By Kemo Cham
Twenty year old Sia Kembe from Bo was crowned 'Miss Correctional' on Friday in the maiden edition of the National Female Inmates Beauty Pageant.
Ms Kembe beat nine other fellow inmates drawn from correctional centers across the country.
The Sierra Leone Correctional Service (SLCS) hopes to use the annual event as a way of reforming the inmates, in line with the idea of correctional system.
Sierra Leone in 2014 began a transformative journey in its penal system, with the goal of moving away from prison system which emphasizes on punishment, to correctional system which focuses on reforming convicts. This means that under the current system, inmates are provided opportunities to develop themselves through skills training and other available learning opportunities.
The female wing of the SLCS decided to take this venture a step further with the introduction of the ‘Miss Correctional’ beauty pageant which officials hope will not only help unlock the talents of the inmates, but will also serve as a booster to their psychological and mental wellbeing.
The Gender and Equal Opportunity Unit of the SLCS organized the event in collaboration with the entertainment outfit, SaloneJamboree.
Superintendent Aminata Turay, head of the Unit, told Politico that the initiative was in line with the objective of the correctional system, which is to rehabilitate inmates and prepare them for reintegration into society.
“We want to use this event to prepare them for when they leave prison to be good citizens and be able to work and provide for themselves,” Superintendent Turay said prior to the event.
The event was held on the theme: “Reform and Rehabilitate Inmates for a better society.”
SLCS said the goal is to build the capacity of the inmates to become self-reliant after they are released. They also say it will help female inmates to develop in themselves confidence and positive self-image. They added that they hope to use the event to minimize psychological challenges associated with prison life, such as depression and anxiety.
“This program complies with international best practice to enhance the physical, ethical, health and psychological protection of the inmates,” Ms Turay added.
Friday's event was the culmination of over a year of preparation, including resource mobilization and audition for the contestants.
Salonejamboree, a company that uses media to promote arts and entertainment, initiated the idea. It’s Chief Executive Officer, Murtala Mohamed Kamara, worked closely with Ms Turay to put last week’s event together.
“In most correctional context female inmates are prone to psychological issues. This is a reason behind the organization of the pageant,” he said in a statement at the opening of the event.
Kamara said his organization intends to build up on the outcome of the show by monitoring the progress of the contestants after their release.
A panel of three judges, headed by former beauty queen Hawa Kamara, scored the girls on articulation, attitude, and charisma. There was also a round on catwalk.
All 10 contestants, ages between 20 and under 30 and serving between five and 30 years, spoke about how their experiences behind bars have helped shape their minds for the future.
The event held at the Male Reintegration Helipad in the Special Court Premises at New England, was both joyful and emotional as relatives of the contestants watched their loved ones display their talents. For some, it was mixed feeling, characterized by both celebration and cry.
The winner and three runners-up all got cash prizes.
Kembe, who is serving a five year term at the Bo District Correctional Center for manslaughter, got Le3million. Her closest challenger, Fatmata Tucker, who represented the Kenema Correctional Center and is serving 30 years for murder, received Le2million.
The third runner-up from Makeni, who is serving a life imprisonment for the murder of her mother-in-law, received Le1, 000, 000, while the fourth runner-up, who is from Kabala with an unspecified case file, received Le500, 000.
In addition, each of the four top performers would get a start-up grant to enable them start a business if and when they are released, according to the organizers.
After Friday’s event, Sierra Leone became the second country in Africa, after Kenya, to host a beauty pageant for prison inmates.
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