BRUSSELS – Judges in Belgium have crowned this year’s Miss Homeless!

The Miss Homeless Belgium competition was created to bring more attention to the plight of the homeless. The winner of the pageant receives free accomodation for a year!

Ten women competed in five sections of the pageant, including an interview where judges assessed each woman’s “will to get themselves out of a difficult situation.”

Therese Van Belle, 58, was judged the winner. She is pictured below holding a dog, alongside the other contestants.

Contest organizer Aline Duportail said, “It was about the contestants’ inner strength and determination to get themselves out of their old life and on a new path.”

However, women’s rights groups were outraged over the contest. Said activist Jacqueline Aubenas, “I am outraged. These girls turned into puppets parodying their own life. Absolutely pathetic.”