If you’re beautiful in the “non-conventional sense,” and you want a little ego-stroking, you want to head to tiny Isafjoerdur, Iceland on April 18. There, Matthhildur Helgadottir will be holding a beauty pageant with a twist: participants will be rewarded for “wrinkles, saggy breasts and other bodily imperfections.”
According to Helgadottir, a self-confessed feminist (who is almost certainly small-chested), “Anyone can make the rules about what beauty is, we want to change the rules. We think it’s just coincidence if you have big breasts. How come this is beautiful? We are trying to show how ridiculous this is.”*
The non-beauty contest will feature both men and women who have not had plastic surgery. Helgadottir is still undecided about the prizes, though she thinks the “fun and honor” of taking part will be enough for most people. Note to Helgadottir: that may be why only 5 people have signed up thus far.
I wonder if they plan to crown the “prettiest” of the contestants. Obviously, if they do this, Helgadottir continues to promulgate beauty stereotypes, right?
[Photo: kafkan]
* Actually, it’s not ridiculous; see paragraph 54.