NTV’s “Inspired by Grace” host Grace Msalame has threatened to take legal action against Miss Curvy Uganda for using her image without her authorization.
The mother of two said that the use of her image and likeness to “promote and encourage the violation of women’s bodies” has caused her harm.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Ms Msalame added that she was unaware of the competition and the use of her image.
https://twitter.com/GraceMsalame/status/1093469861026635776
“I take great exception to the fact that my image and likeness are being used to propagate, disseminate and encourage the objectification of women’s bodies. I do not endorse or agree with such a message,” she said.
Msalame also noted that the ongoing discussion around the Miss Curvy Uganda pageant and her association with it has defamed her brand.
“Miss Curvy Uganda’s deliberate and calculated use of my image and likeliness to promote and encourage violation of women’s bodies has defamed my character and reputation, damaged a brand I have worked for many years to establish, and subjected me to unwarranted and undeserved cyber bullying,” she added.
Miss Curvy pageant was launched on Wednesday by Uganda’s Minister for Tourism Godfrey Kiwanda as he added curvy, sexy women to the list of “tourist attractions.”
The country raked in $1.4 billion last year from tourists alone. This move, Mr Kiwanda added will see the revenue grow.
Read: Hacked Again? Obscene Image Posted On Zari’s Instagram Page (Photo)
Critics have viewed it as a means of objectifying women hence an online petition seeking to have the pageant cancelled.
Primrose Nyonyozi Murungi has petitioned the government to cancel the pageant which she denotes, is meant to objectify women.
“It’s 2019 ladies and gentlemen. And a whole board of tourism sat down, discussed and decided to actually pass something like this. Those were men and women with daughters at home. Those were gentlemen married to “curvy” women and dating them. Those were men and women with “curvy” sisters, mothers and friends who sat and actually passed this,” she complained.
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