Subverting the Crown
Twenty year old Madeline Awa Jallow is one
of the ‘musu koyos’. A young woman living
with her mother strives to subvert the Beauty
Pageant Crown in a district contest sponsored
by KGI International (Kanilai Group
International) held in Lamin, Kombo North.
Madeline Awa Jallow talking to a journalist on the phone
Feminists and Women’s Rights activists do not
usually agree with what at times is considered
as exploitation of the bodies of young girls
considered as beauty pageants. Their bodies
are displayed to demonstrate their beauty
and very little is gained from it.
Beauty contests are common in many parts of
the world from institutions like colleges,
Universities and at community level where
competitions are held at different levels
leading to national and international contests.
Amongst the competitors, Madeline Awa
chose female genital mutilation – FGM as her
platform in the beauty competition. The
stories about the effects FGM has on her
friends motivated her to choose the topic. Her
visit to GAMCOTRAP few days before the
competition coincided with GAMCOTRAP’s
training with youth networks from the West
Coast Region, a great opportunity to learn
more about FGM. This strengthened her
resolve that no matter what the outcome of
the competition; she was determined to talk
on FGM.
It may be difficult to see or understand the
positive aspects of such competitions based
on the beauty of the young female if you are a
critic of those who display women’s bodies
before they are supported in one way or the
other. For instance some will get support to
further their education or engage in other
enterprising ventures as well as bask in the
glory of being crown as the most beautiful
amongst the competitors.
In Africa beauty is usually associated to “black
beauty”. However, a closer look into our
societies gives a different reality.
In the
Gambia most women are dark in complexion
but beauty is usually associated to light skin
women. It is even considered therapeutic to
have a light skin woman as established in a
common Mandinka saying ‘musu koyo sasa
boro’.
Kombo North Crowned Beauty Queen 2011 visits
GAMCOTRAP with her team
Indeed Madeline Awa Jallow won the Beauty
Pageant Crown 2011 for Kombo North District
and FGM was her platform for discussion in
the presence of many dignitaries. In her own
words she said “Ever since I was in Senior
Secondary school I was curious about it. We
are made by god and we should be content
with how we are. I decided to talk about FGM
because we are created by God. If at all the
clitoris would bring problems to women..., I
don’t think God would put it there...I feel very
proud wearing the Crown. When I came to
GAMCOTRAP and I saw the videos, FGM is
painful and I felt bad. I would advise young
girls and the nationals at large to stop FGM
and know that we are created by God.”
Commenting on the issue, the Executive
Director of GAMCOTRAP, Dr. Isatou Touray
described the initiative as an innovation to
change the Beauty Queen Crown from “a
body show to a Crown of Development” and
pledged that GAMCOTRAP will continue to
work with Madeline and other young people
to create a better future for women and
children. GAMCOTRAP will support the beauty
pageant engage in advocacy reaching to other
youths. Congratulations to Madeline for a
creative approach to beauty pageantry.
Amie Bojang-Sissoho
Programme Coordinator -IEC
GAMCOTRAP