Kenyans voted the ugliest Africans

September 4, 2014 

 
A dubious poll performed in South Africa established the most beautiful people in Africa and listed them in order. The result was that Kenyans fell at the butt end of that list. The real question is, how many people actually believe this nonsense?

Three years ago, stories went up online about a list titled ‘Annual Most Beautiful People Awards’ which was reportedly held in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

The ‘awards’ neither have a website nor a Facebook page. Be that as it may, the list that they came up with honours Rwanda, Cameroon and Ethiopia respectively on the podium. At the bottom of the list is Gabon (46), Zambia (47) and last place is Kenya (48).

Now a new list seems to be trending again, despite the fact that its findings seem unusually similar to those that came about in 2011.

This makes one wonder how a subjective quality like beauty can be defined and measured. Kenyans like Lupita Nyong’o are a clear testament to the flawed nature of such a measuring instrument.

In addition, why would beauty be defined by borders? How is it that a region like east Africa would, in two adjacent countries, have the ugliest and the most beautiful women on the continent?

But, of course, people will talk and jokes will be made. But ideas of beauty are extremely sensitive and may directly impact the self-image of the individual and even a people.