Toronto authorities force Miss Universe to remove official sash
July 20,2005
Canadian Miss Universe Natalie Glebova was forced to take off her official sash at a local festival celebrating Thailand when Toronto authorities invoked a law against sexual stereotyping.
The winner of the international beauty competition held in Bangkok in May, Glebova was to open the festival last weekend sporting her official beauty queen's regalia.
However, city employees invoked a regulation against activities which degrade men and women through sexual stereotypes or exploit their bodies to attract attention.
Bowing to the local law, the 23 year old blue-eyed brunette was made to remove her "Miss Universe" sash, though not without complaint.
"I definitely don't think that the Miss Universe title is any kind of stereotype or sexual stereotype," said Russian-born Glebova, a graduate of Toronto's Ryerson University.
Officials of the Miss Universe organization were also unhappy.
"It's a strict reading of the by-laws," Paula Shugart, president of the organization, told AFP.
"According to those conditions, a beauty contest cannot even be held in Toronto", Shugart said.
Submitted by Sean
|
Email This to a Friend
