The highly acclaimed documentary follows Anastasia Lin as she stands up for her beliefs on the world’s stage. This eye-opening glimpse into the story that made headlines across the world, when Lin was denied from competing in the Miss World pageant in China, will be available on DVD and VOD for the first time on July 23, 2019.
Directed by Theresa Kowall-Shipp and told by Lin herself, along with her friends, family and supporters, the film follows the inspirational story of how Anastasia Lin used her passion, intellect and beauty along with the platform of an international beauty pageant to stand up to an oppressive regime.
Anastasia burst onto front pages when her father, living in China, was threatened by Chinese security forces because of Anastasia’s public stance on China’s human rights violations. Unbeknownst to her, she had been declared ‘persona non grata’ by authorities preventing her to represent Canada at the 2015 Miss World Pageant in Sanya, China. Her attempt to enter the country landed her on the front page of The New York Times, an appearance on CNN and articles in Der Spiegel, Cosmopolitan and other major media outlets. Despite not being able to compete in the finals that year, Anastasia became the beauty queen who captured the world’s attention. Drama, danger and fear followed her as she used her platform to bring the world’s attention to the Chinese Regime’s persecution and forced organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience. All of this occurred while Anastasia dealt with the heartbreak of endangering her own father’s life—choosing between speaking out and staying silent was a constant dilemma.
Invited again to represent Canada at the 2016 Miss World Finals, this time held in Washington D.C., Anastasia was ultimately silenced by the Miss World organization, a British corporation with numerous Chinese business ties. During the pageant, press clamored for interviews while Anastasia faced increased pressure as her father’s situation worsened. Prevented by the Miss World organization from going to the media to shine a spotlight on the persecution, which had become the only way to protect her father, Anastasia contemplated dropping out of the pageant. Anastasia put everything, including her father’s safety and a chance at the crown, on the line to stay true to her conscience.
Badass Beauty Queen: The Story of Anastasia Lin will be available to buy on DVD for $12.99 and on digital for an SRP of $4.99 – $9.99. Rent or buy across all platforms on July 23, 2019.