"Invest in Internal Beauty": Burkina Faso Suspends Beauty Pageants, Launches Science Competition
- Burkina Faso held its first HAKILI Mousso competition after temporarily suspending beauty pageants to prepare new regulations
- 84 young women from across the country competed in mathematics, physics, and chemistry, with winners receiving 2 million CFA francs and other prize
- The competition aimed to challenge the idea that science careers are reserved for men and encourage more women into the field
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Source: Getty Images
Burkina Faso has replaced the runway with a classroom. After temporarily suspending traditional beauty pageants to review regulations, the country launched a science-based competition that put academic achievement front and centre.
The inaugural HAKILI Mousso competition brought together 84 young women from different regions of the country. All of them had earned a science baccalaureate in 2026. Before the competition began, they completed a week of preparation and then sat for tests covering mathematics, physics, and chemistry.
The top five performers in each subject received prizes. First-place winners walked away with 2 million CFA francs, a motorcycle, a laptop, and additional rewards.
A competition built to challenge stereotypes
The organisers designed the competition with a clear purpose: to push back against the notion that disciplines like physics, chemistry, and mathematics belong primarily to men. By creating a platform where young women could showcase scientific knowledge, the competition sought to open doors and reshape expectations about who belongs in science.
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Days after the competition concluded, President Ibrahim Traoré invited the winners to the presidential palace. The meeting lasted nearly an hour and covered topics including science, ambition, and the women's career goals.
View the Facebook post below:
How the world reacted
The story was shared by the Tales of Africa Facebook page on 11 October 2026 and drew strong responses from across the continent:
@Oban Renata wrote:
"Waooo I have been thinking of this recently. This is a confirmation it will happen big."
@Hauwa Usman El-marzuq said:
"Na gode! [Thank you!] It is time we invest in internal beauty not just external."
@Oskkyy Ggyy added:
"I love this. Only if other leaders will emulate him."
@Darlington Mwaza noted:
"Well done my President for being so forward thinking."
@Paul Sheppard Jr. asked:
"Why not do both?"
@Nwufo L. Oluchukwu shared:
"This is the reason why certificates should be valued. Kudos."
The reaction online showed that the idea resonated far beyond Burkina Faso, with many hoping other nations would adopt a similar approach to celebrating young women in science.
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Source: Briefly News
