A Beauty Pageant for Men, Judged by Women.

Article by: Laura Mason|@masonlazarus

Thu September 26, 2013 | 00:00 AM


In Niger, it's not the women who spend hours picking out just the right outfit, doing their hair and makeup. Instead, roles are reversed for the Wodaabe men, who paint their faces and don elaborate costumes in the beauty pageant known as Gerewol. The Wodaabe women have the pleasure of judging this contest, watching the men try to out-perform and out-peacock each other. Some of the women may even end up getting a husband out of it. Western society, take note.