Miss Iceland chose to withdraw from an international beauty pageant this week after she claims that the pageant’s owner fat-shamed her.
Arna Ýr Jónsdóttir, 20, was crowned Miss Iceland in 2015 and was competing in the Miss Grand International pageant, which was held Wednesday evening in Las Vegas. According to The Daily Beast, Jónsdóttir said she received a message from pageant staff that read: "Stop eating breakfast, eat just salad for lunch and drink water every evening until the contest. (The pageant owner) is telling you this because he likes you and wants you to do well in this contest."
Thai TV host Nawat Itsaragrisil, the president and owner of the pageant, confirmed to The Independent that when Jónsdóttir asked for suggestions for the finals, she was told that she was a "little bit fat" and she should try to lose some weight to improve her chances in the pageant. He said his staff give the same advice to other contestants. Itsaragrisil claimed that Jónsdóttir submitted photos of herself in which she looked slimmer and more beautiful than she did in person.
Jónsdóttir admits that she might have broader shoulders than the typical pageant contestant, but that’s because she is a pole vaulter and a member of her country’s national athletics team.
Jónsdóttir announced Sunday on social media that she was dropping out of the pageant. In a farewell letter addressed to Itsaragrisil, Jónsdóttir wrote that in her country, her body shape is perfect and that, “Miss Grand International doesn’t deserve my face, body, personality or heart.”
Jónsdóttir has received an overwhelming amount of support on social media.
Miss Indonesia Ariska Putri Pertiwi was crowned Miss Grand International 2016.
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