Government sponsors ‘Swine Beauty Queen’ contest for fat women

What is the message they’re trying to promote in this pageant? We imagine it must not be body-positive.

To celebrate National Swine Day in December, the Swine Farmer Association together with Kasetsart University, an institute well-known for its agriculture studies and making students wear an anti-cheating helmet, will throw a “Swine Beauty Queen” pageant contest for women.

We are disgusted and angry.

The promo poster, featuring a pretty plus-size woman, was released yesterday on the official Facebook page of Department of Livestock that is sponsoring the event, and instantly went viral for the obvious reason — Thais tagging and poking fun of their friends to show some tough love.

Besides the basic rules that contestants must weigh over 90 kilograms and must be Thai-national women, the poster states they must not have “socially stigmatized or unhealthy diseases such as diabetes.”

To fill in stereotypes about fat people, the participating ladies “must have knowledge about swines and love eating them” and “have a great sense of humor”.

Seriously.

The contest will be held on Dec. 5 at Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus in Nakhon Prathom province. The winner gets a prize worth THB100,000.

Thailand is known for its narrow beauty standards where the same thin body type, vapid look, and white skin color are shown in the media. This results in body-image issues for young girls who opt for insane beauty products such as chlorine whitening soap and deadly diet pills to achieve the look society appreciates.

While the nation is better known for dark skin shaming and its economy is boosted by the skin-whitening industry, we seemed to be making some progress when tan-skinned Nonthawan “Maeya” Thongleng, became a sensation last year for winning Miss Thailand World.

However, when it comes to body types, there has not been a plus-size woman who is presented as “attractive” in the entertainment industry as they’re stuck with playing the roles of a funny friend or a maid on television.

Talented figures with larger body types such as The Voice coach Jennifer Kim admitted she has gone through a liposuction to help with her career while Zeenam Soonthorn, recognizable Academy Fantasia 2004 contestant, made a comeback this year after she lost about 30 kilograms.

Apparently, there is no place for the curvy ladies in this country.