A woman who underwent plastic surgery for a beauty pageant was kicked out of the contest because of the surgery, the Beijing Youth Daily reported Sunday.

Yang Yuan, the plastic beauty, might sue organizers of the Miss Intercontinental, which disqualified her from the finals, said Yang and her lawyer Chen Huagang at a press conference in Beijing on Saturday.

Chen said the organizers discriminated against people who underwent plastic surgery.

Yang told the press conference that she had 11 facial operations at a cost of 110,000 yuan (US$13,414) in order to win the contest. However, she denied covering up her surgery history.

Zhao Chaofeng, spokesperson for the contest, said organizers did not forbid "plastic beauties" from taking part in the contest. But Yang was different because her surgery changed her face completely, Zhao said.

Organizers found Yang's original face in an advertisement for a plastic surgery hospital.

If Yang won, other girls might follow her example, said Zhao. Meanwhile, letting a plastic beauty win the contest would be unfair for other participants, said Zhao.

Beijing contest organizers reported the issue to its headquarters, and Yang might be reinstated if the headquarters agreed, said Zhao.

(Shenzhen Daily  May 24, 2004)