Maxim magazine defends inclusion of Brittany Higgins in 2022 Hot 100 list
Men’s magazine Maxim has stood by its decision to include Brittany Higgins in their annual Hot 100 list despite backlash.
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Men’s magazine, Maxim Australia has defended its decision to include Brittany Higgins in the publication’s Hot 100 list.
Appearing at number 12 on the list, Ms Higgins’ addition came with a caption which “thanked her” for her advocacy for sexual assault complainants. It’s the second consecutive year in which Ms Higgins was featured on the list.
“Australia says thank you, Britt,” it reads.
‘All a bit gross:’ Hot list condemned
University of Melbourne social and political sciences Associate Professor Lauren Rosewarne said the existence of “hot lists” were “problematic” by nature.
“Surely the days of lining women up to determine the extent to which they’re found desirable should be well and truly over by now,” Prof Rosewarne told news.com.au.
“While including Brittany Higgins alongside the kinds of women we’re more used to seeing dubbed as ‘hot’ in our culture – entertainers, influencers, athletes – is a unique move, the reality is that the women on the list still have numbers attached to their names and it’s all a bit gross.”
This year, golfer and influencer Paige Spiranac topped the list in Maxim’s US offshoot. In Australia, acclaimed actor Margot Robbie was given the top spot for the third year in a row, while athletes Sam Kerr, Ash Barty and Emma McKeon made up the rest of the top four.
Fellow advocate Grace Tame, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw were also featured.
Maxim defends Hot 100, Higgins inclusion
Maxim editor-in-chief Santi Pintado said he doesn’t believe the list objectifies the women who have been featured.
In a comment to news.com.au, Pintado said: “When people see the list, they’ll realise it is more the influential women who have captured and engaged Australians in the last 12 months.
“We think Brittany has done outstanding work in what she does with sexual assault complainants.
“We admire it.”
Pintado also said that the publication was limited in its ability to alter the name of the “Hot 100” entity, which he believes is now more of a reflection of “influence” over “just beauty”.
“If I could change the name of the Hot 100, it would be the 100 most influential Australian women of 2022 because that’s basically what it is,” Pintado said.
“I’m sure Brittany has definitely impacted and influenced many Australians while also being very newsworthy this year.
“The Maxim 100 list unfortunately is an iconic brand and Maxim is not about to change it worldwide.”
Parliament rape trial ends in mistrial
After a 12-day trial, which was followed by five days of deliberation, Thursday saw the parliamentary rape case against Bruce Lehrmann end in a mistrial after a juror was found taking barred documents into the jury room.
Chief Justice Lucy McCallum said at least one juror was found to have “access to research material that was not provided to the jury during the trial”.
Mr Lehrmann has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting Ms Higgins and will face a new trial in February 2023.
Speaking outside the court, Ms Higgins choked back tears while delivering a statement.
“I chose to speak up … speak up and share my experiences with others,” she began.
“I told the truth no matter how uncomfortable or unflattering to the court.
“My life has been publicly scrutinised, open for the world to see.”
She also criticised how sexual assault complainants were treated in Canberra, saying that people who choose to testify have “their lives are torn apart”.
“In the ACT during 2020, only 16 per cent of sexual offences were reported to police resulted in a charge. Only half of that number again resulted in a conviction. That is to our national shame,” she said.
Originally published as Maxim magazine defends inclusion of Brittany Higgins in 2022 Hot 100 list