Although Rwanda is endowed with beautiful women, the number of girls taking part in beauty pageants is discouraging compared to other countries. Observers attribute the problem to several reasons like cultural norms fuelled by the conservative nature of the Rwandan society.

On January 11, only eight girls showed up for Miss Rwanda 2015 auditions in Rubavu District, Northern Province, while a paltry 17 auditioned in the Eastern province. In Musanze District 26 girls auditioned.

Last week, Mufti Ibrahim Kayitare sparked off a heated debate when he cautioned Muslim girls against taking part in the ongoing Miss Rwanda 2015 because it’s against Islamic beliefs.

In an Interview with IzubaRirashe, a Kinyarwanda newspaper, Mufti Kayitare warned that according to the Islamic faith, a woman is not supposed to display her body for men to admire her because admiring is a sin in Islam.

His views were echoed by proponents of culture who say it’s an abomination in Rwandan culture for a girl to "parade” herself.

When the Miss Rwanda 2015 search kicked off last month, one of the contestants, Ines Mugeni shocked the organisers when she withdrew from the competition over what unconfirmed reports say was a directive from her parents who perceived the contest as ‘immoral’.

In a letter dated January 15, 2015, Mugeni wrote to Rwanda Inspiration Backup, the organisers of Miss Rwanda 2015, requesting to withdraw from the competition due to personal reasons.

After the copy of the letter was shared on social media platforms, reports circulated indicating that Mugeni’s parents were behind her withdrawal from the competition because she had not informed them about her decision to take part in it.

Depending on who you talk to, beauty pageants are still hated and loved in equal measure. For some they are as innocent as they come and don’t in any way go against the cultural norms.

Appolinaire Muvunanyambo, the vice president of IntekoIzirikana, said in an interview with Women Today that beauty pageants don’t in any way contradict the Rwandan culture.

"People need to know that culture is not static, culture evolves. I wish to inform Rwandans that selecting a Miss is not a new concept in the Rwandan culture. We used to have the search for the most beautiful woman who would become the queen of Rwanda in the ancient times,” Muvunanyambo narrates.

IntekoIzirikana is an association of aged men and women in Rwanda that aims at promotion of the Rwandan culture.

He also said that the search for the queen was slightly similar to what happens in today’s search for Miss Rwanda although it was not done in public arenas like it’s done today.

"A selected team of experienced men and women would go to different parts of Rwanda and select beautiful girls where the best three were selected to take part in the final round of selecting the queen. As it’s also done today, even then, it was beauty with purpose, the criteria involved physical beauty, intelligence and character,” Muvunanyambo said.

Today, to contest for Miss Rwanda, one has to be between 18 and 24 years of age, 1.7metres tall and should weigh between 45kg to 65kg. She also has to be fluent in Kinyarwanda and either English or French, among others.

"The reason why there are different misconceptions about beauty pageants in Rwanda is because parents, who are also stakeholders, are not fully engaged in the preparation of beauty pageants and they are not sensitised about the whole concept,” Muvunanyambo said.

A parent’s experience

Pastor Antoinne Rutayisire of Anglican Church of Rwanda PariosseRemerais also the father of former Miss National University of Rwanda, Deborah Isimbi says that there is a lot of misunderstanding surrounding beauty pageants.

"When you talk about beauty pageants, the first thing that comes to mind is that it’s something immoral that involves nudity, which is not the case. What brings about such misconceptions is the lack of sensitisation about the whole idea. Parents fear to let their girls take part in beauty pageants because they move around the runway ‘naked’,” Pastor Rutayisire says.

He adds: "Beauty pageants are a new concept that parents have not yet understood. Actually, it took me and my wife a lot of time to allow our daughter to take part in the Miss Butare beauty pageant. Parents just need to get some assurance that their daughters are not going to engage in some kind of immoral thing. Once the parents know there is nothing of the sort going to happen I’m sure they will be more open.”

He says that when his daughter was contesting for Miss Butare, people were shocked to see him at the event, given his status as a pastor.

"I had gone to support my daughter just like one can go to watch and support a child who sings and dances ballet. I can compare a beauty contest to a talent show. There is a lot of concern from parents which is understandable but girls will always be exposed with or without beauty contests, it’s not wise to just lock up our daughters. We just need to educate them on how to be mature and to be aware of the situation since being beautiful comes with temptations,” pastor Rutayisire adds.

Addressing the misconceptions

In an interview with Women Today, Joseph Habineza, the Minister of Sports and Culture, said that Miss Rwanda, just like other beauty pageants, is one way of promoting Rwandan culture.

"Through these beauty pageants we are empowering young women who later become role models in the community. The concept for beauty pageants is good, although it still has some mishaps which include young girls shying away from them as well as parents discouraging their children from participating,” Habineza said.

Hon. Habineza says that there are going to be changes in the whole concept of Miss Rwanda so that it can focus on Rwandan culture.

"The organisers need to change the language that people understand most, which in this case is Kinyarwanda; there is need for the beauty queens to be the ambassadors of our language.

And with that, they will build cultural desire; it will even change that idea of thinking that beauty queens must have the western kind of character. I think that will address the misconceptions related to beauty pageants in Rwanda,” Habineza said.

The Minister added: "Although more training is needed, I think the organisers should be professional as well as set up a programme for the beauty queens to acquire the various skills during boot camp that will attract more girls to take part in beauty pageants.”

During an interview published on January 16, 2014, in this paper, former Miss Rwanda, Aurore Mutesi Kayibanda, said that she achieved a lot as Miss Rwanda, most especially in the way she worked with the youth, as well as the several charity projects she was involved in.

She said: "One thing that kept me going are the messages and comments that I received on Facebook and Twitter from Rwandan youth, expressing how my speeches and projects had inspired their lives. I always wanted to become an inspiration and impact the youth and as Miss Rwanda I have achieved it.”

Kate Bashabe who was crowned Miss MTN in 2010 and later became Miss Nyarugenge in 2012 told Women Today that becoming a beauty queen had an impact on her life in different ways.

"Basically it was a good experience because it made me believe in myself and it gave me hope that I can spread my wings, and soar to success. I managed to get connections with influential personalities which helped me learn a lot from them and in the long run, I found myself an entrepreneur with two businesses and I engaged myself in other re-creational activities,” Bashabe said.

Bashabe currently owns Kabash House that deals in arts and crafts and Deluxe Boutique, located in Kimihurura.

I say: What should be done for beauty pageants to be accepted?

Sophie M. Ingabire

There is need for girls to first know the main purpose of being a beauty queen. It shouldn’t be about outer beauty, which is always considered, as people believe. And there should be more sensitisation for leaders who think that girls become "spoilt” when they participate in beauty pageants. Another option is considering university participation where they can choose the first three from each university to take part in Miss Rwanda.

Frank Kagabo

I think there needs to be a fresh call for the tender or franchise. That inspiration or whatever has failed to rise up to the occasion. If you look closely at the faces of these beautiful girls, some tend to appear year after year in Miss this or Miss that.

Asa Julius Kalisa

We should abandon the culture of segregation based on beauty. That way, beauty will have its original meaning. Everybody is exceptionally beautiful and perceptively different.

Fred Ojiwah

Culture plays a huge part here. You can have a glamourous pageant and promise millions for winners but I can bet a million dollars that no real Rwandan beauties will turn up. They are held back from participating by their families. So that also has to change.

Zakiya Muvunangoma

First and foremost, the organisers need to work on getting sponsors in order to increase the benefits that come with the title. Last year’s winner was given a used car. How will they get presentable and well spoken girls if the title will not add value to who they already are, aside from the so called fame?

editorial@newtimes.co.rw