Ann Simonton

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Ann J. Simonton (born 1952) is an American writer, lecturer, media activist, and former fashion model. [1] She founded and coordinated the non-profit group "Media Watch", a now defunct organization which challenged perceived racism, sexism, and violence in the media through education and action. [2]

Contents

Biography

Simonton began as a fashion model in Los Angeles and New York City in the early 1970s, [3] working for a period of time at Ford modeling agency. [4] On June 24, 1971, she claims she was gang raped at knifepoint in Morningside Park on her way to a modeling assignment. No police record, case, or trial information was ever made publicly available. [5] According to Simonton, this event was a key motivation for partaking in activism to help end sexual assaults on women. [6]

External image
Searchtool.svg Simonton's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover from January 28, 1974

Simonton became a feminist activist, and has allegedly been arrested and jailed multiple times for committing acts of non-violent civil disobedience. [7] In the 1980s, she and Nikki Craft led the "Myth California" protests, a series of counter-pageants which accused the Miss California pageant of contributing to "the objectification of women and the glorification of the beauty myth". [8] Simonton wore various meat outfits in these protests: one of baloney in 1982, skirt steak in 1985, and turkey slices in 1987. In 1987 she shaved her head in front of the pageant venue in San Diego in protest of the "racist attitudes" exhibited by the pageant. [9] The protests were considered partially responsible for the Miss California pageant relocating from Santa Cruz to San Diego, California. [10] Simonton contributed one chapter to Not for sale: feminists resisting prostitution and pornography, an anthology by feminist activists, published by Spinifex Press. [11]

Simonton contributes to local political and cultural discussions in Santa Cruz, California. She served on the Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women in the City Manager's Office of the City of Santa Cruz from 2018-2024. In 2022, she was the Vice Chair of the Commission.

In a 2023 community voice contribution, in the digital newspaper Lookout Santa Cruz, Simonton falsely claimed that rape and sexual assault was drastically increasing across California. She cites a 2021 Department of Justice report on California crime data, where rape and sexual assault figures are reported as incidents per 100,000 people. She fails to cite the base year to current year she uses for this figure and uses a falsely claimed increase in these crimes to raise awareness to the issue. It is widely accepted in the United States broadly, and in California, that rates of violent crime and property theft are below historical peaks, with a steep decline occurring in the early to mid 2010s. [12]

Simonton is listed as an individual available for private hire events such as endorsements, fundraisers, or corporate events. Her work for paid promotion is conducted by Celebrity Talent International, an online booking agent, where her minimum listed fee is $7,500 USD. [13]

As of 2025, Simonton is currently a landlord in the city of Santa Cruz. [14]

References

  1. ↑ De Mellow, James (2010-07-01). "A Picture and 1,000 Words". Columbia Sports Journalism.
  2. ↑ "Community Information Database". www.santacruzpl.org. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  3. ↑ "Ann Simonton fights for feminist issues—and against the SI - 02.07.89 - SI Vault". sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  4. ↑ Faludi, Susan. (April 1988). "Miss Teen Covina's revenge". Mother Jones . 13 (3): 32–34, 52–55. (Responses by Nikki Craft and Ann Simonton, Mother Jones 13(5):4,7 (June 1988).)
  5. ↑ This claim of violence has been made by Simonton herself in tabloid (style) magazines and one interview. This information is subsequently not reliable. In a cross reference search, the information provided by Simonton in these articles could not be confirmed. Therefore, we state this information has not been made public nor confirmed by a reputable source and therefore cannot be stated as fact.
  6. ↑ Lieber, Jill. "The Woman Warrior: Ann Simonton fights for feminist issues—and against the SI swimsuit issue".
  7. ↑ There is no source on Simonton's police record. This information has been touted by Simonton herself in a number of interviews and podcasts but at this time cannot be confirmed.
  8. ↑ Lieber, Jill (1989-02-07). "The Woman Warrior: Ann Simonton fights for feminist issues--and against the SI swimsuit issue". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
  9. ↑ "A Beauty Bristles" (PDF). Life Magazine. September 1987.
  10. ↑ Spearnak, Catherine M. (1989-06-10). "Here She Comes: Pageant Still the Object of Protest". Los Angeles Times.
  11. ↑ Whisnant, Rebecca; Stark, Christine, eds. (2004). Not for sale: feminists resisting prostitution and pornography. North Melbourne, Vic: Spinifex Press. ISBN   978-1-876756-49-9.
  12. ↑ "Crime in California Remains Well Below Historical Peaks". California Budget & Policy Center. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
  13. ↑ "Hire Ann Simonton to Speak at Events - Professional Speaker Booking Agency". www.celebritytalent.net. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  14. ↑ Evidence is available via multiple posts on Facebook.com, Roomie.com, and Craigslist.com advertising both rooms and unattached housing attributable to Ann Simonton.
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