Long, flowing wigs and weaving extensions have dominated the fashion show of Ivory Coast’s large beauty competitions for many years.
Participants in the African countries often spend a lot of money from costumes to hair.
For more than 60 years, there were only two notable exceptions, most recently there was Marlène -Kany Kouassi, which was Marlène -Kouassi, who was in charge of the Miss Ivory Coast title in 2022.
Her victory is not only rare in the Ivory Coast, but also the world’s beauty standards around the world who often want to participate in the contest and both judges.
In December, Angelikue Angarni -Filopon, from the Caribbean Caribbean Martinique Island, is mainly Martinique of the French Caribbean Martinique as a Miss France. When it was selected, I made a headline.
But this year, the organizer of the Ivorian competition is waving from the beginning.
Wigs, weaving and head expansion have been banned at the preliminary stage of competition, which is held in 13 cities (Diaspora’s overseas).
Victor Yapobi, chairman of the Miss Ivory Coast Organizing Committee, told the BBC, “We want candidates to be natural.
“I’m a wig fan. I like wigs.
Ivory Coast is the only African country that enforces national competition.
Prime Minister Yepobi said the organizer of the Ivory Coast has been trying to promote more natural appearance for a long time.
“We decided to truly show the beauty of the nature of these young women this year,” he said.
Other changes have been implemented, such as making women compete. The minimum value is now 1.67m (5.4 feet), and the age is to increase to 28 years of age, and decisively lower the admission fee from $ 30 (£ 25) to $ 50 or more.
“This change is because we have a little bit of budget because we have observed that we are making a lot of money to participate.”
When the BBC joined the first preliminary conference in Daloa, a major city in Haut -Sassandra, the participant was so happy with the new rules.
Emma Nuella Dali, a 21 -year -old real estate agent, said to the BBC, “We will see other girls with long and artificial hair.
“This rule gives more pride as a woman as a woman as a woman.”
Participants in Daloa were the first players to judge all natural hair rules. [BBC]
The movement to celebrate the beauty of natural Africa has triggered active discussions nationwide, which is popular with wigs and extensions.
Fashion selection makes many women like the creativity allowed by wigs and weaving. They also serve as “protective styles,” which can cause damage by minimizing the pull and pulling hair every day.
This was reflected by some participants of Daloa, who thought the rules had eliminated the elements of personal expressions.
“I am a fan. I like a wig,” said participants and makeup artists Astrid Menekou. The 24 -year -old boy told the BBC that she was first shocked by her initial independence and no extension.
“I didn’t expect this rule! But now? I like my hair. And it’s okay.”
The new rules have made competitors more thought about the concept of beauty and changed the same opinions as the Laetitia Mouroufie.
A 25 -year -old student told the BBC, “Last year I had an expansion because I thought it was a meaning of beauty.”
“I feel more confident this year.”
Ange Sea, who works in Daloa’s salon, is worried that the new rules will be influenced by her business. [BBC]
If competition affects the attitude beyond the world, it can have an economic impact.
If you take care of it appropriately, the wigs of the hair of the hair that can last for several years are priced from about $ 200 to $ 4,000, and synthetic products are around $ 10 to $ 300.
Ivory Coast’s hair industry is worth more than 300mA, and wigs and weaving account for a significant portion of the market.
Ange Sea, a 30 -year -old hairdresser of Daloa, told the BBC that “this rule is not good for us.”
“Many women like wigs. This will harm our business and will make more money when working with wigs and weaving.”
In her salon, glue carefully attaches the wig to make it look more natural, and women spend several hours on weaving and extension.
In Africa, it shows how deep the wig culture is getting.
Many Beauty Queens, wearing wigs, were in the audience of Daloa. [BBC]
Natural hair products have been much easier to get, and people with natural hair influence can take a lot of time with advice on how to manage natural hair and specify style in social media around the world.
In the past, wearing hair naturally was considered a non -expert, and it would have been special to see a black female TV star or a natural hair on the screen.
According to the Florence Edwige Nanga, the hair and scalp expert in the main city of Abidjan, this is still the case for ivory coast.
“Turn on the TV [here]The Tree Hi specialist told the BBC.
“These beauty improvements are fashionable, but they can cause problems such as alopecia or scalp infection,” she warned.
When the preliminary rounds proceed, the debate over whether the competition should set the beauty rules must continue to decide on themselves.
The result is that the ivory coast has more acceptance for both, allowing women to switch styles between natural hair, wigs and weaving.
Prime Minister Yepobi said that according to the new rules, the feedback he received was “special” and clearly showed that it was influenced.
“Everyone congratulates us. Congratulations to all people who want to return to our roots abroad.”
“I’m not winning but I’m proud. Who am I?”
He said no decision was made on whether the wig ban was applied to the 15 participants who entered the finals in 2025.
The extra Baganza will be held at a hotel in the father -in -law at the end of June and will be broadcast on TVs nationwide.
YAPOBI said, “If it is effective, we will continue to do this initiative in the next few years.”
For Doria Koré, named MISS HAUT-SASSASSANDRA, her crown is much more meaningful. “Winning with natural hair shows the true beauty of African women.”
Dali said she was leaving with something more valuable.
Additional report of Abidjan’s NICOLAS NEGOCE and Noel Ebrin Brou of the BBC.
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[Getty Images/BBC]
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