🇬🇦GabonCentral Africa
CNOU launches Miss CNOU – Natural Beauty 2026 to promote self-acceptance and combat skin bleaching among students
via Gabon Review2 min read
The National Center for University Works CNOU has launched the first edition of Miss CNOU – Natural Beauty 2026, a competition for Gabonese female students. The initiative, led by CNOU Director General Syrielle-Zora Nzigou, aims to promote self-acceptance, value intellect and culture, and raise awareness against skin bleaching, a growing concern in university environments. Unlike traditional beauty pageants, this competition requires candidates to present themselves without makeup, wigs, false nails, or other aesthetic enhancements, emphasizing natural beauty. The CNOU Director General stated that the competition seeks to highlight the intellect and natural beauty of Gabon's female students, with a primary goal of combating skin bleaching, which she describes as a social scourge. She noted that this practice, facilitated by access to lightening products, exposes users to health risks and can impact academic performance. Selection criteria prioritize personality and intellectual abilities, with natural beauty and originality accounting for 30% of the final score, general knowledge and intellect for 20%, oral expression and eloquence for 15%, and social projects for students also for 15%. Cultural and traditional performances represent 10%, while elegance, presentation, behavior, and discipline complete the evaluation. Registrations began on June 2 and concluded on June 9, 2026. Pre-selections will take place from June 10 to June 30 in universities and higher education institut
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Gabon Review.
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