Miss Amputee Landmine
Filed under: Politik > Inspiration
Amputee Agusta Urica was just crowned the world's first ever Miss Landmine in Angola on Wednesday.
Miss Landmine???? Are you thinking, "What is that exactly?"
The idea for Miss Landmine was born four years ago when the pageant founder (a Norwegian theater director named Morten Traavik) traveled to the African country of Angola. While in the country's capital, Luanda, he was struck by two things.
First, by the country's landmine problem resulting from more than 20 years of civil war. Though Angola's civil war ended six years ago, as many as 8 million landmines remain buried throughout the country. These landmines have left an estimated 80,000 amputee survivors in their wake.
Second, the Angolans' love of beauty pageants.
Who doesn't love a tiara and some sequins????
Traavik figured that a pageant could help raise awareness of the plight of landmine amputee survivors in Angola.
"There is no sensationalistic intentions within Miss Landmine," Traavik tells the source. "Of course, the format has been chosen because it's obviously a very media-friendly forum, but it still is based very, very much on local culture, since beauty pageants are such a consistent phenomenon in Angolan contemporary culture."
Women representing each of the nation's 18 provinces competed Wednesday in the nationally televised event. Using crutches and artificial limbs, they strutted the catwalk twice — once in traditional robes of their province and once in gala evening gowns.
"They (the amputee survivor contestants) showed that they can, that they are able," said a government official after the pageant competition. "This will provide encouragement to all those left invalid by the war."
Click here for more information on what's being done to remedy the land mine situation in Angola.
[Image by Kamene Traca/Miss Landmine 2008]
first bitches
first!!
)
canada loves perez!!
And you dare to make fun of this poor woman?
SHE'S EXEMPLARY!
And what are you?
Oh, right: A FAT LARD ASS QUEER ASSHOLE AND A PRICK WITH THE INTELLECT OF A PEANUT.
You are a PIMP in the ASS of Humanity.
I wish you'd drop dead, asshole
first
First Bitches!!
love it! what a great idea!
its great this pageant helps women realize they are still beautiful as well as raising awareness for such a pointless tactic of war.
wHATEVER!!!!!!
Good for her, she has a lovely smile and seems like someone who can still be positive in spite of the hell she's probably been through. Good lesson for us to learn!
I SAW YOU ON CANADIAN TV VIA WEBCAM
U ROCK PEREZ
JOHN MEYERS A DOUCH BAG AND YOU ARE THE BEST
WINNIPEG LOVES YOU!!!!
I SAW YOU ON CANADIAN TV VIA WEBCAM
U ROCK PEREZ
JOHN MEYERS A DOUCH BAG AND YOU ARE THE BEST
WINNIPEG LOVES YOU!!!!
I SAW YOU ON CANADIAN TV VIA WEBCAM
U ROCK PEREZ
JOHN MEYERS A DOUCH BAG AND YOU ARE THE BEST
WINNIPEG LOVES YOU!!!!
I SAW YOU ON CANADIAN TV VIA WEBCAM
U ROCK PEREZ
JOHN MEYERS A DOUCH BAG AND YOU ARE THE BEST
WINNIPEG LOVES YOU!!!!
I SAW YOU ON CANADIAN TV VIA WEBCAM
U ROCK PEREZ
JOHN MEYERS A DOUCH BAG AND YOU ARE THE BEST
WINNIPEG LOVES YOU!!!!
I SAW YOU ON CANADIAN TV VIA WEBCAM
U ROCK PEREZ
JOHN MEYERS A DOUCH BAG AND YOU ARE THE BEST
WINNIPEG LOVES YOU!!!!
I SAW YOU ON CANADIAN TV VIA WEBCAM
U ROCK PEREZ
JOHN MEYERS A DOUCH BAG AND YOU ARE THE BEST
WINNIPEG LOVES YOU!!!!
I SAW YOU ON CANADIAN TV VIA WEBCAM
U ROCK PEREZ
JOHN MEYERS A DOUCH BAG AND YOU ARE THE BEST
WINNIPEG LOVES YOU!!!!
fifth!
WHAT WHAT?? TGIF!!
Re: Perez you are an ASSHOLE – DUDE calm down.. Perez isnt or wasnt making fun of this woman.. COME OFF IT.. read the WHOLE article before you bash anyone.. Get off it
This one’s for the Obama Supporters
http://crazyforhillary.com
This is great! Anything to raise awareness now Diana isn't traipsing around minefields. Why isn't this landmine issue higher profile? Because, quite honestly, the US doesn't give a shit. We should get our priorities in order… stop killing innocent people in Iraq and help clear the landmines in Angola, Cambodia and every other country blighted by this awful awful thing!
J IS THE BIG FAT SLOB
OTHERWISE HE WOULDN'T BE WASTING TIME COMMENTING ON PEREZ
PEREZ YOUR THE BEST THAT'S WHY PEOPLE COME TO YOUR WEBSITE
BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU
J IS THE BIG FAT SLOB
OTHERWISE HE WOULDN'T BE WASTING TIME COMMENTING ON PEREZ
PEREZ YOUR THE BEST THAT'S WHY PEOPLE COME TO YOUR WEBSITE
J IS THE BIG FAT SLOB
OTHERWISE HE WOULDN'T BE WASTING TIME COMMENTING ON PEREZ
PEREZ YOUR THE BEST THAT'S WHY PEOPLE COME TO YOUR WEBSITE
BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU
J IS THE BIG FAT SLOB
OTHERWISE HE WOULDN'T BE WASTING TIME COMMENTING ON PEREZ
PEREZ YOUR THE BEST THAT'S WHY PEOPLE COME TO YOUR WEBSITE
J IS THE BIG FAT SLOB
OTHERWISE HE WOULDN'T BE WASTING TIME COMMENTING ON PEREZ
PEREZ YOUR THE BEST THAT'S WHY PEOPLE COME TO YOUR WEBSITE
BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU
J IS THE BIG FAT SLOB
OTHERWISE HE WOULDN'T BE WASTING TIME COMMENTING ON PEREZ
PEREZ YOUR THE BEST THAT'S WHY PEOPLE COME TO YOUR WEBSITE
J IS THE BIG FAT SLOB
OTHERWISE HE WOULDN'T BE WASTING TIME COMMENTING ON PEREZ
PEREZ YOUR THE BEST THAT'S WHY PEOPLE COME TO YOUR WEBSITE
BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU
J IS THE BIG FAT SLOB
OTHERWISE HE WOULDN'T BE WASTING TIME COMMENTING ON PEREZ
PEREZ YOUR THE BEST THAT'S WHY PEOPLE COME TO YOUR WEBSITE
J IS THE BIG FAT SLOB
OTHERWISE HE WOULDN'T BE WASTING TIME COMMENTING ON PEREZ
PEREZ YOUR THE BEST THAT'S WHY PEOPLE COME TO YOUR WEBSITE
BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU
amazing.
Re: Perez you are an ASSHOLE – WOW you are very ignorant. There is NOTHING on this article that is mean or rude .. you need to read the whole article before you bash anyone.. AT least Perez was brining this to the forefront.. I never heard about it until now.. and Im glad I did… YOUR AN IDIOT
this is good, making something positive out of something so horrendous.
Re: J – DUDE if you hate Perez so much what the hell are you doing on his site.. BEAT it you fucking freak.
(b)I am jealouse!(/b)
Hehehehehhehe
You're such a bastard Perez!! You make fun of an organization that is trying to promote a positive self-image for women who have had their limbs blown off, yet let one person voice an objection to anything gay and you're all over it. What a friggin hypocrite! You make me sick.
I still credit Howard Stern with holding the first ever "Miss Amputee" pageant.
i'd better hurry and shake a leg, so i can shake hands w/ her
hillary just announced that shez 4 gayz married rights with tax relief and immigration…yea,,gayz can get a tax break..thatz
wonderful….
go hillary
good one perez…vanity and politics all-in-one. sassysmartandclever. i like it when you take the bitchy high road.
Re: You Fucking Retard –
MISS AMPUTEE?
Come on. It's OFFENSIVE, you PRICK!
SUCK MY DICK, YOU FUCKING MONGOLOID!
Re: Pixie –
And PIXIE YOU ARE A WHORE AND A CUMLICKER.
I expect your brain Haemorroid will burst soon?
EAT SHIT, YOU FUCKING CUNT!
You would think they could come up with a better name for it
howard stern rip off!!!!
thank you very much Mr. Perez for posting this.
I am from Angola and it is barel ever spoken about, not many people know about what went on there. Once again THANK YOU and may God Bless you!
I had to do a report on this once. Apparently something like 90% of their farmland is unusable because it's full of landmines! So awful!
Commenter #4, Perez isn't making fun of the woman. Did you actually read the post?
Re: Gigi –
Shut up, Ignorant CUNT!
Making fun of Amputees isn't "nice"
Gigi, why don't yu stick your toung outta your fucking VAGIGI?
Asshole!
This is great! I love the whole…just do something thing… of it. Cool, true style.
Re: Lee – THAT'S BECAUSE CANADIANS ARE QUEER
Re: Skydeo –
Take your dumb head and shove it up your whoring ass…Gawd you are annoying.
HOWARD STERN FIRST DID THIS ON K-ROCK YEARS AGO ONCE AGAIN PEOPLE ARE RIPPING OFF HOWARD. THE FIRST MS AMPUTEE THEN CAME BACK AND GOT SPANKED WITH THE ROBO-SPANKER
HOWARD STERN RULEZ….BABA BOOEY…..HOWARD 100 SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO
Good idea as long as no women want to get a leg removed to be able to participate in the contest.
Cool!
Where else! What about miss starving, or miss rape queen, queen of the mudhole, queen of the mosquitos, queen machete, queen AK-47.
"HOWARD STERN FIRST DID THIS ON K-ROCK YEARS AGO ONCE AGAIN PEOPLE ARE RIPPING OFF HOWARD."
I am a Howard Stern fan too. But I seriously doubt that the norwegian, Morten Traavik, has ever heard of him, or K-Rock (and ripping him off). There is a world outside NY, you know…
gay's are God's chosen and not blacks or jews
who told the jew's that Jesus wasn't the Son of God? He is.
Re: Pixie – Yes he was being rude. Writing "Amputee" and crossing it out and writing her actual title is rude. It's like he's making fun of her. It wasn't extremely rude like some of the things he says but it was still rude and unnecessary.
That spirit of transcendence is very worthwhile and very necessary in a country with the landmine plague. Of all the dirty tricks the human mind has thought of, this landmine concept is the worst. Success to all who have to deal with it, and protection.
THIS IS AN AMAZING IDEA!!!!! EVERYONE deserves a chance to look and feel beautiful!!!
Cool!!!
Who gives a shit about the Landmime problem…..show us the goddamn swimsuit compitition.
No wonder you support Hillary Clinton, Perez. Apparently you think this horrific use of warfare is funny.
Bill Clinton promised a ban on land mines but never followed through.
Hillary Clinton voted on against a ban on cluster bombs in 2006.
Try doing some actual research for once, you insensitive hack.
No wonder you are voting for Hillary. You think this stuff is funny.
Bill Clinton promised a ban on landmines but never followed through.
Hillary Clinton voted against a ban on cluster bombs in 2006.
Try doing some actual research for once, you insensitive hack.
Re: Aubrey – You have got to be kidding me.. Do you really think that the people that come to this site about actually know what Landmine would mean if he didnt put that there? OK I agree that amputee is a bit rough BUT he could have said a lot worse. Im glad he put this to the forefront. More folks need to know about this.
Motorola is the biggest manufacturer of parts used in Landmines…..boycott Motorola!!
Hey Now, Howard Stern King of All Media and creative genius came up with the "Miss Amputee" beauty pageant many years ago. Everyone rips him off. Hey now Beth and Howard, e-mail me if you get this. cutenicesmile777@aol.com
WHO the fuck are you? do you think for a second that you are fooling anyone?
THATS KINDA GROSS..
Laos is the most bombed country in the world!
Laos is the most bombed country in the world!
Laos is the most bombed country in the world!
Laos is the most bombed country in the world!
The US secretly bombed their poor country for ten years straight every 8 mins killing thousands and because of some bombs not detinating still blowing up today!
The US secretly bombed their poor country for ten years straight every 8 mins killing thousands and because of some bombs not detinating still blowing up today!
The US secretly bombed their poor country for ten years straight every 8 mins killing thousands and because of some bombs not detinating still blowing up today!
The US secretly bombed their poor country for ten years straight every 8 mins killing thousands and because of some bombs not detinating still blowing up today!
The US secretly bombed their poor country for ten years straight every 8 mins killing thousands and because of some bombs not detinating still blowing up today!
The US secretly bombed their poor country for ten years straight every 8 mins killing thousands and because of some bombs not detinating still blowing up today!
The US secretly bombed their poor country for ten years straight every 8 mins killing thousands and because of some bombs not detinating still blowing up today!
My father was a double amputee and I find this fucking horrible…..I cannot even put into words how I feel about YOUR blogging this….. I am a big Perez fan, watch your shows, come on this website everynight and I am so fucking mad that you would even blog on this……I'm done with you and this fucking website for awhile, grow the fuck up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Re: aunty donna – its the comment "SHOW IT" that pisses me off Perez!!!
I think she lost her right arm according to this picture.
(Comment #4 do something else to deal with your inner rage….geesh)
WTF is up with those chairs?
You Go Gurl!
well lookee here. got ourselves a walkin talkin she monkey. queen of the jungle. she might jus be a chimp with a limp. yee haw!
I don't know why people are getting up in arms about this post?? I think it is great that you have brought awareness to this cause. I'm sure these ladies feel every bit beautiful and feminine strutting down the catwalk. Give them the attention that they so well deserve. It is a horrible atrocity that so many people in Angola have been affected by this and it may not be the best way to bring attention to these people but it is a way and they probably felt damn important, and so they should.
the#1 ugly
Interesting story. She looks great.
thanks for drawing attention to a very serious issue…i like where you're taking your blog. i've addicted all my friends to freerice.com, among other very cool sites you've featured. thanks for being so aware of issues besides hollywood tools who think they're god's gifts to everything. you bring awareness to the important causes too…thanks
I love licking a stubby stump. Frackin' hot!
>boldbold
YOU'RE A SICK FUCK PEREZ! I HOPE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS TO YOU SOMEDAY! CARMA IS HELL, MAN, AND ARE YOU DUE FOR SOME BIG TIME HURT!
Norway rocks
these girls are exemplary.
they are so beautiful and they have all my admiration.
People - stop mentioning Howard Stern and the ms. amputee competition, this is obviously not the same thing. These women's amputations are caused by LANDMINES (thus Ms. LANDMINE). I doubt any of the amputations in ms amputee were caused anything like that. Loosing a limb is bad what ever the cause, but these two competitions are about different things, even though it might look like the oposite on the outside.