Cultural Pageant

It explores the adaptation of traditionally objectified women’s spaces into an arena for leadership development research that incorporates the development of culturally relevant mechanisms of leadership training within societies.

QMA Cultural pageants offer a place for young women to become spokespersons on social justice issues without the objectification of entering beauty pageants.

QMA Cultural pageant also provides a glimpse of how cultural groups wish their national identity to be portrayed to the general public, allowing us to present images of young leaders confident in their heritage, introducing themselves in their native language, and committed to cultural continuity and sustainable nations.

The young women develop culturally based leadership skills and become role models, and the community gains language and cultural revitalization.

QMA Cultural Pageant allows the general public to gain a much-needed positive representation of a contemporary indigenous woman.

QMA allows these young women to use the cultural pageants as a stepping stone to advance their cultural leadership. In doing so, they promote factors of community well-being affecting indigenous communities, such as suicide prevention, substance abuse, and language and cultural revitalization.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Babatunde Adeyeye Ogunwusi says that the introduction of the QMA cultural and leadership pageant is to reawaken cultural values and leadership roles among Nigerian youths, especially females.

QMA Pageant is a leadership-based cultural pageant, it allows brains to reign over beauty. Unlike a beauty pageant, it is a leadership-based pageant that emphasizes scholastic achievement, community involvement, public speaking, and strong cultural values.

Contestants attend a 2-week boot camp designed to prepare them not only for the pageant but also for human relations, speaking poise, and interview skills.

They learn to set goals for themselves and develop a plan to reach their goals. The contestants get involved in community projects where they make a difference while setting examples as role models. On the pageant night, the winner will receive a car and a cash prize which can be used for her education or to develop her entrepreneurial skills.

She will have the opportunity to be a part of the royal entourage that accompanies the Ooni of Ife on foreign trips, as she will become the Youth Ambassador for Culture and Leadership to His Imperial Majesty, The Ooni of Ife for one year.