On May 22, Belgium crowns its leading lady amidst calls for confidence and activities promoting plus-size clothing, emphasizing both internal and external beauty the potential queen, along with calls for confidence and activities that promote plus-size clothing.
The 60 participants who undertook the makeover included women between the ages of 23 and 64, as part of a program that involved over 5,000 women who graduated through a nine-month program involving makeovers, styling, and beauty treatments while allowing the women to discover and accept themselves.
Nathalie De Reuck, 56, founder of Top Women, the nonprofit organization behind Saturday’s event, stated, “True beauty does not come from a perfect body that corresponds with what society dictates, but from a body telling a story. A woman who is fine in her head, fine in her body, is a woman who is just ‘wow’. The beauty of us all is our body and our history. There is nothing to be ashamed of.”
De Reuck, a former model who founded the program in 2014, described the modeling industry as harsh and damaging for women. She now highlights how social media filters contribute to women’s shame about their bodies and appearance.
Contestant Nathalie Halleman, a mother of eight, shared that she felt beautiful. The 47-year-old said, “The beauty of the body according to the image transmitted by advertising and fashion is short-lived. The real beauty is inner beauty.” Reflecting on her past, she shared that she once lacked confidence and would often cry. “Now, I smile,” she added. De Reuck, who leads the jury, explained that participating in the pageant after completing the program is optional.
“For most candidates, just the idea of being on stage and a catwalk used to be impossible,” she added. She further continued and said the criteria for the title focus not on appearance but on the woman’s attitude and personal growth.
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