Canadian Miss World Beauty to address the Oxford Union in England

TORONTO, Oct. 6 /CNW/ - Miss World Canada Inc announced today that Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Miss World Canada 2003 and first runner-up to Miss World 2003, has been invited to participate in two prestigious speaking engagements in England the latter part of this week; a debate at Cambridge University and an address at Oxford.

The Cambridge debate is scheduled for October 7, 2004, and the topic in question is titled, "This house believes the female of the species is more deadly than the male".

The invitation to Oxford was initiated by the Vice-President of the Oxford Union Society and it is to address the Union in their upcoming Michaelmas term on October 9, 2004.

Born in Iran, Afshin-Jam fled her homeland with her family when the Shah was overthrown by followers of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1980. An active campaigner on Third World development, the 24-year-old Politics and International Relations graduate from the University of British Columbia is enroute to the Union to speak on her views as to why "beauty competitions are still appropriate and necessary in the modern world" and on the place of women in the Middle East.

The Oxford Union remains one of the most prestigious platforms in Britain from which to speak. The Union (whose membership is drawn primarily from the University of Oxford) is the most renowned student society in the world.
Speakers they have attracted over the years have ranged from HRH Queen Elizabeth II, British Cabinet ministers, three US Presidents, Henry Kissinger, Mother Teresa, Michael Jackson and even Clint Eastwood to innumerable academics, authors and artistes. Winston Churchill warned of Hitler's aggression there; Richard Nixon made his first post-resignation apology for Watergate; Malcolm X demanded black empowerment "by any means necessary"; while OJ Simpson continued to protest his innocence.

"Nazanin worked diligently throughout 2003 to promote Miss World Canada and has traveled extensively across Canada and around the world during her reign. She is the most-traveled Canadian titleholder in history, having made appearances on five continents. These honoured speaking engagements serve to further exemplify her accomplishments and commitment to fulfilling the Miss World creed of 'Beauty with a Purpose'", said MWC President Connie McNaughton.