An Italian priest says he's organizing an online beauty pageant for nuns to give them more visibility in the Catholic church and to fight the stereotype that they're all old and dour.The "Miss Sister 2008" contest will start in September on a blog run by Father Antonio Rungi, a theologian and schoolteacher from the Naples area.
Nuns will fill out a profile of their life and vocation as well as a photograph. It will be up to them whether to pose with the traditional veil or with their heads uncovered.
Rungi said that visitors to his site will have a month to vote.
The priest said that the idea was suggested to him by nuns with whom he regularly prays and works.
"Being ugly is not a requirement for becoming a nun," Rungi said. "External beauty is gift from God, and we mustn't hide it."
