A FEW months back, the city restarted its selection process for the Miss Shanghai competition, supposedly the first event of its kind since the founding of the PRC. The contest roused a great deal of enthusiasm from all quarters, though not every local girl was brave enough to participate. But most of them talked about it eagerly,their eyes shining. To be a real Shanghai "lady" has long been regarded as an honour that indicates grace and intelligence.

In many popular stories which have had a long and lasting influence on the nation, especially those written by Eilin Chang and Wang Anyi, the girls of Shanghai have always been part of the charm and attraction of the city. It is quite natural, therefore, that the dream of becoming Miss Shanghai is so enticing.

Although the competition is over, the title of "Miss Shanghai" still reverberates through conversations and media items. The winner of the crown can now be seen frequently on TV and the covers of fashion magazines. And, although Miss Shanghai cannot really act as a spokesperson for local girls, many seem willing to accept her in this role nevertheless.

Now the city is being restimulated by an equal opportunity for the gentlemen of Shanghai to represent their gender. The Mr. Shanghai pageant will undoubtedly be a history-making event, and despite the fact that beauty contests are quite common in China, the ones for men are still very rare. Perhaps the Mr. Shanghai competition will be no less titillating than Miss Shanghai was.

Just as Shanghainese women have been stereotyped for their beauty and intelligence, the gentlemen of this city also have a nationwide reputation, though not for such appealing attributes.

The famous Taiwanese writer Lung Yingtai has described the men in Shanghai as "going to the food market and bargaining for every penny, washing clothes and cooking meals willingly and skillfully".

Despite many protests from locals, this description has been accepted as an accurate portrayal of Shanghainese men that has spread throughout the country with surprising speed.

As a result, for nearly 20 years, the men of this city have been misunderstood. Their gentleness and sagacity, their kindness to their wives and loyalty to their families has been misconstrued. At last, the opportunity has arisen for the gentlemen here to prove to the world that Mr. Shanghai deserves honour and glory equal to that of Miss Shanghai. After all, Shanghai probably enjoys the highest level of equality between men and women in the country. Although not a proponent of beauty pageants, I'm looking forward to the event in hopes that it will provide a new title for the calling cards of local people, one that says Be proud of the city, be proud of Mr. Shanghai.

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