MISS AFRICAN DIASPORA
I have a question, who better can define you? Black Beauty, You, or someone else?
The Miss African Diaspora’ Beauty Pageant is an initiative that seeks to uplift and empower women across the African Diaspora through the exaltation of Black Beauty. Long have Black women been subjected to Eurocentric beauty ideals that degraded their self-schema and objectified their form. We no longer have to tolerate the denigration and abuse of the African Image; this stage belongs to the world’s most coveted woman: the African woman. At this pageant, we elect to uplift Black women through the exposure and reclamation of heritage from the African Diaspora. We will use the power of Black beauty to empower and increase Breast cancer awareness. Twenty Black women from across the Americas, Caribbean, and Africa will be invited to dress in the traditional attire of their cultures. Restoring the heritage of African descendants not only restores their royalty, it challenges the Eurocentric standards and disrupts marginalization. Miss African Diaspora will liberate the Black community from the hold of Euronormative standards.Event concept. At its core, the Miss African Diaspora Beauty Pageant has three objectives:
REDEFINING BEAUTY: This beauty pageant will extol the beauty of Africanity inherent to Black Women. For too long Eurocentric standards have dominated beauty standards and adversely harmed African descended peoples across the continent and diaspora. To ail the ills of Eurocentrism, The Progressive Minds Show will administer a fashion show which will treat dissonance with negritude. This pageant serves as a place to exalt the authentic, unabashed beauty of African Diaspora women.
UPLIFTING CULTURE (S): Hosting this pageant creates a space to highlight the illustrious fashion of African cultures across the Atlantic. Contestants will have the opportunity to demonstrate their vibrant heritages through series of segments such as: Traditional Attire, Street wear, and Afro-Futurism. In doing so, The Progressive Minds Show can educate the community on the value of Afrocentric fashion; thus, we intend to highlight Black boutiques and designers throughout the event and encourage investment in Afrocentric fashion.
INSTILLING UNITY across the Diaspora: With this pageant we can inspire unity through the creative expression of Arts, Fashion, and Africanity. From the pageant, partnerships between local black businesses can form to improve financial success and wealth circulation in our community.
Additionally, designers can dually utilize the space for promotion and pop-up vending. As such, this endeavor empowers both culture and capital.
Miss African Diaspora is more than a beauty pageant; it provides a foundation for cultural reclamation and restoration. In honoring Black Beauty through the lens of heritage, we build a space for reconciliation which amplifies both community and business. All models and designers will have the opportunity to expand their platforms and network through participation in this pageant. This event is the authentic celebration of the beauty of Black Women and Black heritage that our community deserves and a stand against breast cancer.