Ah, beauty pageants—the glamorous battleground where dreams are made, tears are shed, and occasionally, crowns fall off mid-twirl. In Ivory Coast, the catwalks have historically been ruled by flowing wigs so dramatic they could star in their own shampoo commercials.
Picture this: contestants strutting down the runway looking like human chandeliers, dripping with extensions longer than my patience during rush hour traffic.
But hold onto your hairpieces, folks, because 2023 marks a revolution in Ivorian beauty standards. The Miss Ivory Coast organizers have declared war on fake strands, banning wigs, weaves, and extensions from the preliminary stages. It’s like Marie Kondo came through and said, “Does this spark joy? No? Out it goes!” Except instead of decluttering closets, they’re decluttering scalps.
Why the sudden change? Well, according to Victor Yapobi, president of the organizing committee, they wanted to showcase “raw beauty.” Translation: enough with the Barbie dolls; let’s see some real humans up there. Cosmetic surgery? Nope. Skin lightening? Double nope. Wigs? Absolutely not. Unless you’re auditioning for a Beyoncé music video, keep it au naturel, ladies.
Of course, reactions have been mixed. Some contestants, like Emmanuella Dali, couldn’t be happier. She strutted into the competition proudly wig-free, declaring, “This is who I am!”
Meanwhile, others, like Astrid Menekou, had to grapple with their inner wig addiction. Imagine her shock when she read the new rules—it was probably akin to finding out pineapple belongs on pizza. Gasp!
And then there’s Laetitia Mouroufie, who last year sported extensions because she thought that’s what beauty meant. Fast forward to 2023, and she’s confidently embracing her natural self. If that’s not a glow-up, I don’t know what is.
Still, not everyone is cheering. Hairdressers across the country are collectively sobbing into their styling tools. Ange Sea, a salon owner in Daloa, lamented how the ban will hurt her business. After all, attaching wigs and weaving extensions is basically her bread and butter—or should I say, weave and wig?
On a serious note, this move reflects a broader global trend toward embracing natural hair. Social media influencers have been preaching the gospel of afros, twists, and braids for years, showing women worldwide that going natural doesn’t mean sacrificing style.
Plus, let’s be honest: maintaining wigs can feel like managing a high-maintenance pet. You’ve got to feed it conditioner, brush it daily, and pray it doesn’t catch fire near open flames.
Even though the ban has caused controversy, early feedback suggests it’s making waves. Mr. Yapobi reported receiving congratulatory messages from around the globe, proving that sometimes, taking risks pays off. Who knew telling people to ditch their wigs would inspire such heartfelt emails?
As the competition heats up, one thing remains certain: whether crowned with natural curls or adorned with a tiara, these contestants are proving that beauty comes in all forms. And if nothing else, they’ve reminded us that confidence is the ultimate accessory—even if your hair looks like it got into a fight with a wind machine.
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