Landmine Beauty Chosen

Angolan landmine victims challenge the concepts of beauty and fashion.

By: ArtAdmin | Apr 7, 2008 |  0

Categories: Human & Civil Rights, Peace, Conflict & Governance, Artevist

On April 5th, Augusta Urica was chosen the winner of the Miss Landmine Angola Beauty Pageant from a field of 18 contestants. Urica, 31, receives a custom-made artificial limb, US$2,500 cash and a variety of smaller prizes. Angola's First Lady, Ana Paula dos Santos, presented the award in Angola's capitol Luanda.

There are approximately 80,000 amputees in Angola, the majority, victims of land mines used during the Angolan Civil War (1975-2002). The Pageant, sponsored by the government and several European organizations, was organized to bring attention to landmine victims, especially women, who suffer the most severe marginalization. It also highlights the fact that landmines are an ongoing problem, which continue to take the lives and limbs of innocent victims.

We thought we'd follow up on this Forum topic posted a few months back by Artevist member mike, not only because of its BIG Issues aspects, but because it challenges the established notions of beauty and fashion, and we love anything that does that.

More information can be found at the Miss Landmine Angola website, though it seems they have yet to update it.

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