BURKINA FASO SUSPENDS BEAUTY PAGEANTS, LAUNCHES SCIENCE COMPETITION FOR YOUNG WOMEN
The HAKILI Mousso competition brought together 84 young women to compete in mathematics, physics and chemistry, with top performers receiving major prizes and educational support.
Burkina Faso has suspended beauty pageants nationwide while introducing a national science competition aimed at recognising young women for their academic abilities. The move has brought renewed attention to how the country celebrates female achievement and encourages girls to pursue scientific careers.
The suspension of beauty competitions was announced in June 2026 by the Ministry of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism. Authorities said the pause would allow the government to develop new regulations to ensure pageants align with the country’s cultural identity, social values and standards of human dignity.
Under the directive, organisers cannot stage beauty pageants until the new regulatory framework takes effect. The government has indicated that the competitions may return in a revised format, rather than being permanently discontinued.
In August, Burkina Faso introduced HAKILI Mousso, a national science competition created to identify and reward talented young women.
The inaugural competition brought together 84 young women who had completed science-track secondary school examinations in 2026. Participants competed in mathematics, physics and chemistry, with the competition culminating in an awards ceremony on 19 September.
The initiative placed academic performance and scientific knowledge at the centre of national recognition for young women. Top performers received cash prizes and other rewards, while scholarships and educational assistance were announced to support participants’ continued studies.
Reports on the awards state that the first-place winners in the three subjects each received two million CFA francs, a laptop and a motorcycle.
President Ibrahim Traoré subsequently met with the winners and encouraged them to pursue their ambitions in science and continue their education.
Encouraging more women to pursue science
The competition comes amid efforts to encourage more girls and young women to pursue science-related studies and careers. Mathematics, physics and other technical disciplines can open pathways into research, engineering, technology and other professional fields.
By recognising academic achievement through a national competition, HAKILI Mousso provides young women with a platform to demonstrate their abilities and receive support for further education.
However, the suspension of beauty pageants has also raised questions about personal choice and whether promoting scientific achievement should require restrictions on other forms of competition. Supporters of the science initiative see it as an opportunity to expand recognition for young women’s intellectual abilities, while critics argue that women should remain free to pursue different interests.
Burkina Faso’s next steps will depend on the regulations governing the return of beauty competitions and the long-term support available to participants in HAKILI Mousso.
For the young women who competed, the initiative has placed their scientific knowledge and academic ambitions in the national spotlight.
TNAM
