China beauty in contract row
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07/26/2002
Zhuo Lin, the Shanghai girl who took third place at the Miss Universe 2002 Pageant in May, is confronted with the toughest time in her career, being accused of holding contracts simultaneously with Lafeyee and Geluodeng."The situation is so unbearable for us that a lawsuit is inevitable," said Shi Sizhi, CEO of Beijing-based Geluodeng Co, the only organizing committee in China officially authorized by the Miss Universe Committee, at a press conference held in Shanghai. "It is we that have made Zhuo a Miss Universe, yet she has completely ignored the one-year contract with us after winning the competition, constantly partaking in commercial activities under the contract with her previous employer Lafeyee Model Co." According to Shi, their company's contract is effective as of March 8, 2002 and bars Zhuo Lin from attending any commercial activities with the title of "Miss Universe" unless approved by Geluodeng. "Zhuo Lin lied to us, saying that she had no other valid contract when signing with Geluodeng," Shi said. "But now whenever we try to arrange activities for her, she refuses claiming that she has to ask for approval from Lafeyee Model Co due to a valid contract." Shi added. Shi said he decided to sue Zhuo after she violated the contract for a third time and he is asking for compensation as high as 10 million yuan (US$1.2 million). At the same time, Lafeyee claimed that it is the exclusive and only legal agent of Zhuo, successfully molding her into her present star status. "Zhuo Lin is a legitimate model of our company and I am her only lawful broker. This is a 3-year contract that started in December 2000 when Zhuo was 17 years old, thus qualified to sign a legally binding contract," said Song Meiying of Layefee Model Company. "As for the contract with Geluodeng representing the Miss Universe China Committee, Zhuo signed it exactly one night before the finals. Otherwise she would have been barred from joining the contest." Song added. Zhuo remains calm about the case. At a recent real-estate promotion in Hong Kong, she said: "All I hope for is that I'll be a qualified Miss Universe on behalf of Chinese women. Whenever I am in public I identify myself as 'Zhuo Lin' not 'Miss Universe'." China Daily news
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