Esther Imonmion
Nigeria’s pageant industry has long celebrated conventional ideals of beauty. But at the maiden Albinism Advocacy Pageant held in Lagos on Saturday, September 13, the focus was on diversity and breaking the stigma surrounding albinism.
Albinism, a genetic condition that affects the skin, hair, and eyes, remains highly misunderstood across Nigeria. Cultural myths and superstitions have fueled widespread prejudice, with many persons with albinism facing exclusion from schools, jobs, and social life — and in some cases subjected to violence.
The newly crowned queen, Anita Chidiebube-Dike, said she intends to use her role to foster greater public understanding of albinism.
“My first priority is to create engaging content that will highlight the strength and positive impact of persons with albinism in our society,” she declared.
Advocates say such representation is long overdue. Tolani Ojuri, Chairperson of the Albinism Association of Nigeria, noted:
“Persons with albinism face various challenges — from sun exposure to low vision. Many don’t know how to cope with these difficulties. Then there is the myth, bullying, stereotyping, and all that from society.”
For organisers, the event was more than just a beauty pageant.
“When people think of pageantry, they think of people who look a certain way,” said organiser Mistura Abisola Owolabi. “But for us, we are flipping the script and using pageantry to showcase the talent of people with albinism while also advocating for their rights.”
The World Health Organization estimates that albinism affects between one in 5,000 and one in 15,000 people across sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria, about two million people live with the condition. While the government has pledged to combat discrimination, progress has been slow.
Still, the crowning of an albinism advocacy queen may signal a shift toward broader representation and acceptance in Nigerian society.
