Does Miss Curvy Uganda promote plus-size models or objectify them?

Uganda’s tourism Minister, Mr. Godfrey Kiwanda (wearing a white shirt) at the launch of Miss Curvy Uganda.

In many parts of the world, people are indeed part of the tourist package, but usually for their culture. I could go to Mongolia for instance to live in a yurt, or I could seek a Bedouin or Tuareg caravan to live with for a while.

Or I could have the lite version of it, a group of us drop by a village, the villagers put up some traditional performances, and we are sold some souvenirs. All these can be promoted by a government, and have been.

What I am yet to hear promoted by a government is its “sexy, curvaceous women”, which is exactly what Uganda’s Minister for Tourism unveiled early this week.

“We have naturally endowed nice looking women that are amazing to look at. Why don’t we use these people as a strategy to promote our tourism industry,” said Godfrey Kiwanda at the launch of the Miss Curvy Pageant.

When I read this my thoughts quickly jumped to Saartjie Baartman (Hottentot Venus). The minister’s words make it feel a lot like a bid to attract (foreign) men solely by the fact the Ugandan women are endowed. If that isn’t sexist objectification, I wonder what is.

Yet I would wish to hope that this was a platform to give greater visibility to plus-sized women, seeing as beauty pageants are almost always about thin and tall girls/ladies.  AS a matter of fact, its website states clearly that Miss Curvy Uganda has been organized

“to recognize and acknowledge the big, bold and beautiful plus size Ugandan ladies. This  pageant aims to enhance the visibility and appreciation of curvaceous ladies as they walk the runway.”

It would seem that the minister’s poor choice of words has derailed a pageant that seeks to elevate plus-sized women.

But then again, the joint campaign between the pageant and the ministry of tourism is called Tulambule. As in “let’s explore.”

Feels like an uncomfortable juxtaposition with the minister’s words still in the air.

By Matengo Chwanya

Africa Global News Publication