‘Beauty-lacking women’ plea gets plenty of interest

A PLEA for “ugly ducklings” to move to Mount Isa in Australia to help address a woman shortage has paid dividends, with CVs and letters flowing in.

And some of them were “bloody attractive“, mayor John Molony has said.

Molony said he had been contacted by more than 50 women wanting to know more about the outback mining town and its men.

“While the media were beating me over the head with a stick, girls were sending me emails from all around the world and a surprising number from across Australia,” he said.

Molony sparked outrage and grabbed international headlines in August when he suggested “beauty-disadvantaged women” come to the town, where men outnumbered women five to one and “happiness awaits”.

Yesterday, Mr Molony said the women who contacted him wanted to know more about Mt Isa, the men and the employment opportunities — though he could not say if any had actually moved into the area.

Interested parties included an Italian journalist, professionals from the US, customer service and administration staff, and others from Spain, South Africa and the Philippines.

Mr Molony said at the peak of interest, he would receive about five letters a day.

“One girl said she’d lived all her life in Brisbane, she’s 26, and she’s never smelt sweat on a man. Well, there’s plenty [of sweaty men] up here.”