Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · August 15, 2025 · Entertainment

Howard Stern's Shocking 'Ugliest Girl' Contest Resurfaces, Sparks Outrage

Stern broadcast the infamous 'Buttaface Contest' in Las Vegas for many years in the early 2000s, with users slamming the host as 'derogatory' and 'heartless'

SHOCK JOCK SHAME: Howard Stern's Cringeworthy 'Buttaface Competitions' Resurface, Leaving a Trail of Embarrassment and Outrage

Get ready for a dose of TMI (too much information) from the king of shock jocks himself, Howard Stern. The 71-year-old radio host is in hot water after clips of his notorious "Buttaface Contest" resurfaced online, leaving many to wonder how he's still employed. The competition, which took place in Las Vegas in the early 2000s, was a cringeworthy display of objectification and sexism that even Stern himself couldn't deny.

The contest involved women parading around in bikinis, showcasing their bodies to a stadium full of rowdy spectators while wearing paper bags on their heads. The irony is not lost – these were the same women who would eventually be judged on their appearance, with the winner receiving a whopping $25,000. Yes, you read that right; the prize money was paid out for having the "best body and worst face." Because, apparently, that's what women are reduced to in Stern's world: mere objects of desire.

As Stern said himself, the competition was to find the woman with 'the best body and the worst face,' and the winner of the competition would win $25,000

The clips from 2004 have been circulating on social media like wildfire, with many horrified viewers commenting on the cruel jokes made by Stern and his panel of judges. In one particularly cringeworthy moment, they make lewd comments about a contestant named Stacey, telling her to remove the paper bag covering her face. The crowd's reaction is priceless – some look like they're about to vomit, while others burst into laughter at the expense of these unsuspecting women.

The contestants themselves appear visibly shaken, with many looking embarrassed and upset by the jeering crowd. One can't help but wonder how Stern slept at night knowing he was contributing to this kind of environment. The fact that he thought it was funny is simply astounding.

As one user pointed out on social media, "This is terrible! Meanwhile, the girl is gorgeous, and you can see how bothered she is by it all. She should've never been wearing a bikini and in this situation with Howard Stern – the degenerate. Best part is, the panel is all uglier inside and out."

The competition would involve women parading around in bikinis to show off their bodies to a stadium of people, while wearing a paper bag on their heads to hide their faces

But not everyone was outraged by the competition. Some defended Stern's actions, saying that the world was different back then and people didn't take offense as easily. One user even went so far as to say that Stern would have told them that they looked like someone "Yassified one of the Costco guys." Um, what?

The fact remains, however, that this kind of behavior is never acceptable, regardless of the era or context. Objectifying and shaming women for their appearance is never something to be taken lightly.

As TheScholarlyNote.com reached out to representatives for Stern for comment, we couldn't help but wonder how he'll respond to these latest allegations. Will he apologize and try to move on from this embarrassing chapter in his career? Or will he continue to dig himself deeper into the hole with more outrageous antics?

The term 'butterface' is used to describe a person with an attractive body but what it considered to be a less attractive face, with the phrase a play on 'but her face'

One thing is certain – Howard Stern's reign as a shock jock is coming to an end, whether he likes it or not. His $500 million five-year contract is set to expire soon, and rumor has it that SiriusXM is looking to rebrand without him. Could this be the final nail in the coffin for his radio show?

As we wait with bated breath to see how Stern will respond to these allegations, one thing's for sure – his legacy as a shock jock will forever be tainted by his role in perpetuating sexism and objectification.

A Brief History of Howard Stern's Rise to Fame

The panel made crude comments about the contestant's bodies, before openly discussing her looks after taking the bag off

For those who may not know, Howard Stern first launched The Howard Stern Show in 1986 on the radio. He quickly gained popularity for his outrageous stunts and no-holds-barred interviews. In the '90s, he became a media sensation, starring in his own feature film about his life and career called Private Parts (1997) and releasing a handful of best-selling books.

Stern's popularity peaked during this time, but things took a downward turn when he began to adopt a more "woke" persona. His listenership dwindled, and rumors started circulating that his show was on the chopping block. Will he be able to revive his career or is it too late for redemption?

As we await Stern's response to these allegations, one thing's certain – this shocking revelation will go down in history as a major embarrassment for the king of shock jocks.

Speculation is swirling that Howard Stern's show is 'doomed' after the star became 'woke' and listener numbers fell