Horror in Hungary: A beauty pageant for plastic princesses

Cosmetic surgery, as I’ve reported before, is hotter than ever among Americans – especially women. And while I’m sure many a Miss America has gone under the knife, lipo-tube or botulism syringe before her big day, Hungarians are taking cosmetic “enhancement” to a new level. They’ve actually got a crown and sash reserved especially for Miss Plastic Hungary.

I wish so much that this was a joke. But we’re seriously discussing an awards ceremony for women who spent money – during a massive economic crisis, no less – to plasticize and modify their own bodies. This “night for unnatural beauties,” held yesterday in Budapest, is an effort by Hungarian cosmetic surgeons to promote the – supposed – benefits of breast enhancement, collagen injections and other tweaks and tinkers to one’s physical form. Hungarian plastic surgeon Dr. Tamas Rozsos credits the event with empowering women to be normal:

“This about restoring harmony … eliminating asymmetries and giving women the opportunity to have normal features….Plastic surgery has a bad reputation in Hungary but its mostly due to the exaggerations.”

So maybe not every woman walking into a plastic surgeon’s office is looking for a 32DD. But since when are physical asymmetries something to be ashamed of? And since when are our physical characteristics and unique, identifying features disharmonious? I’d be more offended at Hungary, if Americans weren’t the brains behind Extreme Makeover. Sigh.

The 18 participants in Miss Plastic Hungary were required to prove that they’d had some kind of cosmetic enhancement if they wanted to compete. Contestants ranged from fire fighters to strippers, with a “special” category for women over 30 (because, you know, the old broads probably needed a few more tweaks than us hot young things).

Although this is the first year that Hungary’s hosted the plastic surgery celebration, the country has long been a hot locale for Europeans seeking bigger busts and smaller bellies, thanks to cheaper rates. Hungarian surgeons even offer “tourist packages” including airfare, hotel accommodation and the procedure of your choice. Plus, Hungary’s got a nice little privatized health care system running alongside the public, tax-payer programs. So if you’ve got the cash, you can have your boobs bumped up before Christmas.