Posted on 09/20/2010 11:43:58 AM PDT by James C. Bennett
A British private schoolgirl has caused quite a storm after she was named America's Perfect Teen.
Anysha Panesar, 16, beat a host of American beauties to win the contest while on holiday in Florida, but her victory has left families of the other contestants furious.
Parents of the American girls have protested to the organisers of the pageant, which has a 2,000-dollar first prize, and an 18,000-dollar scholarship to train as a TV broadcaster.
But Panesar has hit back, arguing that the outcry is just sour grapes.
"Some people did say I shouldn't have won because I'm British. But really I think the people who said that just said it because they didn't win," the Daily Mail quoted her as saying.
Panesar, who goes to the same private school in Cardiff that singer Charlotte Church used to attend, entered the teenage beauty pageant while at the family holiday home in Kissimmee, Florida.
The America's Perfect Teen contest, which included girls as young as 13, has a big following in the States.
The pageant's founder Michael Galanes, whose toddlers' pageant Little Miss Perfect has become a TV hit in the U.S., admitted it has caused fury.
"Yes, her win caused a bit of a stir because she is, of course, British. But that is perfectly within the rules of the competition and those people are just naysayers," he said.
"One of the judges told me they liked Anysha because she was a breath of fresh air. She has natural beauty but she isn't afraid to be a bit wild. Anysha - what a beautiful girl," he stated.
Panesar, who plans to use the scholarship to learn broadcasting in the U.S., after her A-levels, is also in talks to have her own TV show about her year as America's Perfect Teen.
What an idiot. Hey, Brit, they are bitching because you are NOT an American teen. She shouldn't have been allowed to enter.
“natural beauty”...should that read beauties?
It looks like she has a deformed upper lip.
She doesn’t look anything like the real beauty......Catherine Zeta Jones from Wales who is now an American. Aren’t we lucky to have her!!!! Yes. They can keep this perfect Teen over in Wales.
Gal is about as Irish as I am.
(Which is none, I’m 100% German/Dutch)
“Perfect” teen my arse...by the way she handled it by her arrogant remark, she’s a universe away from “perfect’.
It does? First I've heard of it....
She's British.
Stay tuned for America´s Perfect Muslim.
Welsh is not Irish. Neither is it Scots, nor British. Always remember that Wales is the ancient thumb in the eye of Britain. We’re the ones who reportedly “ate our young.” Not all of this young lady’s ancestors hail from Wales. That’s certain — immigrated there, perhaps, but her roots are not so deep. Dark hair is native to the Isle, but the rest of her features are not.
She is, however, quite lovely and will age beautifully — whether deserving of “American” teen, or not.
“natural beauty”........ Really???
British???? What? lol. Do Welsh consider themselves British? I am so confused. :) Did she go from Welsh to British and not American?
“She’s British.”
Yes, and a square is also a rectangle.
Last time I checked, Wales is still part of the UK.
Welsh by way of the Punjab.
It looks like an Elvis Presley pose to me!
As is Scotland. Try asking the Scots if they’re British. I think you will receive the same response in Wales. Being part of the UK is certainly true, but it doesn’t mean they’re British. The “United” part of the “Kingdom” is only so they won’t continue to bludgeon each other into obscurity.
So it would seem.
(Cue Donald Sutherland) "Neeee - ver heard of it."
I know, I was pointing out that she isn’t American. The Welsh are British.
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