 |
Angela ScognamiglioWinner of the contest in Italy Miss Fat Girl-2010
Country:
 Italy |
Content:
- A Celebration of Curves: Miss Oversize Italy 2010
- Breaking Boundaries at the Miss Oversize Contest
- Discrimination and the Importance of Representation
- Challenging the Beauty Narrative
A Celebration of Curves: Miss Oversize Italy 2010
Miss Oversize Italy 2010: Angela ScognamiglioIn a break from the pencil-thin model stereotype, Italy has crowned a curvaceous woman as its new beauty queen, celebrating her voluptuous physique with a whopping 170-kilogram (375-pound) frame. Angela Scognamiglio, a restaurant worker from Naples, expressed her elation after being named the inaugural 'Miss Oversize' on Saturday night in the Tuscany village of Forcoli, near Pisa. "I was so moved, as if I had won the lottery," said the 33-year-old, chosen from a pool of 30 contestants vying for the title.
Breaking Boundaries at the Miss Oversize Contest
As with the past 20 editions of the pageant, the only requirement for entry was a weight exceeding 100 kilograms (15.5 stone). Participants strutted their stuff before a 2,500-strong crowd in a local hotel, showcasing their fashionable gowns and, for the more daring, lingerie. Some even took to the stage for a touch of glamorous stripping. The deciding moment came when the contestants took to the scales, displaying their measurements on gigantic red weigh-ins. For the winner, the ultimate prize was to share a massive cake with the audience, a gesture that perhaps boosted the self-esteem of the contestants, who are often subjected to stares for their weight.
Discrimination and the Importance of Representation
"When we take the bus, people nudge each other and whisper, making fun of us, and it's the same on the beaches," said redhead Marilena Amato. "We are victims of serious discrimination, as if we are second-class citizens," added another participant, Antonia Bartolo, a 37-year-old nurse from the Milan area. She also emphasized the competition's significance as "an opportunity to meet people who experience the same problems."
Challenging the Beauty Narrative
Gianfranco Lazzereschi, the organizer of the pageant, explained that the show aimed to showcase a different type of feminine beauty. "This is an exhibition of curves... Why shouldn't these women be seen? Why should we follow the dictates of others who decide who is beautiful?" he said. According to Lazzereschi, the competition provided a platform to discuss and challenge narrow beauty standards.
