Mothers allowed to compete for Miss Spain title

After a 22-year-old beauty queen was dethroned in Spain for having a child the Miss Spain beauty contest has changed its rules to allow mothers to compete for the title.

Angela Bustillo, 22 and mother of a 3-year-old boy, had won the title of Miss Cantabria - a region of northern Spain - in January, making her eligible to go on for Miss Spain.

But on Feb. 13 organizers took the crown away, citing a clause in the regional contest that says contestants cannot have children or be pregnant.

The decision sparked criticism in the Spanish media and Bustillo filed a lawsuit against Miss Spain organizers citing discrimination as male contestants in beauty pageants are not excluded because of paternity.

Even the Spanish government rallied to her side demanding that organizers give her back her crown, saying that motherhood could not be used as grounds for discrimination.

On Thursday, Miss Espana organizers said they were changing the rules for mothers and transsexuals with the aim of avoiding any discrimination among candidates.