The famous ugly festival that is now a global movement is looking for new members. Do you qualify?

The le Marche region of Italy is famous for it's festivals and one of the longest festivals held at the end of the first week in September is the festival of Piobicco.

The festa goes on for an entire week and celebrates the fifteenth century, with period theater and a procession of ancient horse-drawn coaches amongst much else.

One of the more obscure traditions is the ugliness festival that forms part of the festivities. The same guy has won it for years and is very proud of this achievement. He has a very small nose which is apparently not a great thing in Piobicco - they prefer the bigger the better.

This is now becoming a global movement and any interested and suitably qualified candidates are welcome to apply. Just send them your photo and they will decide if you qualify. I am not sure if you should feel happy at being accepted as a member or ecstatic about being rejected. I haven't yet plucked up the courage to apply.

More than 20,000 people in many countries are now members. The philosophy is that once you accept your ugliness and revel in it you are liberated and free from preconceptions and inhibitions.

The club has global ambitions and the aim is for every town and country to have a club - so if you qualify break free of your chains and start it up in your town!