Russian "Anti-Barbie" Too Young to Be Miss Universe

Friends entered the name of Alyona Pliskova into a Web-based contest to select finalists for a competition for the position as Russia's entry to the Miss Universe beauty contest in June.

Alyona was quite different from the other entries, all polished and photographed in the mode of high fashion. Her photo showed her in loose, unstyled hair, without makeup, and wearing a red sweatshirt bearing the slogan "Barbies No Pasaran!"

In a runaway victory, Alyona led the rest of the field in the online voting. According to a BBC report, she collected 40,000 votes, at least twice the number of her nearest competitor.

The contest organizers disqualified her because she is only fifteen years old, too young to compete. They gave her the "Viewer's Choice Award."

But supporters, who have put up the Skazhi Nyet "Kuklam Barbi" (Say No to Barbie Dolls) page are claiming victory:

People, who voted for Alyona, VOTED AGAINST:

• Not naturally looking beauties, who cannot be distinguished from each other;
• Fake emotions, smiles and gazes reflected in the lenses of professional photographers;
• Imposed standards 35"-23"-35" (in inches)/90-60-90 (in centimeters);
• Mass-media standards and the models it imposes;
• Products of the same type and trademark, which are made into cult objects for specific layers of the populace;
• Popular music, which is imposed on us and which becomes popular for this reason only;
• Cigarettes without nicotine and coffee without caffeine.

And VOTED FOR:

• First and foremost, we vote for Alyona, who helped us to look at the beauty contest from an alternative point of view;
• Real people, individuals, who do not want to apply to themselves standard stamps of society;
• Products, which are needed by a specific person, not being designated for some average consumer;
• We vote for individuality, for ourselves!

(via Suzy Charnas)