Bikinis banned from Miss Italy contest as pageant organisers choose to focus on ‘inner beauty’

It’s a step forward for women – but perhaps a step too far for male television viewers in Italy.

The Miss Italia beauty contest has banned bikinis in favour of swimsuits.

The organisers said the move would ‘add a sober element’ to the contest and that ‘interior beauty as well as exterior beauty’ was important.

Pageant organiser Patrizia Mirigliani said: ‘With this type of costume we will be returning to the classical beauty of the 1950’s, the era of female legends who we still admire and respect even today.