Who Will be Angola’s Next Top “Miss Landmine Survivor”?

Today, April 2, eighteen beautiful Angolan women will gather in Luanda to compete in a very special pageant. They will hail from the eighteen diverse provinces of Angola yet are sure to have at least one commonality—they have all been maimed in landmine accidents. Even more unique, the winner takes home a prosthetic leg from a leading Orthopedic clinic.

By Ccandysuzie

Several of the contestants are profiled on the pageant’s website. Their stories speak for themselves.

Miss BENGUELA: An unemployed 32 year old widow and mother of three. She sells tomatoes when she can get them. Her landmine accident occurred while she was tending fields—at the age of eight.

Miss BIÉ: A 30 year old unemployed single mother of four who dreams of being a nurse. While tending fields at the age of 15 a landmine exploded.

Miss CUANDO CUBANGO: A 30 year old single mother of two who dreams of becoming an economist. A landmine went off while she was tending fields at the age of twelve.

Miss CUANZA SUL: A 25 year old who ran into a landmine while escaping an attack from soldiers at the age of 15. She dreams of becoming a nurse.

Miss CUNENE: A 26 year old single mother of two who dreams of becoming an Interior designer. A landmine went off while she was tending fields at the age of four.

Miss HUÍLA: An unemployed 25 year old single mother of three whose dream job is “Whatever she gets”, she ran into a landmine at the age of 15 while escaping solders attacking her village.

Miss MALANJE: A 33 year old unemployed mother of 4, she ran into a landmine at the age of 23 while escaping UNITA soldiers.

Miss MOXICO: A pregnant 19 year old whose dream job is to be a “Boss”. Under occupation she states that she “Can do everything but there is no job”. A landmine went off while she was tending fields at the age of 10.

Miss UÍGE: A 22 year old single mother of twins she dreams of being a street vendor. A land mine debilitated her at the age of 12.

Miss HUAMBO: A 27 year old single mother of three, she dreams of becoming a clothing designer. At the age of 14 a landmine went off while she was walking home from school.

The Miss Landmine Survivor pageant coordinators seek to draw attention to this global issue in need of immediate attention.

According to the website of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) at the end of 1990s there were between 15,000 and 20,000 new casualties caused by unexploded landmines each year.

In Angola, thanks to a 27-year long civil war, one in every 356 residents of Angola is an amputee as a result of landmines.

The Miss Landmine Survivor Contest also highlights the plight of landmine victims. Landmines can cause blindness and the loss of multiple limbs. It is essential that these victims be reintegrated into their community both socially and economically.