Foto: FOC KAN/GETTY Ampliar foto
Mbathio Beye was crowned the first Miss Black France on Saturday April 28th 2012 in Paris. Even though the pageant was supported by many there were some critics.
Mbathio is a 21 year old model and was born in the former French colony of Senegal. She currently resides in Paris and is pursuing her master’s degree in marketing.
Miss Black France pageant was promoted by Frederic Royer.
Mr. Royer idea for the pageant was to promote “Black beauty”. Royer said “The purpose of this beauty contest is to shine a light on the many black women in this country who are rarely given any media attention.” (Huffingtonpost.com)
However due to the climate in France’s current election, critics say a pageant that promotes Black beauty can be extremely divisive. Again, Royer disagrees and was said to have the full support of the French Representative Council of Black Associations ( CRAN).
Artikleblak believes that to promote Black beauty or any other ethnic group for that matter is a good thing, especially when we are not getting our just due in the media. There is nothing more important than to see positive and beautiful images of one’s reflection. Unfortunately, that simply isn’t the case. I am not saying I never see people of color on television, in magazines, in the movies or online. I am saying I don’t see enough. We seem to be sprinkled far and few between. Whether here in America or Europe or a vacation resort brochure from Puerto Rico, our reflections of beauty and positivity are few.
“It will be a long time before we gain all our rights; and although it may seem to conflict with our views of human brotherhood, we shall undoubtedly for many years be compelled to have institutions of a complexional character in order to attain this very idea of human brotherhood.”…Frederick Douglas 1848
So Artikleblak congratulates the first Miss Black France, Mbathio Beye. :)