Natural Beauty Revolution: Ivory Coast Pageants Embrace Authenticity Over Adornments**

As beauty contests evolve, the Miss Ivory Coast pageant sets a transformative precedent by prohibiting artificial hairpieces, challenging entrenched beauty norms and fostering self-acceptance among contestants.**

Amidst a vibrant cultural landscape, the beauty pageant scene in Ivory Coast is undergoing a seismic shift as the Miss Ivory Coast competition implements groundbreaking new rules, promoting natural beauty over artificial enhancements. For decades, competitors have relied heavily on long wigs and weave extensions, often investing substantial sums into their appearance. Marlène-Kany Kouassi's crowning in 2022 with her short natural hair was a remarkable rarity, with only two winners in over sixty years embracing their authentic selves.

In a bold move, the organizers have banned wigs and hair extensions from the preliminary rounds, establishing a new precedent for contestants in 13 cities across the nation. Victor Yapobi, president of the organizing committee, asserts that the aim is to emphasize the beauty inherent in each candidate's natural hair, steering clear of artificial transformation. This initiative aligns with a growing trend across beauty competitions globally, where Westernized beauty standards are increasingly questioned.

Since then, there have been notable shifts within the contestant community. Contestants, like 21-year-old Emmanuella Dali, express increased self-confidence and pride in their natural appearance. Many competitors celebrate this change, viewing it as a more authentic reflection of themselves, while still some raised concerns about the restrictions on creativity in hairstyling.

The implications of this shift extend beyond the pageant stage, raising crucial discussions about beauty norms and economic impacts. The hair industry in Ivory Coast, valued at over $300 million annually, relies heavily on wigs and extensions, causing concern among hairstylists about a potential decline in business. Beauty products catering to natural hair are gaining traction, informed by a broader global movement toward embracing natural textures.

As the debate continues over aesthetic preferences and the definition of beauty, the direction of the Miss Ivory Coast contest may influence local attitudes and broader societal norms regarding personal expression. Responses to the rule change indicate a resounding affirmation of this initiative: an embrace of authenticity that may ultimately pave the way for a diverse understanding of beauty in both pageantry and everyday life.

The grand finale of the Miss Ivory Coast contest, featuring the new all-natural rule, is set to take place in June 2025, promising to reveal both the contestants' journey and the evolving narrative of beauty within the Ivorian context.