Maria David
WHEN a person watches a beauty pageant, there’s one thing one rarely sees: a disable person being on the stage due to the stigma around disability being an inability.
In order to extinguish such stigma, the Oshana Region is set to host the Miss Disability 2022 beauty pageant, in order change how people see disability and create a new era of inclusiveness for all.
The focus is not on beauty alone, but also on qualities of great substance, including community involvement.
Founder of the pageant Eva Josaphat, said that the idea of the pageant is centered on the aim of advocating for the rights of people with disabilities, and to encourage every woman to embrace their body.
Josaphat stated that the hosting of the pageant was started in 2018, to ensure that they create a platform that is inclusive for all women.
“From a silent voice saying; ‘listen, disability does not mean inability’, disability is beauty too, and a person living with disability is also human. We are hoping to create a lasting platform for them,” she said.
She emphasized that the aim is to give equal platforms for all women with disabilities in Namibia, who want to embrace their beauty in full capacity without being in fear because of their physical appearance.
Josaphat said the pageant which is slotted for the 12 August has so far attracted 13 beautiful women from across the country that plan to take on the stage and showcase their talent.
She added that they have different women with different codes of disabilities from physical disability, Scoliosis, Albinism, visually impaired and deaf.
“We do not want categories for now, all women with disabilities are welcomed to take part,” she noted.
She then called on Namibians from all walks of life to open their hearts and assist to make this pageant a success by sponsoring the little by can offer.
Josaphat urged people to stop the stigma and discriminating against human beings, by being a helping hand in the Miss Disability initiative.
According to the Human Right Watch (HRW), approximately 300 million women around the world have mental and physical disabilities.
Moreover, it is established that women constitute 75% of the disabled people in low- and middle-income countries. Women with disabilities comprise 10% of all women worldwide.
The HRW indicated that women are more likely than men to become disabled during their lives, due in part to gender bias in the allocation of scarce resources and in access to services.
The report continued to say that ill-girls and women are less likely to receive medical attention than boys and men, particularly in developing countries where medical care may be a considerable distance from home.
