Libya Names U.S. Beauty Contestant as Consul (Great Pics)

Reuters ^ | January 8, 2002

[Shermy]

TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya, which has been trying to thaw relations with Washington, has given a U.S. beauty contestant citizenship and named her as honorary consul to the United States. The Libyan news agency Jana said Tuesday Libya had named Tecca Zendik, a U.S. citizen who lives in the United States, to the post at an official ceremony in Tripoli Sunday at which she was also granted citizenship and a Libyan passport.

"Libya was convinced Zendik would play an effective role in the service of relations with the United States," it quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying at the ceremony.

Libya under Muammar Gaddafi remains on the U.S. list of states that sponsor terrorism and rapprochement has proved elusive despite its improving relations with Britain and other European countries.

Zendik went to Tripoli in November as the U.S. contestant in a beauty pageant, Miss Net World, whose winner -- British model Lucy Layton -- was chosen by votes via the Internet.

At Sunday's ceremony Zendik pledged to work for peace, telling Libyan officials that she and many Americans oppose wars and yearn for friendly links with other peoples, Jana said.

[Shermy]

Photo Newsline for 29 of October, 2002: meeting with Ghadafi

Miss @ Net USA Tecca Zendik and Colonel Ghadafi

What a neck! She's certainly no Billy Carter.

Apparently the pageant was last November. I guess Zendik remained a guest of the Colonel thereafter.

[Shermy]

Wacky Kadaffy Ping.

[Shermy]

Here's a background story from November.

Gaddafi nets beauties

[Zathras]

Looks like he's taking lessons from The Klintoon.

[prisoner6]

Oh MAN! You left out the best picture!

The caption claims she's crying after hearing Mommar tell about how the US bombed his house. Personally I think it had more to do with what he whispered in her ear as she held a cleverly disguised box of cigars in her lap.

I'll bet Mommar and Bubba could swap some pretty interesting stories.<p. prisoner6

[dead]

He's become practically cuddly since we blew his house up.

Looks like a friendly "world music" star. Like Salif Keita or something.

[r9etb]

From a link to a NY Times story:

''There weren't any swimsuits in the pageant. We didn't even get to wear something revealing. The first part of the show they gave us traditional Libyan dresses; they were very long and three sizes too big. In the second part, we were wearing military outfits: combat trousers and T-shirts with Qaddafi's picture. I didn't like my outfit, but the choreography was nice. I didn't win. I wasn't even one of the 10 in the finals. But they wore black cocktail dresses.''

[pabianice]

I notice he hasn't used his arm much since a Tomahawk came through his bedroom window a few years back...

[prisoner6]

LOL! Looking at the pictures I was thinking the exact same thing!

priosner6

[Mr. K]

Ronnie knew how to handle terrorists...

[Mr. K]

Ronnie knew how to handle terrorists...

[Delbert]

Kadaffi is quite the flashy dresser isn't he? What does he live in a tent or something?

[Delbert]

Man that chick has a long neck...is she one those women that puts metal hoops around her neck every month until eventually they look like a friggin giraffe? hmmmm

[JoeSixPack1]

When did the USA start allowing dual citizenship?

Guaddafi spits at us again.

[Shermy]

Airhead or...Super Spy!

I'm tending to the former...

[JoeSixPack1]

any more choices? :-)

[Shermy]

Oh, yeah. I forgot that one.

[LBGA]

Who is on the t-shirts those girls are wearing???

Is that Tourist Guy?

[JoeSixPack1]

waaait a minute. What one?? I miss something? I inferred something ? Who's on first?

[RIGHT IN SEATTLE]

I love the resin furniture.