Alternative Miss World's New Alternative

Hordes of flamboyantly dressed clubbers of all ages and sexual persuasions descended on London's Hipprodome discoteque, to witness the latest instalment of the (approximately) 5 yearly beauty pageant Alternative Miss World.

Judges including the Libertines' drug crazed bad boy Pete Doherty, Turner prize winner/ cross dresser Grayson Perry, Brian Eno, Boy George and legendary Brit designer Zandra Rhodes watched 14 alternative beauties strutting onto the stage, eventually selecting Miss Secret Sounds of Sunbird Rising CCCP (runners up were Miss Nigeria and Miss Ice Scream Eyes).

All three participants followed in the footsteps of counter culture luminaries including Divine, Derrick Jarman and event co-host/ co-producer Matt Glamorre, who entered the competition in 1985 after blagging his way in, as a contestant.

"Looking back over the last 20yrs I have come to regard the AMW as a 'coming out ball' for fabulous nobodies & soon to be somebodies of all ages & persuasions," he wrote in the programme of this year's event. "It is part of a great British tradition of what I call party politix; freaky & flamboyant yet scary, confrontational & satirical."

As the brains and image behind London's most flamboyant club du jour, Kashpoint, Glamorre remains at the heart of London's alternative club scene and many of his regulars stood out amongst the countless over the top creations on display (on the stage and in the crowd.). Speaking to Skrufff after the show, he was the first to admit the 32 year old event is about a lot more than just youth.

"The crowd was aged from 17 to 70, it was a true meeting of the generations. Everyone who is anyone in London underground art / music / fashion was there," said Glamorre.

"In the late 80s and during the 90s the AMW lost a lot of it's relevance as society changed and there seemed little or no place for the 'alternative' it was a bland time with little to kick against however the wheel has turned," he added.

Tags

• alternative miss world