Afghan beauty queen makes history

[emad]

From the UK's BBC News:

Afghanistan is to compete in a beauty contest for the first time in more than 30 years and almost two years after the fall of the oppressive Taleban regime. Vida Samadzai, 25, who has lived in the United States since 1996, will compete alongside 60 other women from across the world for the Miss Earth title in Manila, the Philippines, contest organisers said. Ms Samadzai, or Miss Afghanistan as she will be known in the competition, will take part in all sections of the contest, including the swimsuit section.

It is a sharp contrast to the beliefs of the former Taleban regime, which demanded that women wear coverings, or burqas, from head to toe whenever they went out in public. Ms Samadzai, who now studies at a Californian university, said her participation in the contest sent out a powerful message to her fellow countrywomen.

"I would like to make people aware that, as Afghan women, we are talented, intelligent and beautiful," she told Reuters news agency. "I'm happy and I feel great that the country is relieved from the Taleban's regime. Now, women can go to school, go to work, they're free. They don't have to wear those long burqas anymore."

Ms Samadzai is also not just a very beautiful face; she helped to found a US-based Afghan women's charity which raises awareness of women's rights and education in the troubled country. And she is only the second Miss Afghanistan to take part in a beauty contest. Zohra Daoud was crowned Miss Afghanistan in 1974 and technically still retains that title.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3208417.stm

[SoCalDem]

1. She may be Afghan by birth, but she's not really typical at all

and with the Taleban being brought back, she had better watch her step :(

[emad]

2. Would a nicer bikini help? One with an underwired bra and

maybe slightly more minimalist thong????

[Media_Lies_Daily]

6. What the heck are you talking about??

[emad]

8. Wry femminist humour

plagiarised from the UK's No 1 female black comedienne

[thebigidea]

3. Miss Afghanistan, a wholly owned subsidiary of Karen Hughes, INC.

[tkmorris]

4. Look, I'm sorry but

as much as I hate the fundamentalist Taliban, somehow I don't think this is progress. This is what Afghani women were being deprived of? The "right" to participate in beauty pageants?

I have 3 daughters. What happens to them matters to me very much. The idea that they might aspire to compete in one of these horse and pony shows just makes me ill. Women should be free so that they can prance around in thongs and the only reference to their brains will be universal declarations of a desire for world peace? Beauty pageants are misogynistic and merely another side of the same coin the Taliban was selling. No thanks.

[farmbo]

7. Good point...and one that needs to be made.

Was this what all the (real) sacrifice was for?

[bleedingheart]

10. so right...how about educating Afghani girls so that they won't

be used as objects....but that doesn't sell papers...

[Media_Lies_Daily]

5. Meanwhile, back in the country that the Bushies bombed into...

...the Stone Age, conditions are now worse than they were BEFORE the U. S. attacked.

And still more Americans are dying. But we're not supposed to know that, are we?

[davhill]

9. Afgan women are lovely

I knew an Afgani teacher in pre Islamic Republic Iran; a lovely well-endowed redhead. She became friends with my wife who took her to the American Club as a guest. She saw all the American wives lounging around the pool and the girl immediately stripped down to her bra and panties. My wife had a dificult time explaining the diference to her. I have often wondered what became of her if she went back home under the Talaban.