Miss Papua New Guinea Loses Crown Over Twerking Video

Miss Papua New Guinea was stripped of her title after posting a now-deleted TikTok of her twerking. Critics are calling the move misogynistic.

Lucy Maino, 25, originally posted the video to her private TikTok, and it was subsequently shared on multiple platforms, including YouTube. In response to the backlash the video received, the Guardian reports that the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant PNG “released” Maino from her role.

“Our core purpose is empowerment of women. We are a unique pageant-style platform that promotes cultural heritage, traditional values, and sharing through tourism about our country and people. MPIP PNG promotes the virtues of confidence, self-worth, integrity, and community service with a parallel focus on education,” Chairperson of MPIP PNG, Molly O’Rourke, said in a statement.

A former Miss PNG, who asked not to be named, told the outlet incident showed how entrenched misogyny is in the country.

“I am sure if a male public figure did a TikTok, we would all be laughing or even praising him,” she said.

Numerous people have criticized the committee for not supporting Maino after she was bullied for the twerking video.

Maino was named Miss Papua New Guinea in 2019. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the inability to have another pageant, she could retain her role for an additional year.

In a Facebook post, the United Nations in Papua New Guinea denounced the move by saying, “We see the devastation of violence against women and children in this beautiful country. Some through bullying have lost their lives … It starts with telling women they should cover up. It starts with telling women, they shouldn’t dance like that.”