Time to recognise our African beauties

When Rolene Strauss was crowned Miss World at the end of 2014, I joined South Africans who celebrated her stunning victory.

No less worthies than the minister of sport and recreation, Fikile Mbalula, and Professor Jonathan Jansen waxed lyrical at her great achievement.

As could be expected from a politician, Mbalula welcomed Strauss as an ambassador for South Africa's non-racialism policy and Madiba's vision for a transformed South Africa. A political spin.

Jansen took a slightly different tack. Strauss for him embodied virtues of self-discipline, hard work, kindness and love for education. Her physical attributes were almost peripheral to her inner self.

Addressing the hundreds gathered at OR Tambo airport to welcome her back home, Strauss impressed with her composure, humility, self-confidence and articulateness. It was a reaffirmation that beauties do have brains.

Here are some concerns which have nothing to do with Strauss as a person. South Africans are wondering how come so far all South African beauties who have won the Miss World crown are white?

I am one of those who are critical of the criteria that almost predetermines who wins the coveted Miss World crown.

A candidate must have long and glossy hair, a biltong figure, straight nose, not-so-thick lips, speak a European language, excel on the catwalk, answer questions from judges that require familiarity with European culture, etc.

Consequently, if the poor girl is on the "sdudla" side, has thick lips and "korrelhare" and is not articulate in English or another European language, her chances of winning are threatened. Emanating from this exercise, the question to be asked is: is this not another demonstration of European hegemony in a subtle form?

People will argue that this is the reason black girls and women are struggling to emulate white women in every possible way. They are put under tremendous pressure to conform to European stereotypes.

They bleach their skin, starve themselves, wear weaves, develop fake accents and dress like white women. While not too excited about the beauty pageant, I am sure there are thousands of stunning black beauties in our townships, suburbs and rural areas who could easily qualify as God's paragons of physical beauty. But nobody knows them - nobody is interested in them.

Above all, they do not meet the European criteria. They are not endowed with skinny figures nor do they have high academic qualifications.

The message is clear. The struggle continues. In South Africa, at least, we have made a good start. The latest Miss South Africa is black and beautiful. Perhaps the time has come for people not to focus too much on the physical attractiveness of Miss South Africa or Miss World. The focus should be on the values that they project about South Africa, Africa and the world.

It is inconceivable that our black beauties are simply not good enough to get the judges' nod. It all boils down to the dominating European definition of what constitutes aesthetics or beauty. Are we still addicted to judging everything through the prism of white European cultures?

This brings me back to what I believe is the urgent need to challenge accepted aesthetic concepts. The blacks or people of the "third world" must revolt against the ongoing domination by former colonialists. We dare not become accomplices in our ongoing oppression or humiliation which is expressed in many subtle ways.

I have no objection to Strauss's selection as an individual. She comes across as physically beautiful, friendly, vivacious and, above all, quite intelligent. The mainstream and social media are raving about her crowning. I join in the celebration.

lMkhatshwa is chairperson of the Moral Regeneration Movement