African beauty queen defends Miss International vs racism claims
Miss International 2022 first runner-up Stephany Amado from Cabo Verde. STEPHANY AMADO FACEBOOK PHOTO
An African beauty queen has come to the defense of the Miss International beauty pageant, and slammed the attacks that the global tilt is receiving for alleged racism.
Stephany Amado, who finished second in the 60th edition of the Miss International pageant held in Japan in 2022, took to social media to belie some netizens’ claims that black or African delegates do not stand a chance of winning the crown.
“It’s sad to even see all of the accusations towards [Miss International] of being racist when in reality they treat their black queens way better than African Organizations itself. We cannot demand what we don’t give ourselves!!” she said in a recent social media story.
Amado was first runner-up to German delegate Jasmine Selberg, a white woman with blonde hair. The African lady was the last contender from the continent to post a podium placement in the pageant. She was also voted by her fellow delegates from the region as Miss International Africa.
“I was allowed to compete in the semifinals without any makeup (due to skin allergies) as they care more for your inner beauty rather than the one you spend hours in the mirror for,” she shared.
She said organizers rushed her to the hospital as soon as they found out of her condition, and received the “best treatment.” Amado also shared about workshops where she met “amazing business women” who imparted valuable words.
Amado vouched for receiving the “[b]est moral, emotional and spiritual support” from the organization. “Even as a first runner up, [I] was given the opportunity of going to a couple of countries to not only crown other Queens, experience their cultures but also pour into their hearts and dreams.”
She also offered advice to pageants in her continent: “The moment [A]frican organizers stop with the idea that our afro hair isn’t elegant, that superficial beauty is what will get us the crown, start caring for their [queen’s] mental and physical health, maybe that day will be the day Africa Wins Miss International !!”
No African woman has ever won the Miss International crown in the pageant’s 65-year history. The more recent dusky beauty to snag the title was 2014 winner Valerie Hernandez of Puerto Rico, who is from the indigenous people of the Michoacan area.
Amado’s post came after another beauty queen from her country lamented that the local franchisee of Miss International were starving candidates and left her with “psychological scars” that made her want not to join pageantry again.
A screenshot of Cape Verde’s Stephany Amado on Instagram.
“I entered Miss International Cape Verde with dreams, but I left with psychological scars. Hunger was constant, the organization was chaotic, and respect for the candidates was nonexistent. Many times, I had to secretly ask outsiders for food so I wouldn’t go to bed with nothing in my stomach… A pageant should empower women, but it only taught me one thing: never again,” the woman said in Spanish, a screenshot of which Amado posted on her social media accounts.
“I come as one, but I stand as 10 thousand!” Amado further said.
The 2025 Miss International pageant will be held in Tokyo, Japan, with the coronation show scheduled on Nov. 27. The Philippines will be represented by Binibining Pilipinas Myrna Esguerra in the competition.
