The 2020 Miss Universe Great Britain pageant was shut down by London police on Saturday, just hours before the city went into Tier 4 lockdown.
The annual event, which was originally scheduled for July before being postponed, took place at the Radisson Blu Heathrow, but a member of the public tipped off police, causing it to be closed down.
However, the head judge of the beauty show, aesthetic practitioner Dr Vincent Wong, believes the closure of the event was down to 'discrimination against women'.
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He said that social distancing, hand sanitiser and face masks were all being used, saying the pageant is classed as a 'business event'.
As reported by the Daily Star, Mr Wong said: "I strongly believe this was discrimination against women. It would be very different if it was 20 men being interviewed for the job of football club manager."
He explained: "Traditionally Miss Universe Great Britain happens in July, but obviously because of everything going on this year it couldn't happen."
Adding: "The girls came in one by one, so at any point there were a maximum of six people in the room, all wearing masks.
"I'm a doctor so I make sure everyone was distanced, had hand sanitiser and was taking all precautions we're supposed to."
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Dr Wong said the team had been given the go-ahead from the hotel earlier that day.
He said: "On the day we did the interview round, and we were about to proceed to evening wear when the police turned up.
"A sergeant came and didn't speak to any judges or the organiser, he only spoke to someone from hotel reception, he didn't even come in to look at the venue for inspection.
"He said the pageant was 'not in the spirit of Covid, you need to stop or otherwise we'll fine you'.
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"Once the organiser realised she tried to explain, but the sergeant dismissed it. He couldn't comprehend a pageant could be serious."
A spokesperson for the Met Police told LADbible: "Police were called at approximately 14:40hrs on Saturday, 19 December by a member of the public reporting an event that was an apparent breach of Covid regulations at a hotel in Bath Road, Hayes.
"Officers attended and spoke to hotel staff who stated this was a business event and therefore allowed under the regulations. After assessing the situation, officers deemed the event should be closed down and it was.
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"No fines were issued."
LADbible has contacted Miss Universe Great Britain for comment.
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