Miss West Africa International Speaks Against Fixed Pageants And Exploitation Of Young Girls

Florence Epee

Florence Epee the current Miss West Africa International 2014/2015, have decided to campaign and speak out against fixed pageant events in light of a better Africa, and they are acting upon it with the hashtag #IamFlorenceEpee. Recently the state of Pageants generally, and also mainly in Africa, have been ridiculed to a high level. 

The #IamFlorenceEpee Hashtag is to encourage contestants to use it to expose events and organization that have had a history of fixed victory's and false pageants. Florence is also calling on celebrity judges who participate in this process to speak out. Florence who has been a victim of such prior to her being Miss West Africa acknowledges being cheated from a well deserved position is the worst feeling in the world, especially when the crowd supports the deserving queen and her opportunity is stolen away.

Florence Epee who was inspired by the worlds reaction to the Afcon football game spoke out and said "If the men of the world can get excited over the sports of other men kicking balls, and yet loose interest in beautiful women being crowned, then there is something wrong with the state of pageants today, pageants also need to be in this level. 

It is not always easy to tell with every competition that who should win sometimes it is just opinion, but there are some times where it is obvious. People don't understand girls usually can't speak out because they are not in the business of media, they don't know who to report their pain to, and when they do they are neglected or people think they are just jealous of the winner."

Speaking on Senegal, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast, Florence Epee believes the African media has done a good job in vocally criticizing fixed competition. However, it's time for the diplomats and ministry or tourism boards and charities in West Africa to act upon the approvals of beauty queens. 

The west African queen who will soon currently have her own charity and campaigning for youth project has also decided to carry the fight for fair pageantry across West Africa. So if you are willing to be vocal about your experience now is the time and this is the hashtag.