The annual Miss Cicciona beauty contest has wrapped up in Italy, with the 20-year-old restaurant owner Giovanna Guidoni becoming its first prize winner. To qualify for Miss Cicciona (translated as Miss Chubby), ladies have to weigh more than 220 pounds. Men, hoping to take home the title of Mr Ciccione, have to weigh at least 330 pounds. The heavier – the better.

40 women and five men have vied for the title this year during the contest that took place in the Tuscan Town of Forcoli.

The idea isn’t to make fun,” one of the festival’s organizers Gianfranco Lazzereschi told Reuters. “We wanted to show that the media image of perfection – being stick-thin – isn’t the only way to get recognised.”

"Last year I came in second, but this year I was the heaviest contestant," said the 416 pound Giovanna Guidoni .

And the 453 pound Fabio Teseo became this year’s winner of Mr. Ciccione.

Photo:Giovanna Guidoni stands on the weighing machine as she wins the 16th edition of Italy's Miss Cicciona contest (Italy's Miss Chubby) REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico