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Tuesday, November 11, 2003
Ms Honduras, Diana Price, crowned Ms Earth 2003; Ms Afghanistan wins special prize
By Miko Santos
The Miss Earth crown went Sunday to Miss Honduras Dania Prince.
Brazil's Pricila Zandona was selected first runner-up, Costa Rica's Marianela Zeledon Bolanos was chosen second runner-up, and Miss Poland Marta Matyjasik was third runner-up.
But the star of the show was ultimately Miss Afghanistan Vida Samadzai, condemned in her homeland for parading in a bikini at the Miss Earth contest, but won the pageant's first "Beauty For A Cause" award.
The dark-haired Vida Samadzai, 25, was born and raised in Afghanistan, but left for the United States in 1996 to escape the turmoil of civil war and the rise of the Taliban religious movement.
Samadzai, the first Afghan in three decades to take part in a beauty contest, failed to make it to the contest's semifinals. But judges announced that, for the first time, they were handing out a "Beauty For A Cause" prize.
They awarded it to Samadzai for "symbolizing the newfound confidence, courage and spirit of today's women" and "representing the victory of women's rights and various social, personal and religious struggles."
They said the award would be given annually from now on -- and it was not clear if it was created especially for Samadzai.
Samadzai could face prosecution if she returns to her native country because of her attire at the "Beauty for a Cause" pageant, a senior Afghan justice official said Saturday.
Regardless of any legal action, Samadzai's parading down a catwalk in a red bikini during the contest's qualification last month was a radical departure from the traditional image of burka-wearing Afghan women.
The only other Miss Afghanistan was Zohra Daoud, who joined the Miss
Universe contest in 1972.
The Miss Earth beauty pageant is organized and produced locally by Carousel Productions, Inc. to search and develop true "beauties for a cause."
The delegates and winners of Miss Earth, in a twist from other beauty pageants, promote worthwhile environmental causes and get actively involved in caring for and preserving Mother Earth.
(November 11, 2003 issue)
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