directors, the woman herself! It is a shame that because someone screws up, the rest of the women have to suffer her lose as well.
