*Uganda hopes to boost tourism by promoting its “naturally endowed nice-looking women,” via a beauty pageant that’s all about celebrating curves!
According to UK Independent, the country’s state minister for tourism, Godfrey Kiwanda, launched “Miss Curvy Uganda” as part of the Tulambule tourism initiative, which is designed to showcase attractions such as wildlife to national parks.
“We have naturally endowed nice-looking women that are amazing to look at. Why don’t we use these people as a strategy to promote our tourism industry?” Kiwanda was quoted as saying in The East African newspaper.
Miss Curvy Uganda is open to those aged 18 to 35, said organizers, and aims to offer an alternative to slimmer/modelesque women.
“Miss Curvy is an event that will bring out the endowment of the real African woman,” said Ann Mungoma, the organizer of Miss Curvy Uganda.
“It is an exceptional event that will see young ladies showcase their beautiful curves and intellect,” she said.
— Miss Curvy Uganda (@misscurvyug) February 5, 2019
A mission statement on the website states: “Uganda is dubbed as being gifted by nature. This is not only exhibited by the abundance of natural resources, but it also extends to the people of Uganda.
“For the first time in Uganda, women who are proud of the way they look have a reason to smile as a new beauty pageant which celebrates true African beauty has come into existence. Dubbed ‘Miss Curvy Uganda’, the event organised to recognize and acknowledge the big, bold and beautiful plus size Ugandan ladies.”
The pageant has been criticized by Ugandan activist Primrose Nyonyozi Murungi, who has called for the government to call off the contest.
In a Facebook post, she wrote: “It’s 2019 ladies and gentlemen. And a whole board of tourism sat down, discussed and decided to actually pass something like this. Those were men and women with daughters at home.”
One Twitter user wrote: “Uganda has some of the wildest adrenaline adventures in Africa, the River Nile, game parks, majestic lakes and a huge untapped market for tourism. Guess their strategy? Use curvy women to promote the country. You know, sometimes reality is stranger than fiction.”
And AfriFeminists noted: “Efforts to present women’s curves in #Uganda as a tourism attraction brings to mind the story of Sarah Baartman who two centuries ago died after years spent in European “freak shows” with crowds invited to look at her large buttocks.”
Efforts to present women’s curves in #Uganda as a tourism attraction brings to mind the story of Sarah Baartman who two centuries ago died after years spent in European “freak shows” with crowds invited to look at her large buttocks.https://t.co/iBjADLUfnw
— AfricanFeminism (AF) (@AfriFeminists) February 6, 2019
It’s not known when the pageant will take place.
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