This week Israel crowned a beauty queen in their annual "Miss Fat and Beautiful" pageant.
The winner, 23-year-old Russian-born Tanya Fayman confidently told AFP before the show, "I'm very beautiful and I'm going to win." Sure enough, she did, beating out 20 other contestants and winning a modeling contract as well as a diamond ring.
To qualify for the contest, participants must weigh at least 80 kilograms (176 pounds), and this year's contest included several women who weighed in at around 120 kilograms (264 pounds).
Fayman, (who weighs 198 pounds,) had a message for the everyone. "The most important beauty is beauty of the soul, and beauty of the heart, not just beauty of the body and face." she said. Inspirational words, but a concept that initially took people some time to embrace.
Esterica Nagid, the creator of Miss Fat & Beautiful says that when initially founding the pageant in the mid 90s, she encountered significant resistance and "people called me crazy."
The event is designed to prove that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, and who can argue with that?
"All of the women on this stage are lovely and magical ... they have to know that all of them are beautiful."
hs 198 pounds,) had a message for the everyone. "The most important beauty is beauty of the soul, and beauty of the heart, not just beauty of the body and face." she said.
