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CHINA - The organizers of a controversial auto show in which girls as young as 5 paraded in bikinis has dismissed criticism from netizens, saying such events are "natural" and common in China.
Photos of young girls posing in swimwear at the Chutian Auto Culture Festival in Wuhan, Hubei province, on Friday, have been widely circulated and discussed online.
Many Web users expressed anger at the hosts and parents, accusing them of exploiting the children for profit.
However, Zhang Ping, general manager of the event's organizers, 7-Wind Model Costume Co, said the goal was purely to help the children "boost their courage" and no organisation or individual made money from the show.
"If you type the key words 'children' and 'bikini' into an Internet search engine, you'll find tens of thousands of results for child bikini contests," she said on Sunday. "It's natural for kids to wear bikinis and other things they like."
She said only two 5-year-olds wore bikinis, both with the permission of their parents.
The company has hosted several child-modeling competitions, none of which have drawn such criticism, Zhang said, although she said that auto show models have become a sensitive topic.
"But the public should not be fussy, as it's natural for children to wear bikinis at modeling contests," Zhang said.
Shang Xiaoyuan, a professor at Beijing Normal University and an expert on child welfare, said she believes having a child expose their body in public is offensive.
"Auto shows try too hard to attract customers with sexy, female models, which sends a negative message that the female form is a marketing tool," she said. "When children appear at auto shows posing in bikinis, it implants such an idea in their minds and is harmful for their development."
Outcry over young bikini-clad girl models at car show
Click on thumbnails to view. (Photos: AFP & Internet) |
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China cracks down on flesh-baring auto show models
Click on thumbnail to view. (Photos: Internet) |
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China criticises car show for scantily clad models
Click on thumbnail to view. (Photos: Internet) |
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