but the swimsuits the Venezuelan pageant folks chose this year were just plain u-g-l-y. (I actually watched it on Univision, while channel-surfing.)
Posted on 09/24/2007 8:22:50 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
CARACAS (Reuters) - President Hugo Chavez railed against a new trend in beauty-conscious Venezuela, giving girls breast implants for their 15th birthday.
"Now some people think, 'My daughter's turning 15, let's give her breast enlargements.' That's horrible. It's the ultimate degeneration," Chavez said late on Sunday on his weekly TV show that lasted a record eight hours.
Venezuela is well known for its beauty queens, who have regularly won world crowns, and many women have plastic surgery in the oil-rich country where there is widespread spending on consumer items that would be considered luxuries elsewhere.
But Chavez, the anti-U.S., self-styled revolutionary who came to office in 1999, is seeking to change those attitudes to create what he calls the "new man" to build a socialist society in this South American nation.
Chavez complained about the new fad of giving the plastic surgery operation at 15 -- when Latin Americans celebrate a girl's coming-of-age -- during a diatribe against what he says are Western-imposed consumerist icons such as Barbie dolls.
While breast implants are advertised on TV and banks offer special credit lines for such operations, if girls do get the enlargements they are not expected to become sexually active afterward.
Venezuelans' have a habit of avid consumerism since the 1970s oil boom in the OPEC nation. They have won the nickname of the "Give-Me-Twos" in the tourist destination of Florida for buying double the amount of typical consumers.
Breast implants cost thousands of dollars in Venezuela.
Chavez's answer? He has told his supporters to give away any extra goods they do not need, urging them to leave out in town squares items such as fans or refrigerators.
"I am calling on your conscience, fathers of this country, mothers of this country, they are our sons, they are our daughters," Chavez said.
Still, Chavez, who happily describes himself as ugly, may struggle to change Venezuelans' mind-set to spending on plastic surgery.
In elevators, at huge, jam-packed shopping malls, women can be overheard openly boasting about their recent, conspicuous operations.
(Additional reporting by Patricia Rondon)
Chavez is just upset because his breasts are real.
I’m female, so I’m looking at her bad nose job.
but the swimsuits the Venezuelan pageant folks chose this year were just plain u-g-l-y. (I actually watched it on Univision, while channel-surfing.)
She has a nose? Wow.
I hear tell that if you have enough money or are sitting in a prison in S.F. they can make a “he” look like that, so you might be correct in your first post.
That’s the number graduation gift for girls in Italy.
Yeah the people can starve wile he lives figuratively in the Palace of Versallies..!
Right just becuase of their consciences, give away their property!..
I traveled to Peru this summer, and the women are simply stunning! It is no wonder that the Miss Universe winner usually comes from South America.
Folks, read between the lines here. Don’t get sucked in by this story. Chavez is trying to give the impression that Venezuelans are so affluent that they are able to afford to give their children breast jobs. This is a lie of Hugo proportions. Millions upon millions live in abject poverty in that country. So he makes up this clever story, perhaps based on one or two actual cases, and he is now using it to give the impression that Venezuela is paved in gold.
I hate that I agree with a Communist thug on this issue, but I do.
I hate when that happens!
No only I agree with him, I like him saying it.
I don't like everything in this country either, oh well.. :)
OOOF!
Real beauty.
In fact, I have the transcript of his speech right here:
“People of Venezuela. I have an uplifting announcement for our daughters. Many of you have been in your cups for not being able to fill out your role as young women. Let me enlarge your prospects with this firmly rounded announcement. Never again will you have to worry about whether or not you have earned only an A or a B in life. Never should you worry about padding your resume. Let us nip and tuck those worries right now. As president, I have decreed that a new equality for all women. Let not our attention sag and waver! From this moment, and forever, all breasts are equal.”
Holy smokes ... I actually agree with that creep on something.
“She has a nose? Wow.”
LOL!
Yup.
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