New Delhi: Burkina Faso announced a nationwide suspension of all beauty pageants in June, marking a major shift in its approach to beauty competitions. Two months later, the country introduced a science competition for young women.
The initiative aims to encourage young women to explore fields such as mathematics, technology, and engineering. By providing access to education and professional support, the West African nation hopes to help them pursue careers in these fields.
The military-led government under Captain Ibrahim Traoré has stressed the importance of protecting the nation’s “cultural identity, social values and human dignity”, Afrika Nation reported. It is also working on new regulations for beauty pageants, highlighting its efforts to ensure that such competitions align with the country’s cultural values and traditions.
In August, the government launched HAKILI Mousso, a national science competition that brought together 84 young women to compete in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Outstanding participants received prizes and scholarships in recognition of their achievements.
Following the competition, President Traoré met the winners and encouraged them to believe in their abilities, pursue careers in science and set ambitious goals for their futures.
In a statement released on 8 June, the Ministry of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism announced the temporary suspension of all beauty competitions, reported the West African Voice Network.
‘Why not both?’
The decision soon attracted attention on social media, with many users praising the initiative for its potential to inspire young women to pursue education and careers in science. Some welcomed the move as a step toward empowering women and creating more opportunities for them.
“This is visionary stuff! Imagine how many young women this will inspire! Bravo,” wrote a user on Instagram.
“I applaud this! He is about that work for his nation. When you educate a woman, you educate a whole family. Plus, the beauty industry has harmed more girls than it has helped,” read a comment.
However, the decision also sparked a debate about women’s freedom of choice, with some arguing that promoting science does not mean beauty and femininity should be overlooked. They stressed that women should have the freedom to pursue various interests.
“Why not do both? Femininity and beauty ought to be celebrated too!” read a post on X.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)
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