Egyptian protests trip up Miss Germany pageant preparations
Historic demonstrations in Egypt may not have toppled President Hosni Mubarak yet, but on Wednesday they did claim one glamorous victim: preparations for the "Miss Germany" beauty pageant.
Twenty-four candidates for the coveted title arrived in the Red Sea tourist resort of Hurghada last week for 10 days of catwalk and photoshoot training, topping up their suntans and relaxing.
But now, 17 to 24-year-olds are going home to continue their training in their distinctly chillier homeland, because their families are worried, a spokeswoman for the contest told AFP.
"We have received lots of phone calls (from family members) who have seen the images from Cairo and who are concerned," Ines Klemmer, one of the organisers, said by phone from Hurghada.
"So they are being repatriated tomorrow (Thursday), instead of on Saturday."
This is despite the fact there is no sign on the sun-kissed beaches of the Red Sea of the unrest raging for the past nine days throughout the Arab world's most populous country.
"It's completely calm here. There are no problems, everything is running according to plan," Klemmer said.
AFP/ka
Comments
See Also
Twenty-four candidates for the coveted title arrived in the Red Sea tourist resort of Hurghada last week for 10 days of catwalk and photoshoot training, topping up their suntans and relaxing.
But now, 17 to 24-year-olds are going home to continue their training in their distinctly chillier homeland, because their families are worried, a spokeswoman for the contest told AFP.
"We have received lots of phone calls (from family members) who have seen the images from Cairo and who are concerned," Ines Klemmer, one of the organisers, said by phone from Hurghada.
"So they are being repatriated tomorrow (Thursday), instead of on Saturday."
This is despite the fact there is no sign on the sun-kissed beaches of the Red Sea of the unrest raging for the past nine days throughout the Arab world's most populous country.
"It's completely calm here. There are no problems, everything is running according to plan," Klemmer said.
AFP/ka
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.