TresSugar

Not Fake: Hungary Crowns Miss Plastic Surgery

TresSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Perky contestants vied for the crown of Miss Plastic Hungary this week. Only women who have gone under the knife were invited to participate in the artificial-beauty pageant held in Budapest. Botox wouldn't qualify you, but one contestant's surgically adjusted toes did get her included. Reka Urban, 22, won the (plastic?) crown, and she received an apartment in Budapest as her prize. Check out this video from the contest, and tell me what you make of such an unabashedly fake beauty pageant!

Discriminating Carrie Prejean Sues For Religious Discrimination

TresSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Before she infamously said anything about gay (or opposite) marriage, beauty queen Carrie Prejean claims that Miss California pageant officials told her to stop mentioning God. In a move that is keeping her name in the headlines, the dethroned Miss California is now suing pageant officials for religious discrimination.

Carrie claims she was fired as Miss California because she voiced her faith-based opinion that gay marriage should not be legal. Apparently, Carrie sees nothing ironic about using her religious beliefs as rationale for voicing antigay sentiments, and then claiming to be a victim of discrimination herself.

The lawsuit names director Keith Lewis and Shanna Moaklar as defendants, and also claims that the pair improperly revealed that they paid for Carrie's breast implants. Shanna's attorney had some strong things to say about the suit. He countered, "Ms. Prejean's unfortunate and bigoted statements are responsible for any public humiliation or damages to her reputation that she has claimed to have suffered." As for whether she was fired for her religion, officials cite her unwillingness to make appearances as the basis for her dethroning.

Regardless of whether you agree with Carrie, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does prohibit employers from discriminating against individuals because of their religion in hiring or firing. Do you think Carrie has a case?

Little Miss Perfect: Terrifying

GiggleSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 07:00:00 -0800

Little Miss Perfect, a WeTV program about child beauty pageants, should totally dispel the myth that pageants encourage young girls to act and look like grown women before their time. Au contraire! Kid beauty pageants in fact encourage young girls to act like campy gay men in drag, or those men's fantasies of what women are. Uh, OK. All better?

Miss Nepal Pageant Not Looked at Kindly by Maoists

CitizenSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 03:00:00 -0700

If you're a Nepalese woman in search of a tiara, the outlook is bleak. The ruling Maoist party has postponed the Miss Nepal contest, set to be held this weekend, for the sixth time this year. In the battle between beauty queens and bureaucrats, oddly their takes on the issue are at once at odds and the same.

The women who were supposed to have been in the canceled pageant say they've been "victimized" by the government's decision. The government says they were trying to stop a practice that they say discriminates against some ethnic groups and demeans women. Specifically, according to the Maoist's most senior woman, it's not fair to shorter, darker women and further objectifies the winners by making them appear in toothpaste and shampoo ads.

To see the women's rights ramifications, read more.

The pageant was set to take place in the army's headquarters given the tumult surrounding it. One of the contestants said the cancelation violates women's rights, saying, "I feel like we are under a dictatorship more than being a republic or democratic." The crux of the argument appears to be whether a beauty pageant can further a woman's skills and lifestyle, or whether being judged on looks is a degradation above all else. That argument, however, may be covering up the growing perception that the Maoist party is puritanical and obsessed with social control.

Whose side are you on? Is it a woman's right to be in a pageant? Is the real issue here government control?

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A Tribute to Falling Beauties

GiggleSugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Whether they're beauty queens tripping over their dresses or their lines (Hey Miss Teen South Carolina, we missed you!), or losing pieces of clothing, or celebs falling on their butts (Hi, Carmen Electra!), there's nothing like the Monday morning schadenfreude of watching the beautiful people falling down. Mostly, though, I just wanna hear Miss Teen South Carolina say, "such as like" and "the Iraq" once more. Good times.

Thanks, eBaum's World!

Making Tiaras a Habit: Nuns in a Beauty Pageant - Good Idea?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 08:00:29 -0700

I'll watch any pageant, or any show about pageants but this one? I'm not sure. An Italian priest is organizing an online beauty pageant for nuns called "Miss Sister 2008." The aim of the contest is to fight the stereotype that all nuns are old and homely. The priest behind the plan says, "Nuns are a bit excluded, they are a bit marginalized in ecclesiastical life. This will be an occasion to make their contribution more visible."

And the answer to the big question I know was on the tip of your tongue is this: "We are not going to parade nuns in bathing suits." He continues, "But being ugly is not a requirement for becoming a nun. External beauty is gift from God, and we mustn't hide it." Visitors to the website hosting the online pageant are supposed to vote for the nun "they consider a model."

The effort, said to have been inspired by suggestions from nuns, has drawn criticism from the association of Catholic teachers saying, "It's an initiative that belittles the role of nuns who have dedicated themselves to God." The idea of showcasing nuns' beauty as a means of "making their contribution more visible," is an interesting concept. Is it an inspired way of bringing the life of a nun into modern times, or missing the point of being a nun altogether?

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Eyebrow-Raising Political Analysis - Do the Looks Have It?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:30:45 -0700

While we're breathlessly awaiting Liberty's big text from Obama to see who he picks for Veep, Bella says it's maybe the "pluck" that matters most. Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine was making the rounds, stumping for Obama this weekend, humbly demurring talk of a #2 slot and showing up on Meet the Press. While he was conducting official business, his brows were the object of scrutiny on NPR's Wait, Wait . . . Don't Tell Me!

Brow expert Eliza Pertrescu bashed Kaine's brows saying, "his eyebrows are definitely too feminine . . . his eyebrows are too manicured; whoever did it made him look almost like a woman." She also dished on the candidates arches as well. It's official - every aspect of the campaign has been scrutinized. With breathless attention to Obama shirtless and Kaine's eyebrows questioned, are male candidates finally getting the attention to looks that Hillary faced all campaign? Do a candidate's looks matter?

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Top 50 Most Beautiful People on Capitol Hill

CitizenSugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 03:00:40 -0700

Doing the work of the people and being hot to boot? It almost seems unfair - being able to argue policy while looking flawless is an art, and The Hill rounds up the 50 prettiest politics wonks every year, and publishes a much anticipated list of the winners. Including a police officer, a politician's wife, and a Congressman, the list is cannily split 50-50, Republicans to Democrats. Let's meet them:

Tulani Elisa, 24, a Democratic legislative assistant who says, "I'm very clumsy."

Brecke Latham, a 28-year-old Republican who says she would date a Democrat if the opportunity arose. "I believe you can cross party lines for friendship and legislation."

Hot Capitol Police officer! Roy Zimmerman is 28 - and engaged. Sorry.

Elizabeth Kucinich, 30, wife of Dennis is striking - and says she has thoughts upstairs too: "People who get to know me know I have some brain cells knocking around as well."

Kwame Canty, is a 27-year-old Democrat who's never had a girlfriend. He says, "I was a late bloomer."

To see the rest of the top 10 pretty politicos, read more.

Ivy Larsen, 26, and a married Republican says she grew up a "tomboy."

Crystal Dollins is a 25 year-old Republican legislative correspondent and a double-dutch master.

Emily Zammit, 24, is a Republican who says people think they recognize her, "probably because I'm so generic looking."

Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-SC) has a great name and knows what's important. He says, "my daddy always told me you can tell a lot about a man by the way his shoes look. I try to shine my shoes and keep my tie straight."

Kristina Spiegel, 27, is a Southern Democrat with a broad mission: "I want to affect public policy but I haven't decided how I would be most effective."

To see the rest of the 50 political beauties (and hotties) check out the whole list.

They've Got Beauty Covered - the Miss Headscarf Pageant

CitizenSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:00:13 -0700

A Danish television station held a “Miss Headscarf 2008” beauty contest to show “cool Muslim women who often make up a very fashion-conscious and style-confident part of the Danish street scene.” The hope behind the pageant was to quell the controversy over calls for a ban on Islamic dress in public and foster healthy debate.

One behind the pageant says, "We would like to contact all the Muslim women who are seldom heard in the debate but are often just as preoccupied with fashion and beauty as other women." Entrants in the pageant don't have to be Muslim, they just need to submit a photo of themselves wearing a headscarf. One of the contestants in her video says, "It's about the time the media talked to us, and not about us all the time."

Not everyone thinks it's a great idea. To see why not, the BBC video of the story, and the winner, read more.

This idea is widely criticized by Islamic traditionalists, one of whom, a spokesman for the Islamic Society, said: “I strongly advise the girls to shun the competition," and went on to compare the women competing to nuns competing in a beauty pageant. This is the second conflict Danish media has had with Islamist fundamentalism since 2005 when a newspaper depicted the image of the prophet Mohammed, which sparked outrage and the threats of attack. The winner of the controversial contest is 18-year-old Huda Falah.

Can a contest like this foster healthy debate and a greater understanding of women in the faith? Does the very notion of the pageant go against their religion?

Source

"Miss Landmine Survivor" Beauty Pageant Coming to Angola

LibertySugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:00:02 -0700

Even the saddest tragedies have beautiful silver linings. Angola will host a "Miss Landmine Survivor" beauty pageant this April, as a way to heal the country that just came out of a 27-year civil war. As many as 1.5 million people died during the war and Angola only has a population of around 12 million.

The pageant will star 18 landmine victims, representing all of the country's provinces. Check out the contestant profiles here. Many of these women, who were injured as children, are now working mothers.

As a result of the war, which ended in 2002, tens of thousands of victims lost limbs or were otherwise injured by landmines. Today, millions of leftover landmines still claim victims. Hopefully, the pageant will provide hope to those facing the challenges of losing limbs, while also bringing awareness to the ongoing existence of mines, therefore preventing more maiming.

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