Beauty became a beast Friday at the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics in Fairbanks.
Nicole Colbert of Napakiak -- the winner of the 2007 Miss WEIO pageant and the winner of the 2008 Miss Indian World pageant -- won the ear pull, which tests tolerance to pain while often drawing blood and leaving competitors with swollen, bruised ears.
In the event, two contestants face each other while sitting on the floor, connected by a single piece of twine looped around one ear of each competitor. A tug-of-war ensues and doesn't end until the twine comes off an ear or someone surrenders in pain. It's not unusual for the twine to slice the back of the ear.
Colbert beat Mitsi Evans of Fairbanks in the women's finals to take the title. In the men's finals, Leroy Shangin of Anchorage defended his title by beating 15-year-old Anthony Binion of Fairbanks.
Shangin was a double winner Friday, with his other gold ulu coming in the Indian stick pull. Christina Glenzel won the women's title.
Anchorage Daily News
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