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🇧🇪 Belgium /Crime & Justice

Miss Model pageant under fire: Limburg prosecutor investigates complaint of sexual offenses

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • The Limburg prosecutor's office is investigating the Miss Model beauty pageant for alleged sexual offenses.
  • The investigation was prompted by a complaint from last year's winner, who claims she experienced non-consensual sexual acts with the organizer.
  • An ex-participant also shared her negative experiences, citing financial pressure, bodyshaming, and a fine after withdrawing due to illness.

The Miss Model beauty pageant in Belgium is under investigation by the Limburg prosecutor's office following allegations of sexual offenses. The probe centers on the pageant's organizer, Nisa Van Baelen, from Tessenderlo-Ham, after last year's winner, Charlotte Haesendonck, filed a complaint.

It is true that we had sex with Charlotte, but it always happened with mutual consent.

— Nisa Van BaelenDenying allegations of non-consensual sexual acts and stating her intention to consider a lawsuit for slander and defamation.

Haesendonck, from Temse, alleges that she experienced non-consensual sexual acts with Van Baelen and her partner. She previously shared her account with P-magazine. The prosecutor's office confirmed an investigation into sexual offenses but declined to provide further details at this time.

Van Baelen, who herself has a background in beauty pageants, including Miss Limburg 2020 and Miss Exclusive 2021, founded Miss Model in 2023. She has denied the accusations, stating that any sexual encounters with Haesendonck were consensual. Van Baelen is reportedly considering filing a defamation lawsuit.

We confirm that a preliminary investigation has been launched. We also confirm that it concerns sexual offenses, but we cannot provide further details at this time.

— Marijke TeunisSpokesperson for the Limburg prosecutor's office, confirming the investigation.

Another former participant, Merel Vander Elst, has also come forward with her negative experiences from the 2023 pageant. Vander Elst described intense financial pressure on contestants, significant bodyshaming, and pressure to sell products. Her situation worsened when she had to withdraw temporarily due to a required foot surgery. Despite providing medical certificates, she claims to have continued receiving calls and messages, and faced a fine after leaving the competition.

Three years ago, I entered this beauty pageant full of enthusiasm. Soon I realized that the reality was different than in my dreams. There was enormous financial pressure on the candidates. There was a lot of bodyshaming and a lot of pressure put on us. We were expected to sell as many products as possible, like sweets.

— Merel Vander ElstDescribing her negative experiences as a participant in the Miss Model pageant.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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