Miss Rwanda pageantry has been suspended until further notice as investigations into suspected cases of sexual abuse in the competition continue.
The beauty pageantry is one of the most followed events in the country. Most Rwandans don't rest until one girl gracefully wins and takes the 'beauty, culture, and brains' crown home, from provincial auditions through pre-selection, boot camp to the grand finale.
On social media, the traffic is usually intense, and everyone feels entitled to express their opinions on who should be the well-deserving Miss Rwanda.
It is then logical that when Prince Kid, real name Dieudonné Ishimwe, the CEO of Rwanda Inspiration Backup, which organises the annual beauty contest was announced under arrest on April 26, over sexual abuse towards contestants on different occasions, it is indeed a big scandal.
Beauty contests are not only popular in Rwanda but also in many other countries across the world. Also, the occurrences such as scandals of sexual harassment or abuse in beauty pageants are not peculiar.
By definition, sexual harassment means unwelcome and inappropriate sexual remarks or physical advances in the workplace or other professional or social situations, such as beauty pageants.
While sexual abuse is defined as engaging in sexual activity forcibly or with a person who is below a specified age or who is incapable of giving consent because of age or mental or physical incapacity.
Below are instances where it has happened in other beauty pageants.
·Miss America CEO suspended over misogynistic leaked emails
In December 2017, Sam Haskell, who was the CEO of the Miss America Organization and had been on board since 2005, was accused of exchanging sexist and crude emails about past contestants.
This was after his internal emails were leaked revealing what he really thought of Miss America contestants. His emails mostly consisted of body shaming, objectification, and prodding comments about contestants' sexual affairs, among other things. He was since then suspended after working with the organisation for 12 years.
·Miss Earth contestants sexually harassed at the Philippine pageant
In November 2018, at least three contestants, Miss Jaime Vandenberg, Miss Abbey-Anne Gyles-Brown, and Miss Emma Mae Sheedy, at the Manila International Beauty Pageant, accused one of the sponsors of sexually harassing them with indecent advances, sexual insinuations, and inappropriate touching.
Miss Earth, the Philippine pageant's sponsor at the time, Amado Cruz, was accused of approaching and calling contestants repeatedly asking for sexual favors.
·Beauty pageant sex scandal in Swaziland
In Miss Eswatini’s case, one of the directors of the pageant was accused of manipulating the beauty contestants to secure sponsorships.
The contestants reported that they were mistreated and pressured into having sexual liaisons with potential sponsors and acquaintances of the accused organiser. Some of the contestants testified in front of government officials, with one even admitting to having been forced to abort.
·Former USA president body shame and humiliate, brags of seeing beauty contestants naked
In 2001, Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States, was accused of breaking into the 'topless', 'naked' contestants' dressing room unannounced. The claimed incident occurred behind the stage at Gary, Indiana's Genesis convention center. Some contestants claimed they were instructed to exhibit themselves in front of Trump.
Miss Universe 1996, Alicia Machado of Venezuela, was body-shamed after it was revealed that she had 'dramatically gained weight' after winning the competition. Donald Trump, who at the time co-owned the Miss Universe organisation, mocked her 'Miss Piggy' and an 'eating machine.'