Around 1,000 candidates below the age of 25 were recently paraded onstage in swimwear in the hopes of landing an
‘air hostess’ job.
The annual competition organized by modelling agency Oriental Beauty
helps airline recruiters source "talent" where high school graduates
compete for roles as models or cabin crew. Besides having bikini bodies, the
entrants have to be young, at least 5’5” "elegant, slim, have sweet voice
and have no scars in the exposed part of their skin", according to
Oriental Beauty's website.
Women who were 5’5” would be
considered if they were supremely beautiful. In another round, candidates
had to showcase their artistic talents.
The worldwide flight attendants union, CWA (AFA) International, is not
too happy about this beauty pageant. Union president Sara Nelson said,
"We condemn those responsible for this,” and declared that it was a
“publicity stunt at the expense of women everywhere.”
But it gets worse. Apparently in China, where there is fierce
competition for airline roles, strict criteria and bizarre hazing rituals come
with the job.
At Hong Kong Airlines, they have to master kung fu. And at Kunming
Airlines,
female cabin staff are forced into overhead bins in an
initiation process to mark the employees' first 30 to 50 hours of flight
service.
Those who tried to avoid participating in the practice were deemed
uncooperative and arrogant.
Nice job, if you can get it.
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