Canada’s Miss World contender has said she was barred from boarding a plane from Hong Kong to the Chinese city hosting this year’s pageant.
Chinese-born Anastasia Lin, 25, says she did not receive an invitation to attend the event, which meant she could not apply for a visa.
But she attempted to travel to Sanya, via Hong Kong, as Canadian tourists are normally granted visas on arrival.
Ms Lin has blamed the apparent ban on her human rights campaigning.
She has criticised the “repressions and censorship” in China and is a practitioner of Falun Gong, a spiritual movement which China deems a cult and has banned.
Miss World Canada Anastasia Lin poses with her crown after an interview at her home in Toronto, Canada on 10 NovemberImage copyrightReuters
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Ms Lin has spoken to the US Congress about human rights abuses in China
The Miss World tournament is due to happen in the seaside resort of Sanya on 19 December.
When Ms Lin first made her claim that she was not sent an invitation to attend, the BBC attempted to get in touch with Miss World authorities, but received no response.
Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail quoted a statement from the Chinese embassy in Ottawa that “China does not allow any persona non grata to come to China”, in response to a query on Ms Lin’s status.
“My denial was unfortunate, but not entirely unexpected. The Chinese government has barred me from the competition for political reasons,” Ms Lin said in a statement.
“They are trying to punish me for my beliefs and prevent me from speaking out about about human rights issues.”
Activism
Ms Lin said she was barred from flying to China after trying to check in at the Dragonair counter at Hong Kong airport.
In an email seen by the BBC, Ms Lin’s travel companion Kacey Cox is asked by airline officials to return with Ms Lin to the counter for a phone interview with a Sanya official. During that conversation they were told they could not enter Sanya.
Ms Lin moved from China to Canada in 2003 as a teenager. She has performed in films about the abuse of Falun Gong members, and spoken about the subject to a US Congressional committee in July.
She has also claims her father, who still resides in China, has been harassed by officials because of her activism.
Two police officers stand guard in front of supporters of the Falun Gong as they protest outside Downing Street as they wait for the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping in London, Wednesday, 21 October 2015Image copyrightAP
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Falun Gong supporters demonstrated outside Downing Street in October during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to London
Falun Gong, considered an “evil cult” by Chinese authorities, first began as a spiritual movement that quickly amassed thousands of followers.
After a demonstration by Falun Gong practitioners demanding recognition in 1999, Chinese authorities outlawed it and launched a crackdown.
The movement’s followers have accused authorities of persecution and often hold protests outside of China to draw attention to their treatment.
