Protesters call for university beauty contest to be banned

The students will participate in heats in the hope of being one of only 15 who will reach the contest's grand final in February.

However, the event has opened a split in London University's student body. Protesters say it is misogynistic and degrading, and should be banned.

Participants and organisers have fiercely defended the competition.

Demonstrators picketed West End nightspots Maddox and the Crystal Club during heats for the London School of Economics, School of Oriental and African Studies, Queen Mary College and Regent's College.

Last night, entrants from University College London went on stage at the Crystal Club, while students from King's College will do battle next Tuesday. Ruby Buckley, women's officer at LSE students' union, said the contest should be "eradicated for good". She added: "We come to university to be judged on academic ability and not on external characteristics.

"LSE is an academic institution and should not have its name tarnished by an event with a single function of the objectification of women. "

Elly James, women's officer at SOAS students' union, said: "It is like a cattle market. One of the things was that the contestants had to have their waists and breasts measured. I come from quite a rural area and that's what they do to animals." The competition is separate from the university but still uses the title "Miss University London 2008". It is organised by events company 121 Entertainment.

About 400 students from LSE, SOAS, UCL, KCL, Queen Mary and Regent's applied to take part in the first stage of the contest. Other colleges and universities in the capital will also be holding auditions.

Some possible contenders are spotted by talent scouts who trawl library squares and student parties. Students can also enter themselves online. Christian Emile, founder of 121 Entertainment, said women found the event "empowering".

He said complaints were coming from "feminist groups in universities. It is a minority of students who are doing this. They are of the opinion that the girls are being objectified but that is completely incorrect."

Keelin Gavaghan, the 19-year-old accountancy student who has been named Miss LSE, added: "I fail to see what is wrong with feeling glamorous for one night. We hardly sold our souls."

One of those taking part in last night's UCL event was geography student Zoe Chambers, a 20-year-old from Hampstead who modelled at London Fashion Week this year.

She said: "The horrible truth is everyone is objectified in a number of ways. You can tell just by looking at posters for some club nights and things like that."

Mary Honeyball, a Labour MEP for London who sits on the European Parliament's women's rights committee, claimed the event stereotyped women. She said: "It does not seem right on many levels. It is dividing students, which is unfortunate, and it will exclude women who do not conform to a Nuts magazine idea of what is pretty."

A spokesman for LSE said: "It is up to students what they do in their private lives."