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Despot Style
President Aleksandr Lukashenko
 BETTER TO LOOK GOOD THAN TO FEEL GOOD For Lukashenko (pictured here with tennis star Olga Barabanschikova), beauty contests are the answer to abject poverty COUNTRY: Belarus REIGN OF TERROR: 1994–present HOW HE BROKE INTO THE BUSINESS: Elected by popular vote Belarus's dour leader, Alexander Lukashenko, may rarely be seen in anything more than a somber dark gray suit, but in his country he dictates style. For some reason the man known as "Europe's Last Dictator" is fond of legislating on the basis of beauty and fashion. The Belarusian bully has banned printed ads featuring foreign models such as Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell from appearing in his country—an attempt to promote local beauties. All models wishing to appear in an ad in the glorious nation of Belarus are required to provide proof of Belarusian citizenship. We have all heard well-meaning beauty contestants chirp that they are trying to help the poor or save the world, but who takes them seriously? Europe's Last Dictator, that's who. In 2002, he decided that the beauty contests would be the best thing for his poverty-stricken nation and decreed that the government stage such events around his country. His goal: "The aesthetic and spiritual education of young people." Oh, and let them eat borscht.
12/01/06
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