Controversy erupted on Thursday when Naumoska, 19, was selected as one of 32 finalists from a pool of 7,000 pageant hopefuls to compete in Australia’s Miss Universe contest – a contest that reportedly promotes, “healthy, proportioned, bodies,” according to Reuters.
Naumoska, who is 5 ft. 11 in. tall and weighs just 108 lbs, had a body mass index of just 15.1.
Australian dietitian Melanie McGrice told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph that her size is alarming and should require medical attention.
“The World Health Authority rates people with a BMI of less than 18 as malnourished,’’ she told the paper. “She would be categorized as underweight and I would certainly want to be doing an assessment of her diet to make sure she doesn’t have some type of eating disorder. With a BMI like that, she needs blood tests, diet analysis and an overall assessment.’’
Naumoska responded to critics on Thursday, telling Australia’s Herald Sun newspaper, “I think it is very unfair that I have been criticized that I’m too skinny. I have never been anorexic or bulimic I don’t throw up my meals after I eat them I don’t starve myself, none of that. I eat six to eight healthy meals a day.”
Adding, “I have been modeling since I was 13 and have a lot of friends who are really tall and skinny. It is just the way that our bodies are.’’
Naumoska was beat by a 20-year-old television presenter and model Rachael Finch, however, for the title and the chance to represent her country in the Miss Universe pageant.
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