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While Catholic school girls have long garnered attention from the opposite sex, their habit-wearing teachers have never been known for their sex appeal. Nuns seem to be OK with that -- after all, one doesn't pursue an austere life because she wants to get whistles from construction workers.

But an enterprising Italian priest is now hoping to cast a spotlight on the sisterhood by holding the first beauty pageant exclusively for nuns called "Miss Sister Italy."

"Nuns are above all women and beauty is a gift from God," said priest Antonio Rungi of the southern Italian diocese of Modragone. "This contest will be a way to show there isn't just the beauty we see on television but also a more discrete charm."

In true 21st-century fashion, nuns who want to participate can send their pictures to Rungi, who will publish it on his blog to be voted on. He claims the nuns themselves have been clamoring for such a pageant, and he expects 1,000 participants.

A swimsuit segment and other deliciously sacrilegious competitions are, unfortunately, not in the works.

UPDATE: Father Rungi was forced to suspend the contest at the urging of his superiors. He claims that his attempt to highlight nuns' "interior beauty" was mistaken for a competition based solely on physicality.

Want to see some astoundingly weird beauty pageants from around the world? Take a look below.

Weirdest Pageants of the World

    Miss Klingon Empire Beauty Pageant
    She might look like a horrifying battle ax to you, but all the guys at the Star Trek convention were asking for her number.

    trek-trek.com

    Miss Outdoor Life
    During the talent portion of this Maryland pageant contestants skin muskrats. Beauty queens and skinned varmint -- what's better than that?

    misterirrelevant.com

    International Bottom Championship
    First place gets 10,000 dollars, an underwear modeling contract and, curiously, an insurance policy on her winning assets. (In case her new found life of luxury leads to a terrible bidet accident, we're guessing)

    Daily Telegraph

    Miss Wheelchair America
    Scandal hit Miss Wheelchair America in 2005 when Miss Wheelchair Wisconsin was removed from the pageant after photos of her standing were leaked to the press. Seriously.

    Sergei Supinski, AFP / Getty Images

    Miss Gothic
    You won't find a spray tan or an evening dress that isn't black at this contest to find the gloomiest beauty.

    Patrick Fitzgerald, kambriel.com

    Miss Hooker
    Miss Hooker competitors aren't actually working girls. Instead they are sending up typical beauty contest mores by dressing slutty, displaying off-beat talents -- such as frying an egg while stripping -- and competing under names like Ms. Squirt and Ms. One Dolla No Holla.

    laweekly.com

    Miss Plastic Surgery
    Started after a woman was kicked out of Miss Beijing for having had plastic surgery, contestants in this Chinese pageant need a note from their doctor confirming that they have had alterations.

    Frederic J. Brown, AFP / Getty Images

    Miss Pregnant
    We're guessing if any of these lovelies end up pumping out a girl the poor thing will be on the creepy child beauty pageant circuit the day she is able to stand upright.

    youtube.com

    Miss Subway
    Between 1941 and 1976 Miss Subway was a New York City mass transit staple, with commuters voting on a group of contenders whose posters and biographies were placed inside of subway cars. It was brought back as a one-off pageant in 2004.

    Bebeto Matthews, AP

    Miss Exotic World Pageant
    It's pasties, thongs and "sophisticated" striptease at this annual event to crown the year's best burlesque performer.

    David McNew, Getty Images