First Ever Miss Albino Gets $85 As Prize Payout

Zimbabwe has crowned its first-ever “Miss Albino’’ in a beauty pageant that aims to tackle the stigma faced by people with the congenital disorder.

The winner received $85 as her prize payout. Undaunted, competition winner, Sithembiso Mutukura, said, “I want to fight for the rights of children with albinism.”

The 22-year-old social work student receives a cash prize of $85 – far less than was originally planned, said event organiser, Brenda Mudzimu, who is paying the sum out of her own pocket.

Thirteen women took part in the Miss Albino’ pageant, which in its inaugural year attracted just one sponsor.

People who live with albinism have lighter skin and hair due to the absence of pigment in the skin, eyes and hair.

The condition is also associated with vision problems.

Albino people face discrimination and violence in many African countries, where superstition says their body parts possess magical powers.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has counted 600 attacks on people with albinism since 2006 in 28 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

(NAN)