Pakistan upset with "Miss Bikini" title conferred in China

Islamabad is to protest formally to China and its mission in Beijing has been asked to take up with the Chinese as to how Mariah Moten, 22, a Houston-based girl, was last week crowned "Miss Bikini Universe" in a beauty contest wearing the ceremonial strap with "PAKISTAN" inscribed on it.

Culture Ministry spokesman Chaudhry Hafeez said this amounted to official recognition of the girl's nationality in a contest "that is seen by many as shameful."

"How can somebody use Pakistan's name in such a contest," Hafeez counter-questioned to The News International newspaper on Tuesday.

The controversy comes as Pakistan prepares for a state visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao later this year.

"The government has disowned with contempt the so-called 'Pakistan's first Miss Bikini', the newspaper said.

"In Pakistani culture, there is a tradition of cattle shows only, whereas women are connected with respect and honour of the family," an official commented.

President Musharraf has been advocating that Pakistanis eschew religious extremism and adopt "enlightened moderation."

On condition of anonymity, the official said, the woman's participation in the bikini contest is a 'wild interpretation' of the policy of 'enlightened moderation', the newspaper said.

Hafeez expressed "shock" at media reports that Moten had participated in an international bikini contest at Beihai, a resort in southern China, on behalf of Pakistan.

Hafeez said Pakistan's name has been used without knowledge of the government. Moten was the most-interviewed contestant, making a splash in several Chinese, Indian and Gulf media, winning the "Best In Media" award.

Thrilled on winning the crown, her second in a year, Moten claimed: "It's the first time that Pakistan is participating in the bikini pageant, as we're an Islamic country." She added, "Now, there's less reproach in Pakistan on women's participation in such beauty contests."

This claim of Moten has been contested by the newspaper that recalled that in 2002, Neelam Noorani had "shocked" Pakistan by contesting for the "Miss International Beauty" crown in Tokyo.

She wanted to represent Pakistan, but the government intervened at the last minute to prevent it after an AFP photograph published in a local newspaper showed the 21 year-old Noorani posing as 'Miss Pakistan', and wearing the ceremonial strap announcing her nationality during a photo session.

On Sep 26, 2002, the day Noorani's photograph was published in Pakistan, then culture secretary Tariq Janjua.

He was quoted as saying that "such contests are in total contrast to the social and cultural values of Pakistan.

"Our religion, Islam, disapproves all such acts."

(IANS)

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