Physiognomy ignominy

Today's Metro had this article excerpted from this month's issue of Elle Canada. I can't find an HTML version at either site, so here's an image of it yanked from the PDF version of Metro.



Non-Canadians and/or the politically apathetic might not know why this article had me laughing out loud on the subway. I'll let the Wikipedia article on Belinda Stronach tell you why:

In 2004, she entered the race for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada, which she lost to Stephen Harper. In the 2004 federal election, she was elected Conservative MP for the riding of Newmarket—Aurora, north of Toronto. On May 17, 2005, she crossed the floor of the House from the Conservatives to the governing Liberals. It was simultaneously announced that she would join the cabinet as minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and minister responsible for Democratic Renewal.

This was a huge cause célèbre. Not only did a very high-profile politician switch allegiances, but in so doing, she simultaneously severed her relationship with her boyfriend, Conservative deputy leader Peter MacKay, who was blindsided by her defection. Criticism from the media and right-wing politicians was loud and heavy (and in some cases, notably that of my former MPP Bob Runciman, quite unnecessarily sexist).

That Canadian face definitely was previously unknown to the American face reader. I'm not sure if the article is also making an ironic statement by excerpting her verdict on Natalie Glebova. A beauty pageant queen usually comes across more saccharine sweet than ball-busting bitch, but you never know.