Miss World beauties defend relevance of contest

[underpants]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/afplifestyle_missworld

SANYA, China (AFP) - Miss World (news - web sites) contestants united in defending the pageant's relevance and angrily denied it degraded women.


Most argued that strutting their stuff in front of more than two billion television viewers did not promote sexism, but instead helped the poor and drew attention to suffering in the world.


"We are not here to show naked bodies. I think all of us are here to fight a cause, some for AIDS (news - web sites), some for abused women," said 23-year-old Miss Malaysia, Gloria Ting.


Miss Philippines, Ma Karla Bautista, agreed.


"We are not here just to show off beauty, but we're here also to show our purpose. The fact that we're showing off our bodies hasn't changed that," said the 20-year-old.


In 2002, riots partly inspired by the Miss World pageant left 220 people dead in Nigeria.

[rkc3]

1. Let me tell you - - I'm inspired. Really inspired.

[Richardo]

2. Yes, by all means let's just "read the articles" and ignore the pictorials

Like that really happens. :eyes:

Yes, the pageant is EXACTLY like a high-level panel discussion on AIDS at the WHO. Only with bikinis. But no sexism. My brain hurt now.

No one buys it. They should embrace the sexual component (so to speak) or not participate.


All that being said:

AaaaaOOOOOOOOgah!!!!

[XNASA]

3. I'll need another 7 to 8 minutes ......

before I can expound on this dillema.

[underpants]

5. Wale

Winner of the Miss World (news - web sites) contest Sports award Miss Wales Amy Guy, poses during a photo session for the 54th Miss World contest in Sanya, on south China's Hainan Island Thursday Dec. 2, 2004.

[Richardo]

7. "Amy Guy?" No, my dear, you are most assuredly NOT a guy

I'm happy to report.

[China_cat]

4. For a few years

the Miss USA (forerunner to the Miss Universe) pageant was held here in Charleston. While, even then, they denied the sexist, degrading label they couldn't get away from the irony that 3 of the judges were veterinarians.

[obreaslan]

6. I look at it like this....

They shouldn't have to defend themselves.

I don't like beauty pageants, not because I think they are sexist, but because I find them boring. Same goes for awards shows, but that's another topic. I respect someone's right to think they are sexist, in the same way I respect the rights of the people who produce the pagents, I don't agree with either of you, but I but you both have the right to do what you want because (for now) this is a free country.

The producers of the pageants: Miss USA, Miss America, etc.,have as much right to put on the pageant as you have to not watch. That's right, turn it off, it works, I've tried it. Telling me that it's not good because it's sexist is the same as trying to tell me it's indecent. That's your opinion, and it does not apply to me or my life. The people in this country have become too concerned with what others are doing in their lives. As much as we all say that the government should stay out of our bedrooms/wombs/etc., we need to stop being so (excuse the phrase) bleeding heart on these kind of issues.

That's my rant. Sorry, it's been building for a few days. A carry over from the gender wars. :)

By all means, flame away. :nuke:

[redqueen]

8. Yay you!

No flames from me.

:yourock:

[the Princess]

9. *Taking a big breath to show off my boobs*

"Well ya know" (hair flip)

"Contests like this (boucing boobs) bring beauty to the world (hair flip) because most people are just so.....so...... ugly (big toothy smile with hair flip) and us beautiful women (pushing breasts out) really owe it to the rest of the world to show ourselves off."

(Pose with big toothy grin and breasts out and major hair flip)