Miss World Canada Anastasia Lin speaks at The National Press Club

Denied a visa to compete in the Miss World finals in China this Saturday, Miss Canada – outspoken human rights activist Anastasia Lin – spoke at a National Press Club luncheon a day earlier, Dec. 18, 2015. China denied Lin’s visa application, telling the New York Times in a statement: “China welcomes all lawful activities organized in China by international organizations or agencies, including the Miss World pageant. But China does not allow any persona non grata to come to China.” Lin, who emigrated to China as an adolescent, has testified before Congress on human rights in China and written an op-ed on the topic in The Washington Post.