Conquer Club

Anastasia Lin, the winner of Miss World Canada, says that she has been denied the right to compete in this year's Miss World competition because she has spoken out about Chinese human rights abuses.

The 25-year-old Chinese-born actress did not receive an invitation letter from the Chinese government that would allow her to take part in the Miss World competition this December in Sanya, China.

Without the letter Lin is unable to apply for a visa, and because the opening ceremony is on 23 November, the opportunity to compete is fading fast. The deadline to receive the letter came and went on Friday.

"Miss World's official line is that if I don't make it to the opening ceremony, I probably can't enter this year. If I'm a few days late it might be OK, but the window is closing. At this point I don't want to give up," Lin told the BBC.

Other contestants received their letters at the end of October.

Since winning the crown in May, Lin was praised by many for her outspoken opposition to China's record of human rights violations. She has particularly focused on defending Falun Gong, a spiritual group that the Chinese government regards as a cult.

Chinese law allows for the arrest of anyone suspected of supporting religious movements that aren't approved by the state.

Lin's moved from China to Canada in 2003. Her interest in human rights began when she heard the stories of other Chinese citizens who said they were targeted by the government.

She has since performed in films about the abuse of Falun Gong members and spoken about the subject to a US Congressional committee in July.

Ike Lalji, chief executive of Miss World Canada, has said that Canada won't send a runner-up to China if Lin is unable to attend as it would be too late since training starts on Saturday

Lin says that she has spoken to former Chinese Miss World contestants who agree with her stance on China's human rights policies, but didn't want to speak out for fear of risking their own ability to get a visa.
"I'm not speaking without fear, as I've seen the repercussions," Lin says.

After she won the competition earlier this year, Lin's father was contacted by Chinese security forces. They threatened that there would be consequences if Lin continued to speak out. As her father still lives in China, Lin is concerned.

"Dad's really scared. He doesn't really dare to talk to me as he worries his phone is tapped. He doesn't speak his mind anymore."

However, she wants to use her position with Miss World to highlight the issue and defend the Chinese people's right to free speech.

"I'm alone and don't even have any family around me, so it's very difficult. Miss World is an international organisation, and if organisations like this don't speak up against the bullying of their own contestants it will continue. China knows it works and they'll just use it again and again until someone stands up to them."
Regardless of whether Lin gains the right to compete or not, she has said that she will use her position to speak out for human rights. After failing to receive papers on Friday, she is considering a petition to protest against the decision.

"If I'm able to go to China, I want the people to see me. They already know about me and my story as they can go around the firewall. I want them to see I've been true to my conscience, and that they can do it too."

The BBC approached Miss World Canada and the Chinese Consulates in Toronto and Ottawa for a comment but did not receive a response.

Dukasaur wrote:Some countries aren't afraid of criticism. Canada has never denied a visa to Bono despite his ceaseless bleating about how we're denying AIDS medicine to Africans. But I guess China The CCP is just a little more insecure.

Dukasaur wrote:Some countries aren't afraid of criticism. Canada has never denied a visa to Bono despite his ceaseless bleating about how we're denying AIDS medicine to Africans. But I guess China is just a little more insecure.

CTV News wrote: U2 frontman Bono visited Parliament Hill on Monday, thanking Canadians for their contributions to global development and asking politicians to do more.

“I actually want to thank Canada for its generosity, particularly to vulnerable women and children,” the rock star told reporters. “It’s amazing work that you’re doing,”

“Of course, we’d like you to do more,” he added. “If you ask any leader, I’m the person who is always asking for more. But I think it’s important right now to say thank you for what you’re doing.”

mrswdk wrote:

Dukasaur wrote:Some countries aren't afraid of criticism. Canada has never denied a visa to Bono despite his ceaseless bleating about how we're denying AIDS medicine to Africans. But I guess China is just a little more insecure.

There's a difference between saying it would be nice if Canada could give more money to foreign countries, and promoting the cause of an organization which is banned from operating in Canada over security concerns.

And in any case, from this June:

[quote=CTV News] U2 frontman Bono visited Parliament Hill on Monday, thanking Canadians for their contributions to global development and asking politicians to do more.

“I actually want to thank Canada for its generosity, particularly to vulnerable women and children,” the rock star told reporters. “It’s amazing work that you’re doing,”

“Of course, we’d like you to do more,” he added. “If you ask any leader, I’m the person who is always asking for more. But I think it’s important right now to say thank you for what you’re doing.”

mrswdk wrote:She looks like a piglet.

mrswdk wrote:1 - she is not Chinese. If she was Chinese she would not have to apply for a visa to visit China.

2 - my comments on her looks have nothing to do with her activism. It's perfectly possible for someone to be hot and also stupid. I just happen to think she is not very attractive, a position you would quite probably agree with if you weren't nursing a 20-year boner.

rishaed wrote:

mrswdk wrote:1 - she is not Chinese. If she was Chinese she would not have to apply for a visa to visit China.

2 - my comments on her looks have nothing to do with her activism. It's perfectly possible for someone to be hot and also stupid. I just happen to think she is not very attractive, a position you would quite probably agree with if you weren't nursing a 20-year boner.

Apparently You haven't read the article. She most definitely is CHINESE. Just because you live in the UK, and probably have citizenship in the UK does not make you suddenly not ethnically chinese does it wdk?

For Chinese People who think paleness is supposed to be pretty, I also don't understand your position, but whatever. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so i'm not gonna debate with you about that.

mrswdk wrote:

rishaed wrote:

mrswdk wrote:1 - she is not Chinese. If she was Chinese she would not have to apply for a visa to visit China.

2 - my comments on her looks have nothing to do with her activism. It's perfectly possible for someone to be hot and also stupid. I just happen to think she is not very attractive, a position you would quite probably agree with if you weren't nursing a 20-year boner.

Apparently You haven't read the article. She most definitely is CHINESE. Just because you live in the UK, and probably have citizenship in the UK does not make you suddenly not ethnically chinese does it wdk?

Ethnicity and nationality are not the same thing. Was Tupac an African? Is George Bush a European?

For Chinese People who think paleness is supposed to be pretty, I also don't understand your position, but whatever. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so i'm not gonna debate with you about that.

Paleness is pretty. Facial features are also important though. She looks good (albeit old-fashioned) in the third photo that jim posted just now, but in the others she really isn't someone that would be considered attractive in China.

rishaed wrote:But thats like saying that once you immigrate to another country you no longer belong or identify with the previous countries people.

rishaed wrote:

mrswdk wrote:

rishaed wrote:

mrswdk wrote:1 - she is not Chinese. If she was Chinese she would not have to apply for a visa to visit China.

2 - my comments on her looks have nothing to do with her activism. It's perfectly possible for someone to be hot and also stupid. I just happen to think she is not very attractive, a position you would quite probably agree with if you weren't nursing a 20-year boner.

Apparently You haven't read the article. She most definitely is CHINESE. Just because you live in the UK, and probably have citizenship in the UK does not make you suddenly not ethnically chinese does it wdk?

Ethnicity and nationality are not the same thing. Was Tupac an African? Is George Bush a European?

For Chinese People who think paleness is supposed to be pretty, I also don't understand your position, but whatever. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so i'm not gonna debate with you about that.

Paleness is pretty. Facial features are also important though. She looks good (albeit old-fashioned) in the third photo that jim posted just now, but in the others she really isn't someone that would be considered attractive in China.

But thats like saying that once you immigrate to another country you no longer belong or identify with the previous countries people. Also Tupac and George Bush are bad examples, because of the generation gap from the original immigration of the ancestors. Ms. Lin isn't. She immigrated in 2003 (In her lifetime) and has family in China. So by your own standards, because you live in the UK and most likely have the nationality of English you are not chinese. Congratulations, you can stop defending the CCP.
Also European isn't technically an ethnicity.

jimboston wrote:

mrswdk wrote:She looks like a piglet.

Yeah.... really like a piglet.

You're such a hypocrite.

Criticizing her looks because she tells the truth about your beloved Chinese Gov't. She's more Chinese than you can ever hope to be. Her criticizing the Chinese Gov't is a sign of her strength and evidence of her love for her fellow Chinese people. Her love for her people is obvious.

Dukasaur wrote:1. When you move to a new country you don't magically lose all connection to your old country, especially if you still have family there.

2. She's a cutie. You'd recognise that if your political prejudice wasn't blinding you.

iAmCaffeine wrote:She ugly.

muy_thaiguy wrote:Don't forget, she defends the dreaded cult of Falun Gong! Which centers around the dreaded aspects of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance! Just SO terrible! And how do these devious people show the way they practice?

By light stretches, not far different from yoga. But in public!

And to think this was once endorsed by the CCP.

iAmCaffeine wrote:She ugly.