Algeria: Colourism Taints Second Black Miss Algeria's Victory

Khadija Ben Hamou beat 16 contestants to become only the second black Miss Algeria in history. Although she is set to represent this North African country at Miss World 2019, her victory has been mired in racial abuse.

Khadija Ben Hamou, the 2019 winner of the Miss Algeria pageant, has not only been bombarded with racist comments by some social media users on the basis of her skin colour and facial features but "degrading and retouched photographs" of her have also been circulated. The message from her critics is that she does not represent the beauty of Algeria, despite the fact that she made it through 20 rounds of the competition before being crowned. This made her the second darker-skinned Algerian to win the pageant, after Nassima Mokadem, who was awarded the title in 2005.

...

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.