Disability beauty contest aims to break barriers

Here’s one of those things I don’t know what to say about.

It is a beauty contest complete with a swimsuit round. But all the contestants in the latest reality format to sweep ratings-hungry broadcasters have a disability.
Contestants must display a “handicap visible to the eye� in Miss Ability, a Dutch show that became the surprise hit of 2006 in the Netherlands.
Twelve women, including amputees and wheelchair-bound contestants, parade in nightgowns and bathing suits.

I’m not so into beauty pageants, but this actually seems kind of cool–at least in terms of redefining beauty standards. The producers of Miss Ability say that the show isn’t patronize women who are differently abled and are aiming to break down barriers:

But the prospectus does not suggest sensitivity. It reads: “Ever whistled at a woman in a wheelchair? Checked out the boobs of a blind babe? If the answer’s ‘no’, this barrier-breaking show will put an end to that.�

Controversial, no doubt. Progressive? Not sure. Thoughts?