Thursday, April 23, 2009

A Miss Universe contest has been thrown into controversy with doctors and dieticians complaining a leading finalist was "skin and bones" and dangerously malnourished.

Sydney model Stephanie Naumoska, 19, was one of 32 contestants from more than 7,000 hopefuls to make the glittering final at an event promoting "healthy, proportioned, bodies".

But pictures of a gaunt Naumoska posing in a red string bikini sparked controversy.



Health professionals said Naumoska, who is 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) tall and weighs just 49 kg (108 lbs), had a body mass index of just 15.1, well under the official 18 benchmark for malnutrition.

"She would be categorised as underweight and I would certainly want to be doing an assessment of her diet to make sure she doesn't have some type of eating disorder," dietician Melanie McGrice told local newspapers.

"She needs blood tests, diet analysis and an overall assessment."
Pageant director Deborah Miller said brunette Naumoska, who was defeated in the final by 20-year-old television presenter and model Rachael Finch, had Macedonian heritage, which accounted for her extreme thinness.

"They have long, lithe bodies and small bones. It is their body type, just like Asian girls tend to be small," Miller said.

But Australian Medical Association president Rosanna Capolingua, whose organisation represents Australian doctors, said the contest should impose a minimum BMI cut-off of 20.

"The most unhealthy part about it, though, is the image it is showing other young women who may view this as normal, when clearly it's not," Capolingua said.

http://www.metro.co.uk/news
[Edited 4/23/09 9:02am]

Dear God, her hip bone looks like it's gonna tear right through

You guys do realize that some women are naturally very, very thin, right? To the point that it’s an issue and they can't help it.

JustErin said:

This girl isn't that thin naturally. Nobody has a natural BMI of just 15. 18 maybe, but 15 is unnatural.

You guys do realize that some women are naturally very, very thin, right? To the point that it’s an issue and they can't help it.

How does anyone really know that she 'does this to herself"?

I personally do not think that it's a good look, but I don't think fat is a good look either.

I do agree that a woman this thin probably shouldn't be a contestant if an overweight woman isn't allowed to be one.

But people don't have to be so insulting towards people who are really thin (or fat).

You guys do realize that some women are naturally very, very thin, right? To the point that it’s an issue and they can't help it.

How does anyone really know that she 'does this to herself"?

I personally do not think that it's a good look, but I don't think fat is a good look either.

I do agree that a woman this thin probably shouldn't be a contestant if an overweight woman isn't allowed to be one.

But people don't have to be so insulting towards people who are really thin (or fat).

JustErin said:

agreed agreed agreed.

there's absolutely no need ever to be insulting over someone's body type.

I just could not parade around like that if I were that thin. Other girls will do whatever they have to in order to look like her.
It is NOT natural but young girls will not stop to think about that, they will want to look like her.

I understand that it might be natural for her to look that way but modeling it seems extreme to me.

[Edited 4/23/09 10:17am]

When someone is overweight, doctors suggest you lose some pounds

If she is underweight, I hope she is trying to gain some pounds

shanti0608 said:

I know what you're saying but...

Many people champion obese women as models. If that's ok, why isn't this?

That's all I am saying. There shouldn't be a double standard.

And I want to add that I do not believe that most girls wish to be THAT thin. Thin, sure...maybe even thinner than they maybe should be...but not that thin.

Most girls that thin are made fun of and told to 'fucking eat a hamburger' and mean shit like that.

thekidsgirl said:

No matter what I ate or how much I ate, I was naturally 118 until 35. I've only started gaining weight in these last few years. I'm now 140. When I was thinner there was nothing to be done diet wise to put on the pounds. They just wouldn't come.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Same here in regards to gaining weight..... I am currently 118 lbs and want to gain some more weight even though I am only 5'2". I just like being a little thicker. I feel sexier.

sexyone said:

This is why I've never judged heavy people because the concept of gluttony is thrown in a fat person's face but I could pack away the food as well as my friend who was 100 pounds overweight. But nobody would ever judge or notice if I ate the same amount. Rather they would judge it as healthy since I aws so thin!

JustErin said:

I see what you are saying too but you see many more young girls starving themselves to look skin. There's not too many girls trying to over eat to be an over weight super model.
Then again, I think the whole women parading around in bathing suits on a stage to wear a crown idiotic.

I am concerned about Women's health, physically and psychologically. Especially young women.

thekidsgirl said:

No matter what I ate or how much I ate, I was naturally 118 until 35. I've only started gaining weight in these last few years. I'm now 140. When I was thinner there was nothing to be done diet wise to put on the pounds. They just wouldn't come.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Well I suppose if you are happy and healthy (speaking of mind and body) than being a little bit under or over weight would not be so bad