More than 20 women have signed up for what is likely to be the world's first pageant for surgically enhanced beauties, which is to be held in China in November.

Participants come not just from China, but also from South Korea, Japan and Malaysia.

To ensure that no one is cheating, all contestants will have to present certification from their doctors proving that they have indeed gone under the knife.

But at the same time, perhaps in an effort to prevent bungled rush jobs, the organizer also requires that all participating "man-made beauties" had their last surgery no later than the end of May.

Among the 20 or so participants, the record for most extensive surgery goes to a resident of northern Hebei Province, who has been operated on 13 times to achieve the looks of her dreams.

Earlier this week, another artificial beauty, 18-year-old Yang Yuan, was told by a Beijing court she was not entitled to compensation for emotional damage after being kicked out of the Miss Intercontinental Contest for having had plastic surgery.
 
(CRI.com July 24, 2004)