Age should not be factor for judging beauty

THE EDITOR, Madam:

A story published in The Gleaner, titled ‘No age limit for Miss Universe contestants first time in history’, obviously reflects an improved understanding of feminine beauty among the organisers.

I do not believe in beauty contests, for they take a rather predictive, inflexible and unfair approach to a notion that could be as delicate and varied as there are different tastes. Because of that, I don’t believe there are any ugly women out there – but perhaps an undeveloped appreciation of beauty in its rogue and unorthodox form. Beauty contests have a way of making both false victors and casualties of the event. It hitherto restricted the nominees to age 26, as if there is an exact scientific measurement that says beauty takes a downward spiral thereafter – without even considering that individuals may differ with age uniformity.

Linking beauty to age and physical approximation is superficial. True beauty cannot be gauged by a chronological milestone or by the number of the years a woman has lived. There was a 100-year-old woman who appeared on an online video some years ago. Her smile shone through the delicate glow of wrinkles that slithered with the softest twinkle of beauty. It is often repeated that age is just a number, yet being beautiful has no shelf life, number or expiry date when the personality is the major factor – whether you are in your teens, 20s, 30s, 40s or older.

HOMER SYLVESTER

New York