France bans beauty contests for girls under 16 years Sep 18,2013

France's upper house of parliament has voted to outlaw beauty contests for girls under 16 years old under threat of prison sentences and fines in an attempt to halt the "hypersexualisation" of youngsters

Under the proposed law, pageant organisers who flout the minimum age limit would face up to two years in prison and a €30,000 (£25,000) fine

The Sénat voted for the proposal on Wednesday Sep 18,2013 after Chantal Jouanno, a former sports minister under right-of-centre president Nicolas Sarkozy, introduced the ban as part of a bill on gender equality.

The ban on what the French call "Mini-Miss" pageants was opposed by Socialist senator Virginie Klès, who presented the gender equality bill, as well as the government's spokesperson and women's rights minister, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, both of whom judged the penalties too harsh.