Fury over ‘Miss Curvy’ tourism

UGANDAN feminists are outraged after the tourism ministry suggested using a “Miss Curvy Uganda” beauty pageant to attract tourists to the country.

“We have naturally endowed girls,” deputy tourism minister Godfrey Kiwanda said. “The concept is to use this natural gift to… boost tourism.”

Ugandan women’s groups reacted with fury. “The minister demonstrates the patriarchal beliefs that women are objects or commodities to be bought and sold,” said the Uganda Women’s Network. “The bodies of women are not objects to be viewed and paraded for the pleasure of men.”

But Kiwanda said he had been misunderstood. In fact, he said, the idea went against Western norms where beauty contestants need to be thin. |

African News Agency (ANA)