Opening the 1970 Miss World contest, the presenter Bob Hope was in a particularly ebullient mood. “I’m very, very happy to be here at this cattle market ... ” he leered into the tittering audience. “Moooooo!”
His enjoyment was short-lived; moments later, the clatter of a football rattle resounded around the Royal Albert Hall, and the stage was invaded by outraged women protesters, hurling flour and stink bombs. They forced the obnoxious Hope to flee from the set and disrupted the BBC’s broadcast in what has come to be seen as a watershed moment for feminism.
“I watched the whole ceremony and it’s shocking, particularly the bit where the women all have to turn round to show their bottoms ... ” says Gugu Mbatha-Raw, over lunch at a smart Marylebone restaurant. “It definitely makes you realise quite how far we’ve come.”
This particular Miss World contest is the subject of Gugu’s thought-provoking new drama, Misbehaviour. She takes the role of Jennifer Hosten, who, as Miss Grenada, became the first black woman to win the Miss World crown. “I came to [the part] with an air of judgement, of oh you know, beauty queens,” she admits, “but I’ve become more open-minded as to what that represents. I think it’s very easy now to look back and say, ‘Why would you do that? It’s so superficial.’ What’s interesting is that the rebellion can often be a luxury.” For her research into the film, Gugu visited Grenada to talk to Hosten. “She’s in her 70s now, and she’s got such a regal presence, such posture, these bright, bright eyes—she’s very demure, quite proper but very centred.”
This story is from the May 2020 edition of Harper's Bazaar Malaysia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2020 edition of Harper's Bazaar Malaysia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
SkyHIGH
Crystal Woo takes a city sojourn at the new Inter-Continental Bangkok Sukhumvit.
The Grandmaster OF ROMANCE
No one captures the language of love as achingly beautiful as filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai.
Winner's CIRCLE
Meet the five laureates of the 2023 Rolex Awards for Enterprise.
My life, my style
Romantic details and playful accents abound in the elegant Edinburgh home of the cult accessories designer Leeanne Hundleby.
Going GREEN
TAG Heuer continues to lead the world of smartwatches, now with the latest Connected Calibre E4 in a fresh new hue.
Fathoms ABOVE
Last year's successful Blancpain X Swatch collab now welcomes a new addition, in honour of an ocean of the celestial kind.
Endless SUMMER
Richard Mille offers a colourful new collection inspired by the breezy yet rebellious spirit of Memphis Design.
THE WAU FACTOR
From golden hibiscus to anyaman motifs, Cartier injects notes of Malaysiana into its newly reopened store in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
BEAUTY queen
South Korean actor Han So-Hee unveils her 2024 goals and favourite Dior Beauty picks.
Trend of LIPS
We're in an era of wellness that focuses on healthy beauty. Before colour came the importance of nourishing and embracing the natural beauty of the lips.