Column:
Progressive pageant takes inner beauty, open mind
Published March 4, 2005
As a general rule, I am not a fan of beauty pageants. Pageants, in my opinion, are one of the evils of a society obsessed with beauty and outward appearance. I cast them among those harmful institutions that convince most women that no matter how beautiful they are, it's just not enough. After all, most normal women will never win "Miss Whatever."
I could never have conceived of a worthwhile purpose for a beauty pageant, and I had deemed them universally repulsive, but it seems I might have overlooked a notable exception.
Botswana held a beauty pageant last February, and, even to this pageant-hater, this one seemed like a great idea. Of course, Botswana's pageant was a little different: All the entrants were HIV-positive.
This was the third "Miss Stigma Free" pageant, and though an estimated one-third of Botswana's population might be infected with HIV, only 12 girls overcame the stigma of being labeled HIV-positive and entered the competition. In addition to being crowned "Miss Stigma Free," the winner will receive a monthly allowance of $500 and a study scholarship.
Although there might be some debate as to whether choosing a pageant queen among HIV-positive girls is a good idea, the pageant offers an important message not only to HIV-positive girls and women living in Botswana, but to the rest of the world. The pageant stands to tell the world that, yes, the spread of HIV is a problem, and no, we are not going to hide from this problem.
After the announcement by former British Parliament member Chris Smith that he served while HIV-positive, and Nelson Mandela's announcement that his son is HIV-positive, this pageant continues to remind us to fight the stigma associated with HIV.
In most countries, HIV has been regarded as one of the deadly diseases we don't like to talk about, especially when it affects us or a family member. At the same time, it's hard to claim that HIV is a not a problem worldwide.
Still, in the United States, where HIV often has been associated with drug use or male homosexuality, we still find it hard to openly discuss the disease. It seems even here (where HIV is less widespread than in much of sub-Saharan Africa) we can benefit from the message of the "Miss Stigma Free" pageant.
Although Botswana's government, because of its wealth from diamond mining, can offer anti-viral drugs to prolong life for its HIV-positive citizens, few people come forward with their HIV status because of the overwhelming stigma associated with the disease.
Neo Sampoela, one of the pageant contestants, said, "In July 1994, when I first tested positive, it was difficult because it was not talked about. We only knew that if you are HIV-positive, you are going to die."
But for the 12 pageant participants, HIV has not meant only death, and I hope their message will not fall on deaf ears. HIV is a worldwide problem, but we won't be able to fight it until, as these women in Botswana have done, we start to talk about it.
