Friday, January 21, 2011
Elder of Ziyon
A group of women primp and preen in front of the mirrors, adjusting their outfits as they prepare for a beauty contest with a difference: Israel's annual "Miss Fat & Beautiful."
In a cultural centre in the southern desert city of Beersheva, the contestants tweak their hair and apply makeup, laughing together as they sing in Hebrew: "We are the most beautiful women in the world. We are Miss World!"
To qualify for the contest, hopefuls must weigh at least 80 kilograms (176 pounds), and 2011's contest includes several who weigh in at around 120 kilograms (264 pounds).
Unlike your average beauty pageant, which tends to conform to a strict lean-and-lithe standard, here curves are queen.
Ahead of the show, the atmosphere backstage is one of excitement.
"I'm very beautiful and I'm going to win," 23-year-old Tanya Fayman confidently tells AFP.
"I'm very proud of myself and my body and my beauty, and no one has the right to dictate my weight, so why should I be skinny?"
For the evening wear section, Fayman sports a skin-tight strappy dress, high heels and strings of necklaces, her dark hair falling pin-straight to her shoulders.
Proud of her figure, she shows no sign of embarrassment when the side of her top splits open slightly as she talks, simply grabbing a needle and thread to stitch up the tear.
The Russian-born beauty's confidence was well-founded. After two rounds in which the 20 contestants strut their stuff in ball gowns, and a trouser-and-top ensemble, Fayman was crowned the winner.
Better than camels.
