Lagos: Nigeria’s pageant industry has long celebrated conventional ideals of beauty. But here at the Albinism Advocacy Pageant in Lagos, the message is diversity and the goal to break the stigma surrounding albinism. Albinism is a genetic condition that affects the skin, hair, and eyes and is highly misunderstood across Nigeria.
According to Nam News Network, cultural myths and superstitions fuel prejudice, with some people excluded from schools, jobs, and social gatherings and even subjected to violence. Persons with albinism face various challenges, from sun sensitivity to low vision, and many lack the knowledge to navigate these issues. They also endure societal myths, bullying, and stereotyping.
Pageant organisers express hope that events like Saturday’s pageant can help change the conversation. “When people think of pageantry, they think of people who look a certain way,” says organiser Mistura Abisola Owolabi. “But for us, we are flipping the script and using pageantry to showcase the talent of people with albinism and also advocate for them.”
The World Health Organization estimates that the number of people with albinism varies from one in 5,000 to one in 15,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria, about 2 million people have albinism, and the government has vowed to help combat the discrimination they face. However, progress remains slow.