Italian priest organizes 'Miss Sister 2008' beauty contest for nuns

An Italian priest wants to change the stereotype that nuns are all old and gloomy. He is organizing an online beauty contest for nuns worldwide to highlight their image and work.

Rev. Antonio Rungi is a theologian and school teacher from the Naples area. He will start the “Miss Sister 2008” contest this September on his blog. He told Associated Press the reason behind this contest: "Nuns are a bit excluded, they are a bit marginalized in ecclesiastical life…This will be an occasion to make their contribution more visible." He wants to give the nuns more exposure within the Catholic Church. The nuns will fill out a profile about their life and their current job, and will also be asked to include a photo. According to Rev. Rungi, they can either have the photo with the traditional veil or with their heads uncovered. The contest will run in Rev. Rungi’s blog for a month and the visitors can vote for the nun they consider a model. Rev. Rungi added:

We are not going to parade nuns in bathing suits…But being ugly is not a requirement for becoming a nun. External beauty is gift from God, and we mustn't hide it.

The priest said the beauty contest was not his idea; rather it was from the nuns with whom he prays and works at his church. He expects at least a dozen submissions from the nuns. But not all welcome his initiative -- the Association of Catholic teachers have condemned this idea. The group’s president, Alberto Giannino told ANSA news agency this contest “belittles the role of nuns who have dedicated themselves to God".