A 93-year-old great grandmother, Tova Ringer was awarded with ‘Miss Holocaust Survivor’ on Sunday in an Isreali beauty pageant, held for the women who had endured the horrors of the Nazi genocide, Reuters reported.
The event was held in Haifa, where a dozen contestants took part in the competition.
Several generations of relatives, along with well wishers cheered and snapped pictures, highlighting the concept behind the show that it bestows glamour and honour on those whose youth was stolen in wartime Europe.
“I’m very happy, it is something special,” Tova Ringer told Reuters. Ringer lost her parents, four sisters and a grandmother in the Auschwitz death camp.
I wouldn’t believe that at my age, I can be a beauty.Tova Ringer, Miss Holocaust Survivor
Other contestants taking part were one retired gynecologist and a gas technician – both 81. The youngest contestant in the competition was a 74 year old teacher.
The event has often faced flak as it kind of cheapens the horrific memory of 6 million Jews killed by the Nazi’s. However, one German spectator termed the event as a ‘wonderful celebration’.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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