Back to the Miss Senegal scandal

On November 13, Senegal elected its new Miss in the joy. Fatou Lamine Lo was crowned by Alberta Diotta, Miss Senegal 2019, and in the absence of Ndyere Fatima Dione, Miss Senegal 2020 without any explanation of it, but we could expect it since the young woman had denounced a few weeks before during media releases on her social media the bad conditions of her reign pointing to finger the Miss Senegal committee especially its lack of support and its lack of organization.

Then a few days after that, the sky fell on Miss Senegal’s committee when Miss Senegal 2020’s mother revealed during an interview with Dakarbuzz that her daughter was drugged before she was sexually abused while she was in representation with the committee afterwards. Terrible words in the mouth of a mother who uttered them in tears…

An anonymous source seemed to confirm her terrible words to our colleagues at Seneweb: “The only thing we know is that Fatima became pregnant following her coronation. We don’t want to accuse anyone but one thing is certain, before we discovered her pregnancy, she was at the home of a member of the Miss Senegal organizing committee. Usually, when the organizers needed her, they made her stay in a hotel, but before her trip to Morocco, she was brought to a house and we don’t know the reason. It was later that we were informed that the trip will no longer take place and that it was canceled because of Covid-19,” informed the source who wished to remain anonymous.

She added: “After staying in this house, Fatima started complaining of stomach aches and became very sick. Brought to the hospital, we were told that she was 4 months pregnant when we thought it was a fibroid. We don’t know the perpetrator of this pregnancy, we just know that this 20-year-old girl was a victim of rape. On several occasions, she thought of committing suicide.” According to this relative of the young woman, the family was silent for fear of the outcry that the revelation of her pregnancy would cause.

This interview was revealed at the same time as the closing press conference of Miss Senegal 2021 and journalists did not hesitate to immediately question Aminata Badiane, the president of the committee. Caught off guard, she told the dumbfounded press: “If Miss Senegal 2020 was raped, it is because she wanted to, given that she is of age”. Shocked by such comments and warned by African colleagues, I immediately called her to discuss with her these comments that are not unacceptable and above all that are reprehensible under the law. I was shocked enough that she could talk like that of rape.

After a few minutes of bitter discussions, I understood that his thoughts had surpassed his words. She reminded me that she had encouraged this young woman to file a complaint against her torturer at this conference.

She also understood that these words may have shocked the Senegalese, but also the entire beauty contest community and that she apologized, but in shock, she did not master her communication. She was learning the story by the press and it hit her since she thought she was close to the young woman and would have thought that she would confide in her at the slightest problem.

As if this rape case were not enough, Fatima Dione, the 2020 laureate, at the same time accused the committee of embezzling the money that Matar Bâ, the Minister of Sport, would have offered her, following her coronation.

Miss Senegal 2020 also reproached the committee for having sacrificed her studies. Former misses then added fuel to the fire and attacked Aminata by blaming her for making money on their backs. I remind you that the Miss Senegal brand belongs to Aminata Badiane and not to the Senegalese state, and that it is on these personal funds that they replenish the accounts of the committee when the sponsors are not sufficient to cover the costs inherent in this contest.

The committee brought its share of truth, in order to restore its image in the face of the outcry and the magnitude that this story was taking during a new press conference, convened by Aminata Badiane and the coordinator of the committee, Seydina Camara. During this one, they showed the contracts that the Miss signed with the committee detailing the sums owed to them and especially the obligations of each. With a contract in support, they explained that young women do not earn the car, but that it is made available to them during their reign for travel related to their crown.

“I must remind you that we sign a contract with all the girls. The terms are clear.”

The entire report is available on Issue 9 of Inside Pageant, available this week. You can also find this survey conducted by the French team in the podcast –> https://anchor.fm/inside-pageant/episodes/Scandale-Miss-Senegal—-Enfin-un-peu-de-lumire-dans-ce-scandale-e1h1ek3