Sometimes we watch beauty pageants and think, Sure, it's nice to win a college scholarship, but what about something we could really use? The Miss Homeless Belgium contest was giving away just such a prize this weekend, when it awarded a home to 58-year-old Therese Van Belle.Unlike a typical beauty pageant, the contest judged 10 women not on their looks and poise, but on their "will to get themselves out of a difficult situation." Therese Van Belle received an apartment of her own for an entire year -- enough time, one presumes, to help her get back on her feet. The prize was probably not entirely thanks to her adorable small dog (pictured). But it's a really cute small dog.
The contest was organized not out of mockery, but in an attempt to raise awareness of the ever-growing homeless problem that's not unique to Belgium these days. But that didn't stop some women's rights groups from slamming the contest as "absolutely pathetic."
We fall somewhere in between -- we believe organizer Aline Duportail when she says she conceived of the contest to draw attention to homelessness, but what about the nine other women who didn't win? Those sashes won't do much to keep them warm out on the streets at night.
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Wednesday 14 October
By amdl26
what a cool idea!
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Wednesday 14 October
By Kitten
I don't think its a bad idea. If she can get herself and her family off the streets and into housing that they can afford during this time and do something with her life then why not??? Heck if she can do it before the years time maybe she will let one of the other families move in her rent free apartment. Sometimes all a person needs is a break, what they do with that break is up to them. I wish her good luck in the future!!
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Wednesday 14 October
By Jenniferh021
I think that this is a wonderful thing to do, don't get me wrong, BUT...what happens after the year is up if these people are unable to get on their feet? I mean, let's be real- the economy is NOT what it used to be and getting high paying jobs is difficult. So, they will have a "taste" of this dream and then have it taken away? The psychological aspect is the part that worries me but my hat's off to doing this, it is definitely heart felt.
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Friday 16 October
By MeMyselfandI
How sad for the other woman who did not win. Can you imagine getting your hopes up and then be dashed because the judges don't think that YOU want to get off of the streets bad enough?! The "losers" should still get some form of help.
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