Beauty School (I): Bulgar "Mini-Beauties" Reach Local Market

Via Gold Circle tipster A.B. we get this preposterous story from the Sofia News Agency about something called the Little Prince & Princess of the Universe 2006, which was supposedly held in Budapest and featured "30 mini models from all over the world." As for why a story about a Budapest beauty pageant would be big news in Bulgaria - the answer is that - surprise! - the top tykes were all Bulgarian. In addition to the eight-year-old Simona Dimova (left), who was crowned "Little Princess of the Universe 2006," other little Bulgars took home the honors for "Little Prince" and "Best Talent," something they will remember with joy until the day they die, or hit 14, whichever comes first.

Reading a bit further, the entire contest - surprise again! - appears to be the work of a Bulgarian modeling agency, which the story says last month "picked up its newest mini beauties, aged from as small as three to as old as 14." Which also may explain why they decided to have the contest in Budapest; once little Simona and her fellow "mini-beauties" hit their sell-by date of 14, the agency can probably get a much better price for them in Hungary.