Model contest raising awareness of cancer

Fourteen foreign beauties competing for the title of Miss Laowai China 2010 called Saturday for more awareness on breast cancer in China.

"Breast cancer is a huge threat to women's health. The breast cancer issue has been promoted around the world but we feel the issue has not drawn enough attention from the public in China yet," Msafiri Sinkala, operations director of the pageant, told METRO on Saturday.

He said the campaign would cooperate with TV programs in China. They will also deliver brochures with contestants' images to hospitals in Beijing, as a way to provide the public with more information about breast cancer.

The final of the Miss Laowai China Pageant will be held in August in Beijing.

The Pageant's 14 contestants took part in a photo shoot on Saturday, chosen from over 60 candidates.

And applications are still open to hit the campaign's target of 100 contestants from up to 40 countries. The second photo shoot is scheduled to take place in April.

Participants are judged on Chinese talents such as singing, dancing and playing musical instruments. Six participants will win prizes, and three will be given the title of Miss Laowai China.

Msafiri and his wife Prudence have lived in China for almost 10 years. Prudence has performed on the Chinese stage as a singer since 2003 and participated in numerous TV programs.

"The campaign aims to show the public what these foreign girls have learned from China, as well as what they contributed," Msafiri added.

The contestants are thrilled to get a chance to take part in the competition, he said.

(China Daily 01/25/2010 page25)