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Polish Town's Bold Bid for Publicity

DW staff (dre)March 31, 2004

Just weeks before entering into what has -- until now -- been Western Europe's most exclusive club, a small Polish town has decided its coat of arms needs to comply with western beauty standards.

https://p.dw.com/p/4qtp
A busty mermaid is supposed to bring the Polish town of Ustka some publicity.

When the coastal town of Ustka was mulling over ways to improve its image, talk turned to the mermaid on the city's coat of arms.

Looking a little plump around the edges, town officials apparently felt their mermaid wasn't exactly in line with Western beauty standards -- and this with their country just weeks from joining the European Union.

"One female councilor said jokingly that the mermaid's breasts were too small and that she was a bit fat," a town spokesman told Reuters.

What began as a joke soon became a national story, prompting the town to examine the idea a little more closely. Their remedy: an immediate dieting plan and some serious plastic surgery around the chest area, according to the spokesman.

"She will become more attractive and Ustka will gain publicity," said the spokesman.

Seems to be working so far.