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In the world's first contest of its kind, 10 men and 10 women competed in the Mr and Miss Albinism Kenya pageant this month in Nairobi. Its motto was "Beauty Beyond the Skin".
The competition, which drew a crowd of about 1,000 including Deputy President William Ruto, was designed to celebrate people with albinism - who lack pigment in their skin, hair and eyes - and challenge stigma and persecution.
"Even when I was dating, it was difficult for girls to say I'm handsome," said Isaac Mwaura, Kenya's first parliamentarian with albinism and founder of the Albinism Society of Kenya, which organized the pageant.
RELATED: YGB: Albino Model, Shaun D Ross
"I knew I was handsome (but) people with albinism are seen as not beautiful, as not good-looking, and that has an effect on their self esteem," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
People with albinism are frequently shunned, attacked and even killed across Africa. In many countries, their body parts are believed to bring wealth and good luck and are prized in witchcraft for use in charms and magical potions.
Albinism is a congenital disorder affecting up to one in 15,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa.
originally posted by: Misterlondon
"the value of their body parts?" what does that mean albino body parts are worth more?
originally posted by: reldra
a reply to: lostbook
I think it;s great. Was recently reading about Shaun Ross an albino model and Winnie Harlow the fashion model with vitiligo.
originally posted by: lostbook
originally posted by: Misterlondon
"the value of their body parts?" what does that mean albino body parts are worth more?
Yes, in the article it says that Albino parts are considered "lucky" and that Witchdoctors pay as much as $75,000 for them.
originally posted by: Greggers
originally posted by: lostbook
originally posted by: Misterlondon
"the value of their body parts?" what does that mean albino body parts are worth more?
Yes, in the article it says that Albino parts are considered "lucky" and that Witchdoctors pay as much as $75,000 for them.
Are these body parts harvested from living individuals? I sure hope not.
originally posted by: Greggers
originally posted by: lostbook
originally posted by: Misterlondon
"the value of their body parts?" what does that mean albino body parts are worth more?
Yes, in the article it says that Albino parts are considered "lucky" and that Witchdoctors pay as much as $75,000 for them.
Are these body parts harvested from living individuals? I sure hope not.
In Tanzania last year, a 6-year-old boy had this arm chopped off by witch doctors who believe potions and charms made from the body parts of albinos are guaranteed to bring success. "There is also a belief that having sex with a person living with Albinism can cure HIV; a superstition that has increased cases of rape and infection among Albinos," says Kenyan student Peter Kiprop Koima. He is responsible for the creation of the #AlbinismIsJustAColour hashtag, which trended in Kenya this week.
originally posted by: RedCairo
All the albinos I have seen had white hair, white skin, pink eyes. The photo of the contestants was totally confusing to me.
I know it's in africa but if albino-ism is no pigment...?
RC
originally posted by: worldstarcountry
This is a good step forward for Kenyan society, and hopefully highlights to their population that this simple genetic difference is nothing more than a trivial color variance that has no bearing on the character of the individual. Now, how can we capitalize on this here in the states?? Perhaps a USA version could be in the works??
originally posted by: Elderlight
a reply to: lostbook
www.latimes.com...